Osi Umenyiora hopeful of Atlanta Falcons stay

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Osi Umenyiora has expressed his desire to stay with the team next season.

Umenyiora joined the Falcons last off-season having been released by the New York Giants after the two parties failed to come to a financial agreement.

That episode left the 32-year-old taking nothing for granted when it comes to his future and, although he is confident that he will remain with the team, he is still wary that anything could happen.

"I would love to stay, and I think I am, but you really never know what's going to happen," Umenyiora told ESPN.

"My eyes have been opened: I understand the business pretty much as well as anybody in football right now because of a lot of the things that have happened, and I know it's nothing personal. I know they are going to do whatever is necessary to better their team.

"That's just part of it. It's never personal. I'll always have a tremendous amount of respect and love for [general manager] Mr. Dimitroff. He gave me a great opportunity. It's pretty much whatever at this point."

Umenyiora won two Super Bowl rings during his time at the Giants and was also named in the Pro Bowl twice.