Tweet
ESPN.com news services
The New York Giants' dream solution for a gaping hole at defensive end was put to bed on Tuesday.
Michael Strahan told Foxsports.com on Tuesday that he thought long and hard about returning to the field but decided to remain retired.
"This has been one of the toughest nights of my life," Strahan told the Web site from his vacation in Greece. "But after long deliberation and throwing around a million scenarios in my head for the past day, I think it's just best if I stay retired.
"I have gone back and forth on this because as a player you'll always want to play, you'll never lose that urge to be out there. But I could only do this if I could commit 100 percent, physically, mentally, emotionally and I can't do that. I've tried to convince myself and my body to give it one more year, but in the end I just don't think I could turn it on like I need to again."
Tony Agnone, Strahan's agent, did not immediately return a telephone call from The Associated Press.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese did not seem surprised by the decision.
"We knew it was a long shot, but we owed it to ourselves to exhaust the possibility," Reese said late Tuesday evening. "We appreciate Michael even considering ending his retirement. He has a new career in front of him and we wish him nothing but the best. As we all said when he announced his retirement, Michael was and is a great Giant."
Strahan retired after the Giants' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. That created one void. The Giants then lost defensive end Osi Umenyiora for the season when he injured his knee in Saturday's preseason game.
Reese asked the 36-year-old Strahan to reconsider his retirement on Monday. The New York Daily News had previously reported that he would consider returning for a one-year salary of $8 million. Strahan needed just about a day to turn down an offer to return for a 16th season.
Strahan has signed a $2 million deal to work for Fox Sports on its NFL pregame show on Sundays, but the network gave its blessing if he decided to play again. It looks like the seven-time Pro Bowler will remain on the sidelines.
"I really love my life now," Strahan said, according to Foxsports.com. "It's great having nobody put a finger on me. You really put yourself through an awful lot in this league, more than people realize.
"I've got a great home at Fox now and I think it's where I belong. I wish I could've had different news for Giants fans but I've known for a while I'm done."
The Giants moved Mathias Kiwanuka from linebacker to defensive end on Monday to take over for Umenyiora.
Umenyiora had successful knee surgery on Tuesday morning.
The move will not be a major one for Kiwanuka. He was drafted in the first round in 2006 as a defensive end and started nine games as a rookie. He also lined up as a defensive end in third-down situations last season.
"There is a reason he went in the first round obviously," middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "The guy, he is playing behind Strahan and Osi, and then we moved him to linebacker, so obviously he is one of our top players on the team and he is going to show that he is a top defensive end in the league."
Pierce also said the team was ready to move on with or without Strahan, the team's sacks leader who retired in June, four months after earning his first title ring.
"We know we are a confident team and we are a playoff-capable team and we have to go out and perform like it," Pierce said before Strahan announced his decision. "The reason we took the [underdog] role last year was because everybody said it, and we just went with it. We're not thinking like that this year. We do have a chip on our shoulders and it grows more and more when somebody gives us something to feed off of."
What's bugging them now is the belief by some that they don't have the players to get the job done with Umenyiora out.
Pierce never thought that money would be the deciding issue for Strahan.
"The only reason he will come back is if he wants to play," Pierce said.
The New York Giants' dream solution for a gaping hole at defensive end was put to bed on Tuesday.
Michael Strahan told Foxsports.com on Tuesday that he thought long and hard about returning to the field but decided to remain retired.
"This has been one of the toughest nights of my life," Strahan told the Web site from his vacation in Greece. "But after long deliberation and throwing around a million scenarios in my head for the past day, I think it's just best if I stay retired.
"I have gone back and forth on this because as a player you'll always want to play, you'll never lose that urge to be out there. But I could only do this if I could commit 100 percent, physically, mentally, emotionally and I can't do that. I've tried to convince myself and my body to give it one more year, but in the end I just don't think I could turn it on like I need to again."
Tony Agnone, Strahan's agent, did not immediately return a telephone call from The Associated Press.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese did not seem surprised by the decision.
"We knew it was a long shot, but we owed it to ourselves to exhaust the possibility," Reese said late Tuesday evening. "We appreciate Michael even considering ending his retirement. He has a new career in front of him and we wish him nothing but the best. As we all said when he announced his retirement, Michael was and is a great Giant."
Strahan retired after the Giants' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. That created one void. The Giants then lost defensive end Osi Umenyiora for the season when he injured his knee in Saturday's preseason game.
Reese asked the 36-year-old Strahan to reconsider his retirement on Monday. The New York Daily News had previously reported that he would consider returning for a one-year salary of $8 million. Strahan needed just about a day to turn down an offer to return for a 16th season.
Strahan has signed a $2 million deal to work for Fox Sports on its NFL pregame show on Sundays, but the network gave its blessing if he decided to play again. It looks like the seven-time Pro Bowler will remain on the sidelines.
"I really love my life now," Strahan said, according to Foxsports.com. "It's great having nobody put a finger on me. You really put yourself through an awful lot in this league, more than people realize.
"I've got a great home at Fox now and I think it's where I belong. I wish I could've had different news for Giants fans but I've known for a while I'm done."
The Giants moved Mathias Kiwanuka from linebacker to defensive end on Monday to take over for Umenyiora.
Umenyiora had successful knee surgery on Tuesday morning.
The move will not be a major one for Kiwanuka. He was drafted in the first round in 2006 as a defensive end and started nine games as a rookie. He also lined up as a defensive end in third-down situations last season.
"There is a reason he went in the first round obviously," middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "The guy, he is playing behind Strahan and Osi, and then we moved him to linebacker, so obviously he is one of our top players on the team and he is going to show that he is a top defensive end in the league."
Pierce also said the team was ready to move on with or without Strahan, the team's sacks leader who retired in June, four months after earning his first title ring.
"We know we are a confident team and we are a playoff-capable team and we have to go out and perform like it," Pierce said before Strahan announced his decision. "The reason we took the [underdog] role last year was because everybody said it, and we just went with it. We're not thinking like that this year. We do have a chip on our shoulders and it grows more and more when somebody gives us something to feed off of."
What's bugging them now is the belief by some that they don't have the players to get the job done with Umenyiora out.
Pierce never thought that money would be the deciding issue for Strahan.
"The only reason he will come back is if he wants to play," Pierce said.
Comment