Guess Who's Bizzack!?

MICHAEL STRAHAN!! YAY!! One BIG BLUE happy family! Word came out early last week that he was in contact with Giants GM Jerry Reese, and that they had "constructive and positive" talks. At that time, Strahan was expected to officially make a decision by mid week. Of course, that didn't happen. Finally, almost a week after the Strahan story resurfaced, we have a definitive answer. Michael Strahan is not retiring! On Friday, he said said he's ending his holdout and reporting to the Giants effective Monday, September 3rd! IT IS ABOUT DAMN TIME! He missed 36 days of training camp, and all four of the Giants preseason games. At $14,288 per day, Strahan has racked up a whopping $514,368 in fines. Strahan and the Giants have worked out a deal to considerably reduce that amount, and he's still scheduled to make a cool $4 mil this season. The Giants regular season opener is Sun, 9.9 at Dallas. This would leave him less than a week to prepare, but head coach Tom Coughlin said he won't play in the game.

Everyone, including Strahan, knows he's getting old. Let's face it, he didn't want to go through yet another training camp. Training camp is for rookies and walkons, not 15 year veterans. Who the hell wants to do two-a-days in sweltering August heat? Not a 35 year old man! Instead of risking a freak preseason injury, he worked out in L.A. for a few weeks. Sure it cost him a few bucks but he has been doing this since forever and he'll be right back in the mix. A bit late, but still needed. Strahan is an emotional leader and adds character and fire to a team that is otherwise pretty dull. The Giants are going to have a pivotal season, with Tiki Barber gone and Eli Manning at the reins. Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns are the ground game, and if the starting WRs, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, can stay healthy, the air isn't too bad. Young guys Sinorice Moss and Steve Smith could come up big this season as well. The defense has battled injuries during the preseason, with Sam Madison dealing with hamstring trouble and Will Demps on IR because of a dislocated elbow. Some of the regulars will still be there, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Fred Robbins and Antonio Pierce.

Strahan's timing coincides with the deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to a regular season limit of 53 players. The Giants released 21 players, including six-year vet Tim Hasselbeck, who lost his third string job to Anthony Wright. Big Blue also let go tight end Charles Davis, wide receivers Brandon London and Kevin McMahan, offensive linemen Justin Jones, Jon Dunn, Ryan Keenan, Todd Londot and Matt Lentz, defensive ends Tommy Davis and Marquis Gunn, defensive tackles Jonas Seawright and Tui Alailafaleula, linebackers James Davis and Tyson Smith, cornerbacks Gerrick McPhearson, Darren Barnett and E.J. Underwood, guard Zach Piller, safety J.R. Reed, punter Cory Ohnesorge and kicker Josh Huston. London, Lentz, Gunn and Underwood were signed to the practice squad. They also claimed two players off waivers, CB Dovonte Edwards from the Vikings and G Kevin Boothe from the Raiders.

Hate It or Love It

I have a love/hate relationship with NFL preseason games. I love em cuz it means that football, no matter how sloppy and uncoordinated, starts in August, not September. It means that I get to take a look at some of my favorite teams before the season starts, find strengths and flaws, and see how the team gels. Preseason gives you a rare look at guys who never take the field in the reg season, backups, guys who wanna make the team, and rookies. Preseason is also the time of unlikely, untimely, unexpected, devastating, too-fuckin-early-ass injuries. EVERY preseason, without fail, players get hurt. Some with tweaked ankles, others with season ending injuries. The New York Giants played the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night and OMG did we feel it! First of all, the Giants didn't look that great, yet they eeked out a 13-12 win. Baltimore's defense is sick!! The Giants lost 5, count em - 5, guys in this game. Back to back injuries, hell, I even got hurt! Some guys look like they'll be ready to go for the season opener, others are DONE for the season.

1) CB Sam Madison – Pulled Hamstring
He injured this same hamstring last season and missed about 4 weeks. Season opener? It's questionable.

2) FS Will Demps – Dislocated Elbow
He said he's had this injury before in is career and he was back in 2-3 weeks. Doctors, however, say the healing process takes more like 4-6 weeks. We'll see, but as for now, count his ass out.

3) WR Steve Smith – Concussion
He scored the only touchdown of the game for the Giants. Eli really threaded the needle with the pass he threw to Smith in the end zone. As he caught it, 2 defensive players converged on him, he caught an elbow to the head, and he suffered a concussion. He returned to practice Tuesday, and he's lookin like he should be ready to go.

4) PR Michael Jennings – Torn Achilles Tendon

Jennings caught a nice ass pass as he was going out of bounds. Somehow, someway during the scramble the shit popped. You already know how I feel about the Achilles. Damn that Achilles!!

5) C Greg Ruegamer – Sprained Ankle
Backup center, hopefully it stays just a sprained ankle.

Not only that, there was another scare on the sidelines. Third string QB Jared Lorenzen ran out of bounds on a play and stepped on RB Brandon Jacobs foot. Big ass 6'4, 285 lb Lorenzen steppin on big ass 6'4, 264 lb Jacobs foot. Jacobs ended up ok, but damn. We cannot afford to have Jacobs injured, missing games with a foot injury. We all saw what happened to Shaun Alexander last season...

For the Ravens, Troy Smith came out in the 4th quarter and as a Big Ten fanatic, it was nice to see him on the field. He looked good, and if there was more time on the clock he might have been able to lead them to a game winning score. He's fightin for the 3rd QB spot against Drew "Who" Olson, and uhh, the Heisman Winner will get it. He was 4-8 for 60 yards. Smith learning from Steve McNair? He did his thing at OSU, and his future, like his past, is very bright.

Strahan, Strahan, Strahan (And The Giants...)

As if his nasty, public divorce wasn't enough for him, New York Giants DE Michael Strahan has found yet another way to keep his name in everyone's mouth. He has yet to report to training camp, which started on July 27th (hey, my birthday!!) up in Albany. $8 million over the next 2 years just isn't enough for him, and he wants to renegotiate his contract. When the Giants held firm and said they would not restructure, Strahan said he's mulling retirement. After 14 years in the league, it's understandable. BUT!!!! If His wife hadn't taken him to the cleaners, and hung his wallet out to dry, I would believe that. She won $15.3 million divorce settlement! The fact of the matter is Strahan NEEDS the money!! $$$$$$$!! For sitting out of training camp, the Giants have decided to fine him $14,288 for each day he doesn't show. So this retirement mess is just a ploy to get more money out of the team, and uhhh, it seems more like he's losin money rather than makin it.

I've been a Strahan fan for years, and I would love to see him be part of the 2007 Giants lineup. He has the most career sacks among active players with 132.5. This puts him above guys like Simeon Rice, Jason Taylor, Kevin Carter and Warren Sapp, all OGs in the sack game. He missed half of last season with a foot injury, and if I was part of management, I wouldn't risk signing him for even more years and even more money at his age. I read that Strahan's expected to make an announcement about his future in the next couple of days. I also heard today that his agent contacted several teams in the offseason, to see if they were interested in a trade. And uhhh, no one was with it. I don't have a problem with you renegotiating your contract. By all means, get that cake. But don't wait til now to put your foot down. A contract is a contract, and you really don't have a leg to stand on. Hell, get a better agent. I'm sure someone else could have done a better job getting you some money, but sitting out like this? You look like a crazy old man.

Strahan, here's my personal message to you - CRAP OR GET OFF THE POT!! BRING YO ASS OR GET THE HELL ON!!! You and I both know you need the money! $4 million this season is MORE than enough for most people, but this divorce payout has you all fucked up!! And clearly it's more than any other team is willing to give you. If you actually wanna retire, then go out like a real hero. Let us love you out the door, not shove you out over a fake retirement stand off. Do like Jerome Bettis, retire, cop mad endorsements, and get that GUAP!! If you're feeling old, then BE OLD. Shit, at 35, you're no damn spring chicken! Get the hell outta the way so we can MOVE THE FUCK ON!! This is a holdout, not the retirement your trying to pass it off as. I love you Mike, but you are getting fined over $14 grand for every day you refuse to show up. And we all know you need the money!! You have alimony AND child support, nigga you better WORK! If you don't, be prepared to be suspended, fined, AND get your bonuses taken away! The Giants and fans love you, but if you chose not to play, we WILL move on.

But if Michael Strahan decides it's not worth it to comeback, I'm good. The Giants are going to be a totally different team in 2007. Tiki Barber is gone, and Brandon Jacobs is the 2nd coming. He is a POWER HOUSE and this season he'll get more than just goal line and short yardage opportunities. He's going to be the starter and he'll play a huge role this season in the Giants offensive game. Not to mention the acquisition of Reuben Droughns in the offseason. We got running backs galore! It's not just the RB position that's been upgraded, but the wide receiver as well. Amani Toomer is back and ahead of schedule with rehabbing his knee. Plaxico Burress stepped up his game last season, and if he can stay healthy this season, I look forward to seeing more of him this season. I've been a Burress fan from his days as a Pittburgh Steeler, and he and Eli Manning have a connection that grows stronger with time. And just in case he also gets injured again, the Giants drafted WR Steve Smith out of USC in the second round of this years draft. Word on the street is he's FIYAHH!! I'm looking to see how much playing time he'll get behind guys like Toomer and Burress. I'm excited to see them all back on the field. And if I was head coach Tom Coughlin, I would tell backup QB Jared Lorenzen to keep his helmet on cuz if Manning reverts to fetus mode on the field, like he usually does under pressure, he's out. I don't care if he is Peyton Manning's baby bro, he is GONE and the Pillbury Throwboy is in there. Like swimwear.

The Tampa bay Buccaneers waived defensive end Simeon Rice last week and he's been making his rounds thoughout the NFL to see who wants to pick him up. He came by the Giants facilities on the 1st of August, passed his physical, and is still shopping for a team. Rice is an old ass like Strahan, at 33 years of age and 12 years in the league. He has 121 sacks, second only to Strahan among active players. We made need him if Strahan decides not to come back.