As reported less than a week ago, Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is considering retirement and now the team wants him to make a decision quickly because A) They need to find out if they should pursue a free agent end like Simeon Rice and B) They want to see if Strahan is bluffing like some reports say he is.
On Tuesday, Giants general manger Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin stated they’re preparing as though Strahan won’t be with the team in 2007. Well, this is what Strahan’s “camp” had to say about the matter:
“How could he not feel betrayed?” the New York Daily News quoted a “source who spoke with Strahan” on Tuesday. “After spending 14 years, after being a loyal and dedicated player to an organization, and now that he is considering retirement, the most difficult decision in his career, instead of giving him space to make this decision, people are talking about fines and replacements?
“I am really sad that this situation is being portrayed the way it is. This is not about money.”
Are you serious? They’re talking about fines and replacements because the dude won’t give anyone a straight answer. The Giants just went through all this BS with Tiki Barber last year and aren’t in the mood to do it again. And if you say it’s not about the money, you’re fooling yourself because it’s already been well documented that his ex-wife fleeced him in a divorce settlement.
It will never cease to amaze me how professional athletes can turn any situation around to make it be about them. Guess what Mike? The Giants are going to be there long after you get done playing my man. They need to make big boy football decisions and not all of them will be in your best interest – especially when you pull some cockamamie retirement idea out your ass just days before training camp kicked off just so you can squeeze more money out of the deal.
