Strahan Back, Giants in Flux?

Ever the game-changer, Michael Strahan may have now come up with a way of flipping the script for every veteran player powerful enough to flaunt his muscle.

Indeed, it now seems fair to ask if training camp may become a thing of the past for aging, star players like Strahan who simply don't feel the need or urge to endure the rigors of two-a-day training sessions any longer.

Strahan's cat-and-mouse games with the Giants this preseason ended with him escaping all of camp. And that, make no mistake, was the 6-5, 255 pound star defender's ultimate goal, his true desire despite all the talk you may hear of a contract dispute between the two sides being behind the impasse.

In the end and at first glance, Strahan walked into the Giants' camp and plans late last week looking every bit like the baller who has all but secured his place among NFL history's most esteemed. It's the team he all but abandoned that may never be the same.

In a season many within the Giants regime would agree rates as make-or-break in terms of the preservation of the team as it is now constituted, Strahan let it be known that his wants and needs easily come before all those caught in the crosshairs.

“The guy has become a real pain," one general manager said. "I don't know if he wants to play. He's always hurt, he missed all of training camp. If his head is not into it, they need to move on."

Try as they might, the Giants never earnestly thought of moving on because Michael Strahan never really allowed them to embrace that vibe. Each time the team seemed to take a step in that direction, there was was, back in the picture, providing them with just enough hope for the seduction to begin anew.

Throughout the entire affair, Michael Strahan seemed to have the Giants' at hello. Had them based on the memories of the 22-11 three-year regular season mark they've recently amassed with him, as opposed to the 3-12 statisical wreck they've been without him. And the numbers alone always tell us everything we need to know, right?

Michael Strahan has allowed himself to become just that big of anomaly. Just that much of a distraction. With him, sometimes even when you win, you may only be setting yourself up to lose it all.

To post a comment, you need to login or sign up.	Fan Comments