Umenyiora sounds like a happy Giant

When the Giants' defense takes the field Sunday, Osi Umenyiora might be out with the starting 11. Or he might not.

He's OK with either scenario.

That's a long way from what Umenyiora was saying six months ago, when he vowed to retire rather than be a backup.

When the Giants chose defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in the first round of the NFL draft in April, Umenyiora again wondered where he fit as a Giant.

But he's not wondering anymore. In fact, he's not saying much of anything beyond a few platitudes about his excitement about Sunday's season opener against the Panthers.

"It came after a lot of thought," Umenyiora told Newsday after Giants practice yesterday. "I had people calling me a cancer to the team, things like that. I knew that wasn't who I am. I realized I could talk until I'm blue in the face and nothing would change. It's about going out and playing."

Umenyiora wasn't happy when he was demoted for the final month of last season, the end of a disappointing year that began with Umenyiora leaving the Giants' facility after a dispute with then-defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan.

Sheridan was fired after the season and Perry Fewell replaced him. Some of Umenyiora's contentment has come from Fewell and his schemes.

"He has a good plan for everybody," he said of Fewell. "He's trying to find ways to get everybody on the field. When you see that's happening, it helps you put everything else aside."

It's worked. Fewell has nothing but raves for Umenyiora, who Fewell said could start Sunday over Mathias Kiwanuka depending on what package the Panthers' offense presents.

"Osi has been absolutely awesome," Fewell said. "He's been a team player. He's done everything we've asked him to do and more. I couldn't be more pleased with his attitude and the way he's approached this since I've been here."

Justin Tuck, who was named the defensive captain yesterday, said no one had to counsel Umenyiora to calm down through the spring and summer.

"When you see a guy going through that stuff with contracts or their feelings like that, you tend to steer clear, because that's their business," Tuck said. "Osi wants to be The Guy. He wants to get back to that focus that made him a Pro Bowl player. But he also knows we've got three, four, even five D-ends who are good.

"Osi's putting his ego aside."

And he seems ready to keep this up. As he walked to his locker yesterday, he made a reference to Derek Jeter; after five minutes of smiling through a few answers that were very benign and Jeter-esque, he walked away still smiling.

"All you can do is go out and prove yourself," he said. "The rest is out of your control."