Osi Umenyiora: 'Denver won’t get after Cam the way they did against Brady'

Double Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora tells Tom Sheen about the Broncos’ pass rush and the dabbin’ Panther Newton

(Getty Images)

Osi Umenyiora is easily the most decorated British player in NFL history. One of just three Britons to win a Super Bowl – the others being New York Giants place kicker Lawrence Tynes, a team mate of Umenyiora, and the unused New England Patriots wide receiver Scott McCready – the defensive end, born in London and raised there until he was seven, was a star pass rusher for the Giants for nine years.

In a glittering career he earned two trips to the Pro Bowl and was a key member of the Giants teams that upset the Patriots to win Championships in 2008 and 2012. The NFL’s ambassador to the UK previews Sunday’s big game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.

Q | What are your memories of the week leading up to the game? What’s the feeling among the players?

Osi: | It’s an odd feeling… the thought that you’re in the biggest game of your life. It really was a huge feeling of accomplishment and a need to go and make something positive happen.

Umenyiora lifts the Super Bowl trophy for the second time in 2012 (AP)

Q | What about in the hours immediately leading up to the game?

Osi: | It’s funny, you get into a routine. You think about it but the minute you get to that stadium it’s business as usual. You don’t think of anything besides “this is the next game, we have to win”.

Q | Were there any nerves?

Osi: | Initially there’s a bit, but as the day goes on it just becomes a regular game. Honestly.

Q | Nothing changes from the usual routine?

Osi: | It’s the exact same thing, there’s really no difference. As soon as you run out you see the cameras and you’re like ‘oh man, this is crazy’ but apart from that it’s a regular game.

Q | What do you remember of the moment you won the first Championship?

Osi: | Disbelief. Happiness. Nobody really gave us a chance.

Q | Both of the Super Bowls you won involved infamous late plays – David Tyree’s 32-yard “Helmet Catch” with less than a minute to go in 2008 and Mario Manningham’s perfect sideline catch to move into Patriots territory in 2012. What do you remember of those moments?

Osi: | I don’t remember too much about the “Helmet Catch” – I only saw the aftermath of it. That was tremendous. Mario Manningham’s catch, it was an incredible throw by Eli [Manning] and a great play – the rest is history!

Q | You never lost a Super Bowl but what advice would you give to losing players?

Osi: | Err…that has to be tough. You make it all the way there and lose – you might as well have not made it there at all. I don’t have any good advice, it’s just a tough pill to swallow.

Q | How does winning the Super Bowl change your career?

Osi: | It definitely puts a target on your back. Once you win, everybody is looking for you, everybody wants to beat you. Whenever you’re discussed, whenever anybody talks about you, they have to put that there: “Super Bowl champion.”

Q | Some see Denver’s Peyton Manning as a bit of a choker in the play-offs with only one Super Bowl, two defeats and a number of earlier exits. Will his legacy be affected by Sunday’s outcome?

Osi: | He’s already won one Super Bowl, he’s not a loser. He’ll still be known as one of the greatest to play the game – win or lose, that won’t change at all.

Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos (GETTY IMAGES)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (Getty Images)

Q | Carolina’s Cam Newton has taken a lot of flak this season for his celebrations – what’s your opinion?

Osi: | I think they’re a little overboard. But he’s having fun, he’s winning, he can do whatever he wants. I think maybe when he gets a little older and mature, he’ll stop all that.

Q: | Are those two guys the key to deciding the game?

Osi: | Yeah definitely, but I think it’ll be more about whatever defence slows the other down. I don’t think Denver’s pass rush will quite get the opportunity to get after Cam the way they did against Tom Brady.

Q | You got a prediction?

Osi: | I’m just hoping Denver win! [Broncos defensive end] DeMarcus Ware is a great friend of mine.