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This time, Strahan hopes to be a Super savor

BY ARTHUR STAPLE | arthur.staple@newsday.com

January 27, 2008

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Michael Strahan gave a quick speech to his teammates Monday about what to expect from Super Bowl week.

Strahan gave his younger teammates (plus Jeff Feagles, who's older) the lowdown on how to handle this past week with family, tickets and such. He talked about media day, about the hype.

Most important, he talked about the game itself. That's what left the most indelible impression on the 15-year vet from his other Super Bowl experience.

"He basically said that he woke up on Monday, saw the highlights or whatever and realized he'd been in the game, but it was like it went by too fast," rookie tight end Kevin Boss said. "I'm glad he's got another chance."

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Another chance that almost didn't happen. Strahan got the 2007 season off on the wrong foot by calling Tom Coughlin well after the coach's bedtime on the eve of training camp to say Strahan was staying in California to mull retirement.

After 36 days, he returned, $200,000 lighter for the fine he paid. But everything since then has been roses for Strahan and Coughlin, who asked the 15-year veteran to speak to the team Monday.

Now that Strahan has told his teammates what to expect, he wants to enjoy this trip far more than the week in Tampa seven years ago for Super Bowl XXXV.

"I think last time we went, it was that we were almost happy thinking we made the Super Bowl, but you learn that the ultimate thing is to win it," he said. "I am focused on winning, doing whatever we have to do to win, and to be honest with you, I am handling everything early. If you didn't get tickets from me, stop asking; you are not getting tickets. I'm done with tickets, I'm done with rooms. Don't call me talking about 'I have a double bed but I need a single.' I don't want to hear it. I'm handling everything now, it is done, and now I can relax and go through like a regular week and play and enjoy the Super Bowl."

Strahan and Tiki Barber had a quick chat this past week. Barber said Tuesday on his Sirius satellite radio show that he truly has no regrets, even with his old team getting to Super Bowl XLII in the first year after his retirement. Strahan felt a bit differently.

"If I'd quit and we got to the Super Bowl and won? Oh, I'm coming back here and holding somebody hostage until I get a ring," he said. "I understand Tiki made his decision. It's just unfortunate timing."

Strahan has had his go-rounds with various members of the media as well as teammates. He and Barber mixed it up during Strahan's contract negotiations several years ago, and Strahan had run-ins with Coughlin and first-year general manager Jerry Reese.

The way this season began, it seemed as if Strahan might go out on a low note if this turned out to be his final season. Now he's thinking about going out in style.

"Winning sure would help in a lot of different ways. It would make me go, 'Hmm,'" he said. "At that point, I think I would probably have everything I have ever imagined in football. You can look at it and go, 'I can end like [John] Elway or I can end like [Jerome] Bettis,' and all those things which is everybody's dream, but to be honest with you, I don't know if this is my last year or not."

He's had fun through this crazy ride, without any of the drama he's experienced in his previous 14 seasons. Even yesterday, the final day of Giants practice before they head to Arizona tomorrow, Strahan showed he can take a joke.

As the team stretched before practice, strength coach and constant butt of player jokes Jerry Palmieri stood in front of the team with a length of rope.

"Michael, why'd you bring your dental floss out to practice?" Palmieri said to the roars of the players.

As he walked off to the sideline, the gap-toothed Strahan smiled easily. "I've been killing the guy for four years," he said. "It's about time he got me back."

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