Osi regrets advising LeBron to avoid NY

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NEW YORK -- Osi Umenyiora regrets advising LeBron James to stay in Cleveland.

"Oh man, I should have never had said that," Umenyiora told ESPN 1050 when asked about his advice to James. "That was a big mistake. I want LeBron James to do what is best for him."

Umenyiora shared his change of heart while attending New York Giants teammate Justin Tuck's celebrity billiards charity event on Thursday night.

Two weeks ago, the defensive end weighed in on the hottest issue in sports when he advised James to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers once the NBA star becomes a free agent in July.

Umenyiora argued on his PlaymakerMobile.com blog that James shouldn't leave because while there's no better place to play than in New York, James would face intense scrutiny if he has a bad game here.

"I will say this, if he does come to New York, don't have a bad game," Umenyiora blogged. "Not one because Knicks fans will come down on him."

Umenyiora didn't endear himself to Knicks fans, who have looked forward to this summer and recruiting James for two seasons.

"He is going to make the right decision, whatever it is," Umenyiora said on Thursday night. "I have no input. He doesn't know me, I don't know him.

"Whatever he does, I will be happy for him."

At least Umenyiora knows where he will be this summer. Umenyiora thought he was going to be traded when the Giants drafted defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul with the 15th pick in the NFL draft. But general manager Jerry Reese said he will not trade Umenyiora, who told reporters at the Super Bowl that he would rather retire if he doesn't regain his starting job this season.

Umenyiora was asked to set the record straight on whether he wants to be a New York Giant.

"Yeah, I am going to be a New York Giant," Umenyiora said.

Ohm Youngmisuk covers the Giants for ESPNNewYork.com. Follow him on Twitter.

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Ohm Youngmisuk

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Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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