DE Michael Strahan, the Giants' all-time "official" sack leader with 141.5 -- linebacker Lawrence Taylor had 9.5 in his rookie year of 1981, a year before sacks became official in the NFL statistics, and unofficially has 142 career sacks -- decided to "go out on top because so few athletes ever get that chance." He leaves as the fifth most productive sacker in league history. Going out on top means leaving with his first Super Bowl ring, something he repeatedly said in public that was important to him. The Giants got to one other Super Bowl in Strahan's tenure, the post-2000 season game (XXXV) against the Baltimore Ravens, but lost. "I just didn't know if I should play another year or not," he said, "and the longer I thought about it, trying to make a decision, it became obvious that if it was taking me that long I just didn't have it in my heart any more. So I did it, and even now I can't believe I made that call." 06/12/2008

Strahan is staying retired. Giants general manager Jerry Reese asked the 36-year-old Strahan to reconsider his retirement on Monday, just 48 hours after the Super Bowl champions lost Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora for the season to a knee injury in the preseason game against the New York Jets.
08/26/2008