• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Giants' Strahan Retires A Champion

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Jun 9, 2008 3:30 pm US/Eastern

Giants' Strahan Retires A Champion

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBS) ― Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan has decided to retire rather than return for a 16th NFL season with the New York Giants. The

The 36-year-old Strahan, the NFL's active leader in sacks, informed the front office in the morning without telling his coaches and teammates.

"I'm just finding out about it; let me get organized," coach Tom Coughlin said after a team offseason workout.

Strahan had hinted at retirement last season and missed almost all of training camp while coming to a decision to play.

Strahan helped anchor the much improved defense that hounded New England quarterback Tom Brady in New York's stunning Super Bowl victory over the previously unbeaten Patriots.

During the ticker tape parade celebrating the victory, fans chanted "One more year!" to the veteran, who only responded by saying, "We'll see.

Strahan's storied career leaves him 5th on the NFL's all-time list in sacks with 141.5. He set the NFL single-season record for sacks in 2001 with 22.5.

He's also been named the Giants Most Valuable Player in 1998 and 2001 and was the 1997 Defensive Player of the Year.

Over his 15 seasons, Strahan has recorded 868 tackles (655 solo), 141.5 sacks, three interceptions, 38 passes defensed, 23 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries. He has scored 3 touchdowns, including 2 on interception returns and 1 on a fumble return.

"I knew it was going to eventually happen," quarterback Eli Manning said. "He had a tremendous career. If that is the case, he picked a great season to go out on."

Fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora was told of the retirement as he walked to the locker room after practice.

"I talked to Mike last week and he told me he was still unsure," Umenyiora said. "He was really, really thinking about it, but I didn't think he was going to do it today."

Strahan was the Giants' leader in the locker room. He taught the young defensive ends how to play the position. He was also a gym rat, spending as much time working out as the youngest free agent trying to win a roster spot.

"It's a very, very sad day for me personally," Umenyiora said. "I loved him like a brother. You put in 15 strong years in the NFL, man that is something in this day and age is impossible to do."

Last season, Strahan was outstanding. He started 15 of 16 games, had 46 tackles and nine sacks.

"I am very happy for him," said receiver Amani Toomer, who played 12 seasons with Strahan. "I think he is going to find a way on his feet. I just wish him the best."

A second-round pick in the 1993 draft, Strahan is the Giants' career sacks leader with 141 1/2. Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor had the old mark of 132 1/2, although that total does not included 9 1/2 the linebacker had as a rookie in 1981, the year before sacks became an official statistic.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

New York Breaking News

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.