Here are a few more nuggets from our talk yesterday morning next to the Oscar Meyer "Weinbermobile" in Times Square. (What can I say? Reporters interview their subjects in some odd places. This was just another one.) 
On others telling him he should keep playing because he's still able to perform at a high level: "Trust me, everyody is saying 'Don’t retire.' It's hard. But two years ago, everybody said Brett Favre should have retired, and now they're saying he's a fool for retiring. You've got to retire on your own time. You can’t listen to what other people say, because nobody knows what I’m going through or those other guys are going through to know what it takes to play outside of the person playing. So my decision will be for me."
On Osi Umenyiora saying Strahan will definitely be back: "He always says that. He’d love to see me play for 10 more years so he doesn’t get double-teamed so often."
On why he still works out almost every day: "I have to work out and stretch just to be able to function every day."
On his frantic off-season schedule: "I've been here [in the New York area], in Tennessee, Vail, Colo., Las Vegas, California. I’ve always done a lot of stuff, but now it’s just increased a little bit because of the Super Bowl. I haven't had much time to relax."
On a potential career in television: "There are opportunities there, without a dout. That’s the great thing, that I do have opoprtunities if I retire. At least I'll have an oportunity to do something else somewhat in the same field I've been in."
On his sense of competitiveness: "The competitiveness will never go away. With my mentality, even if a big guy walks up to me on the street and says, 'Hello, Michael, how are you doing?' the first thing in my mind is I would like to challenge him on the field. I don't know why that is. The competitiveness never goes away."
Comments (4)
"On Osi Umenyiora saying Strahan will definitely be back: 'He always says that. He’d love to see me play for 10 more years so he doesn’t get double-teamed so often.'"
Many a truth often said in jest. Umenyiora doesn't want to be exposed but he shouldnt worry. Tuck will pick up the slack if Strahn does indeed retire, but those will be big shoes to fill.
GB-
Good stuff.
If Strahan thinks he can take the physical toll in the coming season, it's the best possible senario for him.
1) He doesn't need to carry the team
2) He doesn't need to carry the defense.
3) Heck, he doesn't even need to carry the D-line. He can be just one of the boys, a group of vicious dogs going wild in a system designed for them to do so, with coaches that value them.
4) The team is primed to succeed again.
5) He'll get paid.
6) Nothing to prove, no pressure, just pleasure.
7) Play to win, don't have to win, already has the ring.
8) He gets a big stage to speak from, and continue to enjoy.
9) Another year of fun with the guys, without much weight on his shoulders.
All the hard work has already paid off, career-wise. If he comes back, he's already got the cake, the rest is extra frosting... delicious, creamy, rich frosting.
LT:
I will pass along your thoughts to MS.
GB-
Sounds good, don't forget to mention the cake.