BY PAUL SCHWARTZ
The Giants have made initial contact with Michael Strahan, attempting to feel him out about his possible interest in coming out of his brief retirement in the wake of the devastating season-ending injury to Osi Umenyiora.
Strahan retired June 9 saying he was done with football and during his visit to training camp in Albany two weeks ago said “I donât miss it” when asked about not being in the game. Strahan last Monday night was at Giants Stadium watching his former team play the Browns appearing fit and trip and said he’s lost weight because of a new workout regime featuring less heavy lifting and more aerobic conditioning.
The Giants felt comfortable moving on without Strahan but the injury to Umenyiora â he tore the lateral meniscus cartilage in his left knee and will undergo surgery on Tuesday â changed the dynamic of the defense. Tom Coughlin announced that Mathias Kiwanuka will move from strong side linebacker to his natural defensive end position and will move into Umenyiora’s right end spot. It is unlikely the organization would move Kiwanuka if they had plans to bring back Strahan, unless the role for Strahan is as a backup serving in a line rotation. Strahan plays left end and at age 36 would not be likely to be moving from side to side.
Strahan is vacationing in Greece. Before he retired, he was scheduled to make $4 million in salary for the 2008 season. The Giants following the Super Bowl victory were willing to up the ante and give Strahan $6.5 million for this season but he insisted money was not the issue and that he simply had enough of football after 15 seasons with the Giants. If he Giants attempt to lure him back, they no doubt will have to come up with a lucrative offer in order to entice him to return.
Not long after he retired, Strahan signed on as a FOX Sports NFL studio analyst for what is believed to be $2 million annually. Although those close with Strahan insist he is well-off financially, he has been through a messy and very public divorce. On Tuesday, a New Jersey state appeals court is expected to rule whether Strahan has to pay a $15.3 million award to his ex-wife, Jean Strahan. Strahan has already paid half the award and says Jean is not entitled to $6.5 million from a pre-nuptial agreement. The ruling on that case could be a factor in determining if Strahan is willing to take the Giants money in exchange for a comeback.