Hotmail
Strahan turns down Giants, will stay retired
Fantasy Football
Features include:
- Draft Guide | Live Draft Application
- Real-Time Scoring | Expert Analysis
- League Stories, Polls, Boards & More
The recently retired perennial Pro Bowler told FOXSports.com exclusively that he has decided to remain retired and has turned down the Giants' offer to lure him back to action.
"This has been one of the toughest nights of my life," Strahan said from 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."
Strahan and the team held discussions and he says the money was enough to do the deal. But in the end, it became a matter of whether or not he wanted to put his body through the rigors of another NFL season.
"I really love my life now," he said. "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."
Strahan considered coming out of retirement to help the team after fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora sustained a season-ending injury during the Giants' preseason game against the Jets on Saturday night.
"He was very close to returning, but the great part about Michael is that he takes his time to think about things and he is very thorough," Strahan's agent Tony Agnone said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday night. "You can get excited about coming back and running through the tunnel one more time.
"In the end, he felt he could not get back to where he was."
Strahan received a call early Monday from Giants GM Jerry Reese at the urging of co-owner Steven Tisch, who has a close relationship with Strahan.
"We knew it was a long shot, but we owed it to ourselves to exhaust the possibility," Reese told The Associated Press. "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."
The Giants had been hoping for a repeat of last season, when Strahan missed all of training camp and preseason while deliberating whether to return for a 15th NFL season, then returned to help lead the Giants to their 3rd Super Bowl.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Member Comments
Good decision Mike, without Osi you would be rendered useless, stay retired.
saintzphan8/29/2008 11:40:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Cool<br />That is way more like yourself. I do believe it's you...
CORN_HOLEO8/29/2008 6:06:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
To bad. the Giants could have really used him this year. they will just have to make another Superbowl run without him.<br />Go Giants!
raggydoo8/28/2008 22:05:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Evidently, noone gives two craps about Strahan!
super38/28/2008 17:16:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Wingman:<br />I have my eye on Coolslayer 2. I still havent made up my mind about him just yet. He has come around with his sarcastic remarks. however that first day he arrived he was soooooooo niiiiiiiicccce. way too nice.
CORN_HOLEO8/28/2008 16:22:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Strahan just decided to get his front teeth fisxed. After a long decision he decided to get a gold tooth put in the front. Howevr after contacting the US government and Fort Knox Strahan was told there just wasnt that much gold available.
CORN_HOLEO8/28/2008 16:19:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
funny...a San Francisco fan calling someone else a ****
SteelDeathBed8/28/2008 15:18:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
let me guess 'cool' you must be a whiner fan..ahhh yes the gold(en) shower is NOT back. keep it to yourself princess.
Spartan28/28/2008 11:59:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I may not care for the Giants because they beat my Pats in the Super Bowl, but I do have respect for Michael Strahan and staying with his decision to retire and not pulling a Brett Farve soap opera on the New York fans.
jeffo468/28/2008 11:46:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Tarnation, now we have to see his grill on Fox.
1Grizzlie8/28/2008 10:16:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Strahan knows the Giants will not reapeat as champs this season. After 15 years you go out as a Champ. You don't want to remember it as the season you lost. Enjoy retirement Mike !!!!!!!!
Toby_4_Toes8/28/2008 8:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Best Wishes Mike! We need you for your defense edge as well as your motivation, but I guess in the light of Osi going down the Giants once again will have to rely on team effort instead of the shoulders of a few individuals. We're Still Coming in the words of Michael Strahan To Stomp The Other Team Out. Go Big Blue. Good Luck To The Jets as well. Forever New York...
BigApple078/28/2008 5:06:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Strahan should return to try and get the record for most sacks in a year without the astereck he now has. Everyone knows Favre gave him that last sack as a gift.
philcor18/27/2008 22:48:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Well hell yes he choose to stay retired. He didnt want to play anymore, and he's happy where he's at professionaly. He won the Superbowl last year, and he is going to get a couple mill a year to be a commentator. Why would he want to come back and get bruised and battered when he can make a ton of money just sitting around and b.s.ing with his friends and the NFL fans? I say way to go Stray, you went out your way and dont feel the need to look back because you have no doubts.
schem238/27/2008 18:10:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
tybud, i believe strahan is 100 times smarter than you. he has options. you have...well, nothing.
philadelphiaeagles36fan8/27/2008 15:46:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
good for him by staying retired. not that the giants are going to do anything anyways. last year they got hot at the right time and thats all there is to it.
maveric_878/27/2008 15:34:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
WOW! You compared his return to his legal battles tied to his divorce?! YOU R SCUM OF THE EARTH and lack any football knowledge
EAGLESownNFC8/27/2008 15:02:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
obviously strahan isn't that smart, look at his divorce settlement and lack of prenup
tybud288/27/2008 14:53:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Good thing he did that. Most of this years salary would have gone to his ex-wife.
jbrande558/27/2008 14:49:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
advertisement
