A GIANT AMONG MEN

michael strahan retired yesterday. 15 years in the nfl. one team. superbowl champion. that's how he wanted to go out and i guess i can't blame him.

a lot of people, including myself, didn't think he would retire. he went through a messy divorce last year and was forced to give up a huge chunk of his fortune. everyone just assumed he would string us along until after training camp just like he did last year. i wouldn't have had a problem with that.

but he didn't. instead, he's decided to hand in his helmet, hang up his shoulder pads, for what most likely will be a television job. i still haven't quite come to grips with it. i'm hoping that he'll change his mind in a month or two, but i don't think that'll happen.

strahan was a giant. drafted in the second round fifteen years ago, he played his entire career for new york, which is a feat unto itself. he finished with 141 1/2 sacks (5th all time). he holds the single season sack record with 22 1/2. he was relentless in the pass rush, but equally dominating when stopping the run game. he controlled the line of scrimmage like few players i can remember. and he's been the face of this team for as long as i can remember. he's seen great giant players come and go on this team and all the while, he's been the best of the best.

i'm not sure what the public's perception of him is outside of new york. he obviously had the chunky soup commercials, but also had the public feud with tiki and his coach. in my opinion, though, he was just a great football player. often times he would speak his mind after a game and you'd shake your head. maybe you didn't agree with his "ballin'" fadeaway after every sack even if it was hilarious. but still, he always did it with a quiet dignity and a little bit of child-like silliness. my lasting memory of him will be his gapped-tooth smile and the display of his massive biceps after making a great play in the opposing team's backfield.... oh and let's not forget the superbowl win over the pats.