Records are made to be broken.

New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan broke one such record Sunday but the feat did not come without controversy. Needing one sack to break former Jet Mark Gastineau's single-season record of 22, Strahan's good friend Brett Favre called a run to Ahman Green, rolled to pass and dove to the ground.

In the 48 hours since Strahan broke through the magical 22-sack plateau, Favre and Strahan have been ridiculed like Sonny Liston in Ali-Liston II.

Michael Strahan is frustrated with critics. (AP)

"If I knew it would be blown up like this, if I knew people were going to criticize and rip us the way they are, it's really not worth it," Strahan told SportsLine.com on Tuesday. "We lost the game, we had a bad season where we didn't make the playoffs. ... I really don't care about that one sack, especially since it's being blown up so much everywhere.

"Look, I had 21½ sacks that nobody said anything about so I've had a good season. If people want to discredit me or the record, so be it. What can I do about it?"

Following the game, Gastineau said he conceded the record to Strahan, regardless of the way in which the final sack came.

"I don't think anything is worth this amount of criticism to myself, and especially not to a three-time NFL MVP," Strahan said. "I don't have to justify it to anybody and as far as I'm concerned, neither does Brett."

Favre did his friend no favors by laying down on the play, although he continues to deny that he took a dive.

However, conspiracy theorists will likely never believe Favre. When asked if he believed the Packers All-Pro quarterback went down on purpose, Strahan says all he can go on is what the Packers star was quoted as saying and will never question him.

"What was I supposed to do, not tackle the quarterback when he runs at me? Is that what people wanted me to do?" he said. "When the play happens, do I run away from the quarterback? Everybody wants to discredit the play, but they ran that same play to the other side a few plays after the sack. I just reacted as a player would normally react on the field. I had no choice but to do my job and tackle him.

"At this point I find it a shame that everyone wants to discredit or disgrace it."

What did he and Favre talk about before the play happened?

"Brett congratulated me on a great season," he said. "He said, 'Michael, even though you didn't get (the record), you've had a great year.' That was it. We certainly didn't discuss a set-up or something ridiculous like that. Do you really think we're smart enough to concoct some super-secret plot like that or dumb enough to where we'd talk about it right before the play I get it on? Come on, let's get a little real here.

"Hey, if he was going to take a dive, why couldn't he have done it on the first play of the game so I could have taken a breather," he joked.

While the Pro Bowl defensive end has tried to steer clear of the controversy, he says he has been showered with gratitude from fans who appreciated his tremendous season.

"You know what I care about? I care about the fact that I was playing for a lot of people this year who had a lot of fun watching me go for the record," he said. "I said a long time ago I was dedicating to the victims at the World Trade Center and the people working down at Ground Zero. Those heroes who are working day and night thanked my teammates and me when we visited them for giving them an outlet and a distraction to things that really matter.

"So I really don't care what the media writes about me. I've seen articles that say, 'Sad Sack,' or one story wrote it was a disgrace ... wow. I feel bad for them. That's a little absurd, don't you think?"

Absurd is the personal attacks that some have levied on the league's best pass rusher. The media and talk shows have been littered with people who have discredited Strahan's season.

"That's it, this is the last time I want to talk about it," he said. "I'm not happy our season ended when it did, that's what is the important part. I don't want to talk about what I did or did not do as an individual. All I wish is I could be sitting here talking about playing another opponent, going to work in the postseason. Believe me, if I could trade in all 22½ for a chance to be in the postseason right now, show me where to sign up now. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

"Why do I have to continue to justify making the play and why do I have to defend one of the best quarterbacks to ever play this game? Look, if you don't want to give it to me, don't. What else do you want me to say?"