All indications continue to point to Michael Strahan returning to the Giants.
According to a league source with knowledge of Strahan's plans, the Giants' 35-year-old defensive end is expected to return to the New York area from southern California as soon as today or tomorrow, which would put him on schedule to be back with the team by the weekend or perhaps Monday. He could show up in street clothes on the sidelines for the Giants-Jets preseason game Saturday at Giants Stadium. Or else he'd return when the team has its first practice at Giants Stadium on Monday.
That Strahan would return on the day the Giants break camp echoes what we've been hearing in recent days, that he'd return once two-a-days were over. According to a team official, Strahan has not informed the Giants that he's coming back to the area.
There is always the chance that Strahan will remain away from the team and continue his flirtation with retirement, even if he's back in the area. But that is a remote possibility at this point, because he has given strong indications to people close to him that he's ready to return.
Strahan has accrued close to $400,000 in fines as a result of his absence, although there are indications the team is prepared to reduce that amount if he returns to the team. The Giants do not want to further alienate Strahan by pursuing the entire amount, yet they are also sensitive to the fact that eliminating the fines entirely will send the wrong message to other players who might think about staging similar holdouts in the future.
(SEE UPDATE ABOVE)
Comments (5)
This is somewhat good news but I don't like the fact that Strahan is pulling a Roger Clemens here. "I'll show up to play when I want to" doesn't cut it in the NFL. He's going to need plenty of practice reps to get into playing shape and he should have been with the Giants in Albany. But I'll be happy to welcome him back because the D needs him.
Bob - another coup by you. Do you ever get any of these predictions from "a source close to the story" correct?
Welcome home!
Big Mike is in town now.. My girlfriend just called me to tell me Strahan was in her store shopping. She is a Mgr. of a store in Hartford, CT. Bout time Mike...
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