No one in a position of authority with the New York Giants is going to say it, but from here it seems pretty obvious the team is preparing for life after Michael Strahan.
How else do you explain the drafting of Robert Henderson, who would seem to have no shot to make the team if Strahan is in uniform? The drafting of two linebackers who would seem to make it OK to move Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end if the need arose? The fact that veteran defensive end Renaldo Wynn, who played for Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville, visited yesterday and could sign with the team soon?
Strahan is, arguably, the second-best defensive player in Giants' history behind Lawrence Taylor. I have been hoping, and will continue to hope, that he returns for a 16th season. The way he played last year, with 9 regular-season sacks, you know he still has the ability.
Strahan was coy Wednesday night when asked -- again -- whether he plans to play this season.
"I'll be honest with you, I pretty much know what I'm going to do right now," Strahan said. "But you know what the thing is? If I say it, I can't change my mind. So I would rather wait until I know I'm 100% sure that when I say what I'm going to do, I'm going to do it."
Maybe I'm reading too much into Strahan's comments. Obviously, all we can do until he makes a definitive announcement is speculate on what we think he is going to do.
To me, though, Strahan sounds like a guy who is ready to take his Super Bowl ring and his 141.5 career sacks and go home.
If that is ultimately what he decides to do, I certainly couldn't blame him for that. He has certainly earned it.
[NOTE: Voting has closed for the second cornerback position on the Big Blue View All-Time Giants Team. I will announce the winner, and open voting for the last safety position, over the weekend.]