What Would I Want With Money?

Michael Strahan may not have decided whether or not he wants to play another season for the Giants but it seems pretty clear that he's not willing to give up the public relations battle. It's a battle he's been losing badly as his eve of training camp doubts about playing another year have been cast as an attempt to wrangle more money from the Giants instead of a player having serious doubts about donning the pads. Strahan wrote an open letter to Giant fans to try and set the record straight about why he's refused to report to camp or retire.

"I was hoping to make this personal decision quietly and without much hoopla," read the statement, which was released by Strahan's agent, Tony Agnone. "But given the recent torrent of erroneous media reports and totally inaccurate assumptions, I feel that I have to come forward and publicly set the record straight with those for whom I have toiled the last 14 years - you fans.

"What's been most disappointing has been all of this nonsense that I'm holding out for more money. Money is not the reason that I have not reported to training camp and it will not be a factor (in) my return. This has already been communicated to the Giants and while the reports may indicate a 'hard line' taken by the team regarding money, it is not necessary. Despite what some might believe, there are those of us who make decisions that have nothing to do with money."

Where does one begin with this nonsense? If Strahan wanted to make this decision quietly and without much hoopla he would have done it in the spring when no one was wondering why he wasn't working out with his teammates in advance of the 2007 season. He would have done so with some thoughtfulness for the team that's made him very rich and for the fans that he says it's been a privilege to play for throughout all of these years.

Strahan may be telling the truth about the money, I guess, but one wonders if the Giants had acceded to his request in March for more cash would Strahan be contemplating retirement? If it has nothing to do with money why did he wait until the eve of camp to let the team know that he was having doubts about coming back? The only answer is that by doing it so close to the start of the season Strahan assumed the Giants would come up with the money because they needed him to be a winning team. They didn't come up with the money and Strahan had nothing to do but go forward with this charade. Methinks that this statement is his first step toward coming back to the team because if his doubts about playing were serious he would have already called it quits.

I give a lot of credit to Jerry Reese and the Giants for calling his bluff, fining him and telling him that they were going to sign Simeon Rice or whoever to replace him and move on. It doesn't make them a better team on the field, perhaps, but it makes them an honorable one. Strahan, not so much.

Comments

[Big Time]

Agree with you that Stray sent this email to pave the way for his comeback with his head held high. Excellent insight. Disagree, however, with your characterization that the Giants have made Stray a rich man. Stray has made himself a rich man by working hard to become the best defensive lineman in the nfl for a prolonged time period. And being an intelligent and personable figure with the pads off, Stray has cashed in on endorsements and related business opportunities. Its not like the Giants paid him anything above market. There are always external factors that provide the opportunity for one's success. Warren Buffet has Alexander Hamilton to thank for providing the financial systems in which he has flourished, but one couldn't plausibly say that others (besides teachers who Buff admirably praises at every opportunity) made Buff a rich man. At the present moment, the Gs need Stray and he needs them, so let's hope that a deal can be made so that this team can try and pull things together. We are bullish on Gabril and Aaron Ross, worried about the other safety spot. Eli needs to step up, literally, in the pocket.

[TheFeed]

Warmhearted stories about Warren Buffet aside, the Giants have done pretty well by Strahan throughout his career and walking away from them on the eve of training camp when he could have spent any part of seven months considering his future is dickish behavior.