Osi's message to NFL peers: Be like Tebow - NorthJersey.com (blog)

With the Giants set to report to training camp Thursday, I asked Osi Umenyiora if he could elaborate on something he tweeted from his personal account four days earlier.

“I go to Nigeria for a week, and when I came back, HALF the NFL has been arrested,” he wrote. “What happened???”

In answering my question, Umenyiora shook his head and immediately brought up Tim Tebow as an example of someone for all players to emulate. He was not asked about the Jets’ polarizing backup quarterback, so that says something about the image and perception Tebow has projected league wide.

“I know everybody likes to make fun of Tim Tebow, talk about him, but he sets an outstanding example,” Umenyiora said this morning during an event to promote a personalized printer for the candy at M&M World in Times Square. “I think if more people would focus and try to be like him and carry themselves the way he does, I think this league could be better.”

Off-the-field legal issues involving 31 players and counting have overshadowed the NFL this offseason, including a DUI charge for Umenyiora’s teammate David Diehl.

“For the life of me I can’t understand it. It’s just ridiculous,” Umenyiora said, referring to the NFL’s rash of legal incidents. “People need to be more focused and more grateful for what it is that they have. Coming from where I came from [during his trip to Nigeria earlier this month] and seeing what I saw, all that poverty, people who have nothing, they would cut off both their legs to be given the opportunity that these people have. To be messing around like that is real unfortunate.”

Don’t blame NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, however.

“He’s bringing down the hammer every time. But obviously people don’t like to listen,” Umenyiora said. “They’ll learn sooner or later.”

As far as football is concerned, Umenyiora said he feels great both physically and mentally. He is focused on giving the Giants everything he has in a season that will likely amount to his last with Big Blue, considering his reworked contract and pending free agency following the season.

“I feel like I’m the best defensive end in the league,” Umenyiora said. “And when I go out there I feel I must play that way.”