Giants By The Numbers: 92 Is For ...

by Ed Valentine on Jul 24, 2010 10:00 AM EDT in New York Giants By The Numbers

Michael Strahan during his retirement announcement. (Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images)

Umm ... Gee ... Wasn't there a guy, used to play defensive end ... Had a funny gap between his front teeth ... Was pretty good at rushing the quarterback ... Heard he might do some TV work these days.

What was his name? ... Strahan? ... Yeah, Michael Strahan ... That's the guy.

Yes, all kidding aside Strahan is the obvious -- and only -- choice for No. 92.

Strahan, a 1993 second-round draft pick, is the best defensive end to the ever play for the Giants, with apologies to old-timers who might want to make an argument for Hall of Famer Andy Robustelli. Strahan is a lock to become the 30th Giant enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

To be honest, the Giants' defense still misses Strahan. Not only the incredible talent and the fact that he drew constant double-teams, but the presence and locker room leadership as well. The defense has simply not had the same swagger since Strahan took his Super Bowl trophy and rode off into the sunset, taking his gap-toothed smile and larger-than-life personality to television.

Let's look at the numbers that summarize Strahan's career.

He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro in 15 seasons.
Set the single-season sack record in 2001 with 22.5, even if Brett Favre did lay down for the final one.
Had six double-digit sack seasons in his career.
Finished with 141.5 career sacks, tops on the 'official' franchise list and fifth all-time.

Giants' fans remember, of course, that Strahan and coach Tom Coughlin clashed initially when Coughlin took over in 2004. The fact that the two made peace, and that Strahan became a locker room leader standing behind TC, was one of the key developments that helped the Giants win a Super Bowl. His 'Stomp You Out' Super Bowl victory celebration is forever etched in the memory banks of Giants' fans.

In Strahan's book, "Inside the Helmet: My Life as a Sunday Afternoon Warrior," published in 2007 prior to the Super Bowl run, Strahan discussed his relationship with Coughlin.

"I think in a lot of ways we both have changed," Strahan said. "From my end there was a point where I said, 'Well, I can either be a part of the problem or I can be a part of the solution. And I wanted to be a part of the solution.

"I'm surprised that I've come around to this point, without a doubt," Strahan said. "And I'm surprised that he's changed and come around as much as he has as well. I think we both kind of figured out we almost need each other. Or maybe we both needed some adjustment in order to survive."

In Lew Freedman's book 'New York Giants: The Complete Illustrated History,' Strahan talked about the variety of ways teams tried to block him.

"I've seen tackle-guard, tackle-tight end, tackle-back, tight end-back and worst of all, tackle-tight end-back," Strahan said.

Fact is, none of it worked incredibly well against No. 92.

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Comments

2nd greatest

Giants defensive player in my lifetime. First of course being LT

by FrankB03 on Jul 24, 2010 10:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

harry carson - antonio pierce — kenny phillips — justin tuck — etc.

by Ahmad Bradshaw on Jul 24, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

IMO, Stray was 2nd best over Weinmeister

Longevity gives him the nod in a close contest. Fourth? Tunnell.

by blue gonz on Jul 24, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Okay and PS,

firth?
Rosey Brown.
sixth?
Tittle.
That’s as far as I’ll go.

by blue gonz on Jul 24, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Who?

Go New York Go!

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 24, 2010 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

I was wondering the same thing...

But than I remembered he’s that dude that does Subway commercials with Justin Tuck.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Jul 24, 2010 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

FB and Tito

I know, I know. At least 1 and 2 were modern era players, proving my impeccable lack of bias. 3-6 are in the HOF and I didn’t go back to pre WWII for Mel Hein

by blue gonz on Jul 24, 2010 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

that wasn’t a reply to you gonz…tho I don’t know who those guys are, it was just a response to this Strahan fella…who is he?

Go New York Go!

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 24, 2010 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh

Duh
I have been accused (quite unjustly, i assure you) of believing that it’s all about me.

by blue gonz on Jul 24, 2010 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

You wont get an argument from this old-timer, Ed,

Although I’ll defend to the death my opinion that indeed Robustelli was the second-best.

by blue gonz on Jul 24, 2010 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

The guy had to be one of, if not the strongest player in the league during his time

Jon Runyan is a massive man, but numerous times I saw him pick up Runyan on a bull rush and dismiss him like a child (please…).

Go New York Go!

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 24, 2010 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

lol

Ocho reference…

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Jul 24, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

even I have to agree, Ed.

Strahan as best defensive end; Robustelli as second best.

by grange77 on Jul 24, 2010 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

I have to go with Strahan on this one. He WAS a warrior on the field and he saved my life.

Heres how. I was walking down the street in NY one day when I saw this hot looking woman crossing the street. Damn she looked good but I also noticed that she was walking with some guy. I said to myself "Let me take a look at the guy to see what the lucky bastard looks like. ‘Lo and behold’ it was Micheal Strahan! I immediately approached him and said. “Mike, whats up man?” I stuck my hand out to shake his hand and he says as he is looking at the ground “My hands are full.” I looked down and realized that he had his twin daughters with him. So, I put my hand down and said as I was walking backwards in to the street “Good job in the SB.” and Mike says “Thank you.” Then he suddenly yells “LOOK OUT!!” I turn around and I see this Cab coming at me at about 35-40 mph. i catch my balance and manage to plant my self on the curb just as the cab whizzes by me. I turn and look at Strahan whose eyes are wide open but looking thankful. I gave him a nod, took a deep breath, checked my pants for crap and continued on my way. Talk about something to share when I got home. There you have it. 92 baby!

A game of Chess is like a sword fight....you must think first....before you move.

by LoNJDTechnology on Jul 24, 2010 10:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Oh I almost forgot...

The lady he was with was Eddie Murphy’s Ex wife.

A game of Chess is like a sword fight....you must think first....before you move.

by LoNJDTechnology on Jul 24, 2010 11:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

great story L-tech

And yes, for sloppy seconds, Eddie’s ex is the truth.

by wilddre22 on Jul 24, 2010 10:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Lol

A game of Chess is like a sword fight....you must think first....before you move.

by LoNJDTechnology on Jul 25, 2010 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions

So much of a cooler story than when I met Tiki

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Jul 24, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

You'll have to share that one.

Fan post anyone?

A game of Chess is like a sword fight....you must think first....before you move.

by LoNJDTechnology on Jul 24, 2010 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeaaa I think we can get somethin going with that.

Stories from when you met your favorite Giants?

I’ve met a few, tho none were nearly as exciting as your encounter.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Jul 24, 2010 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds good to me.

A game of Chess is like a sword fight....you must think first....before you move.

by LoNJDTechnology on Jul 25, 2010 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought my meeting with Plaixco in Barnes and Nobles a few years back was uneventful

Untill I realized tha fool was probably armed!

by Late for Dinner on Jul 26, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

met him a few months back

nicest guy ever. I told him i hope to see the 92 retired in the new building. His reply. “i do too, it’ll happen.”

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Jul 24, 2010 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

no question

Stray…is the greatest DL..in Giants Histroy….I’ve been blessed to have watched L.T from draft to H.O.F….and Stray from draft to retirement…
Coach Fox should get a great deal of credit for moving 92 to LE that singular move,IMO is what allowed Stray to flourish…hell it got Chad Bratzke a pay day..

Regroup refocus..retool...

by Mr.Williams on Jul 24, 2010 12:02 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

What a player.

Stra played tough every game, and got the job done. These guys don’t come along too often. Second only to LT, with Huff third.

by saturday on Jul 24, 2010 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

Strahan was incredibly strong

I wish he had passed on some of his workout discipline to Osi and Kiwi. Those two are too light. Osi wears so little padding. He should protect himself by bulking up.

At least Kiwi said that he really tried to get stronger this off-season. I don’t know why he hadn’t been trying every off-season but OK.

by GhostDini on Jul 24, 2010 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

well....Strahan was about 290lbs for a bulk of his career

that helped. That was his game too, Kiwi and Osi are more speed guys (Osi more so of course)

Go New York Go!

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 24, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I heard Keith Bullock

talking to Colin Cowherd months ago. Bullock had a season-ending injury and was still looking for a team. He said that within two months of his injury he had lost about 12 lbs. of muscle because he couldn’t work out. I immediately thought of Osi.

Osi looked very thin to me in the preseason games and I was right. When Osi was drafted he weighed 279 lbs. Last year he played at 261 lbs. That is a clear indication of Osi’s poor commitment to staying in the best shape possible. Don’t tell me it’s because he was injured. I feel that Osi thinks that he is so good that he doesn’t need to work out as hard as he could work.

Kiwi needed to bulk up as well. At 6’5 265 lbs., I saw him get blown off the ball by O-linemen too often. It took the threat of losing his starting job to finally give him the impetus to step it up in the weight room.

by GhostDini on Jul 24, 2010 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

speaking of Keith Bulluck......

He’s a NYG!

Go New York Go!

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 24, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/5407144

Go New York Go!

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 24, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I miss this guy....

I woulda bet money he was coming back for ’08….I can still remember being at work and hearing about him retiring….I was beside myself for the rest of the day.

"Throw the damn ball to Kevin Boss" - Andiamo708

by andiamo708 on Jul 24, 2010 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

Really?

I had a feeling that after the SB win, he would want to go out on top. If we had lost the SB or not have even made it to the SB, I would have thought he would come back

by #56 4life on Jul 24, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Truly a pleasure

Watching this man play.

I’ll always remember Michael hugging Eli telling him he loved him after the Super Bowl, knowing he would have never got that ring without him. I wish Tiki could have gone out the same way.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Jul 24, 2010 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

Greats

LT will always be #1(LB) and Michael will always be #1(DE) and all the other greats-Martin, Armstead, Carson , AP and on and on. I can’t remember who got picked #1 when LT got picked #2 in the draft but I’d like to thank them from the bottom of my heart, ditto the people who passed on Michael. Like someone already mentioned I got to see both their careers from beginning to end. LT was very vocal about wanting no part of the Giants prior to the draft as we were a rathole team at the time and he wanted to go to a contender.

by 7mike on Jul 24, 2010 6:14 PM EDT reply actions

#1 in 81.

I believe was George Rogers, running back. Went to the Saints, I think.

by ZILLAG on Jul 24, 2010 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

That's right

New Orleans had the first pick. Bum Phillips was the new coach. He had had success in Houston with Earl Campbell and wanted a big running back in NO, so he took George Rogers (rumor had it that his staff was begging him to take LT, but he knew what he wanted). Rogers was not a bad choice – 1981 offensive rookie of the year (LT was defensive ROY), 2 Pro Bowls. He just wasn’t LT.

Mickey C

by Mickey C on Jul 24, 2010 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Hard to tell

whether Strahan was better than Robustelli. Two players who were dominant at their position in their eras and received just about every award imaginable (agreeing that Strahan’s HOF is just a matter of waiting the required five years). I don’t see why we have to say one is better than the other; why not just call them even?

Mickey C

by Mickey C on Jul 24, 2010 8:58 PM EDT reply actions

Speaking

of great Giants defenders, I’m sure you guys love having Keith Bulluck in the fold. That guy can still play. He was a wise pickup.

Brad James

by the new Bradfather on Jul 25, 2010 3:45 AM EDT reply actions

2nd best fundamentals I've ever seen.

Reggie White was the Master of the Swim, the Rip…you name it. But #92 was the second best ever. And it’s a close second. I really wish the guy would come back and coach. I read the other day the Raiders are showing their rookies video of Stray to teach them how it’s done.

I left my swagger in my other pants.

by HughG16 on Jul 26, 2010 4:15 PM EDT reply actions