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Aug. 2, 2007 | Michael Strahan feels betrayed, according to someone close to him who spoke to the New York Daily News. The sack specialist is holding out of New York Giants training camp, but not over money, he says. He's contemplating retirement.
I'm contemplating retirement myself, so I can relate. I might need a day or two next week for deep thinking. Especially if it's sunny.
The Giants are hitting him with a daily fine -- it's only $14,288 a day, but it's the principle of the thing, you see -- and talking about preparing to play the season without him. These are the things that have gotten Strahan's goat, evidently. It must be particularly galling to Strahan that the most prominent potential replacement is Simeon Rice, recently released by Tampa Bay and, the Daily News says, "Strahan's arch-enemy."
"How could he not feel betrayed?" the Daily News quoted the source close to Strahan saying. "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?"
The goat was unavailable for comment, but the source helpfully noted that this wasn't about money. Another source agreed that it was about respect, not money, and that Strahan has felt particularly disrespected by the Giants since they turned down his request for a salary increase in March.
Coach Tom Coughlin told the paper he spoke to Strahan Monday and that Strahan apologized for the timing of his Hamlet routine. General manager Gerry Reese also talked to Strahan Monday in a conversation Strahan's associate told the Daily News featured some harsh words from the player. Reese has said things like "We can win without him," which Strahan found insulting.
Wait till he hears about the '56 Giants, who went 8-3-1 and pounded the Chicago Bears 47-7 in the NFL Championship Game -- without Strahan even being alive!
Giants co-owner John Mara told the Associated Press Wednesday that Strahan hadn't said he felt betrayed by the fines when they spoke, and he doesn't believe Strahan does feel that way. He also said the Giants aren't going to renegotiate Strahan's contract.
What's funny about this situation is that it's a New York media teapot tempest, it's a controversy in the first week of NFL training camp, when news is scarce and the scribblers are desperate, and Michael Strahan is involved, but almost everybody's acting pretty reasonably.
If we take Strahan at his word that he's struggling with the decision to retire, then those of us who have been around the block, or even down to the corner, know that these internal struggles can come up at any time. Sometimes a person has no choice but to make a choice. Like when that plea offer's on the table for 10 more seconds.
But if you can afford to take the time and really think it through -- and it's only costing Strahan $14,288 a day, so he can afford it -- you take it.
