Aug 25, 2008 - 8:28 PM
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Strahan, the franchise's all-time leader in sacks, reportedly spoke to a Giants official about a possible return on Monday.
Citing a source close to the seven-time Pro Bowler, The Daily News reported that a team official called Strahan to gauge his interest in returning. The newspaper also reported that it is unclear when Strahan will speak with the Giants again.
Earlier in the day the newspaper reported the 36-year-old Strahan, who retired in the offseason after helping the Giants win the Super Bowl, would return to the team if offered an $8 million contract for this season.
"If the Giants make a sincere overture, it's a good chance that Strahan would consider coming back," the source said, according to the newspaper. "There are other things he has to take into consideration: the money and his contract with Fox."
After announcing his retirement, Strahan took a job with Fox Sports as a studio analyst.
In Monday's earlier report, the Daily News quoted a source as saying, "But if the Giants really want him, they have a shot. It's not out of the question."
Co-owner Steve Tisch told the New York Post that the team is open to Strahan returning.
"Would I like Michael to be a New York Giants this season? Absolutely. Absolutely," Tisch told the Post. "Will he be? I have no idea. I don't even want to put a percentage on it but things changed very quickly (Saturday) night and if one of the potential solutions is to reach out to Michael, worst-case, it's certainly worth a phone call."
Strahan was in Greece on vacation and unaware of Umenyiora's season-ending injury, which occurred in Saturday night's preseason game against the New York Jets.
A major void was created along the Giants' defensive line when Umenyiora, who led the team with 13 sacks last season, suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. The Pro Bowler will undergo surgery Tuesday.
In an interview with the NFL Network, Strahan failed to confirm the possibility of returning.
"I haven't heard from anybody else, so to say if I would or wouldn't is premature," Strahan said. "So I'm enjoying my retired life right now."
When asked if the Giants had considered luring Strahan out of retirement, coach Tom Coughlin admitted Sunday that he had recently spoken to the four-time All-Pro but claimed that the conversation centered around the future Hall of Famer's new broadcasting career.
Strahan, who ranks fifth on the NFL's all-time list with 141 1/2 sacks, spent his entire 15-year career with the Giants. The highlight of his career came in February when the Giants stunned the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Coughlin did announce Monday that that Mathias Kiwanuka will take Umenyiora's place at right end.
A 2006 first-round pick, Kiwanuka played strongside linebacker last year. He missed the final six regular-season games and playoffs with a broken leg.
"I talked with (Kiwanuka) yesterday and he was more than ready to do whatever we wanted him to do that was in the best interest of the team," Coughlin said.
