MICHAEL STRAHAN: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY
August 6th, 2007 | by HG |There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Michael Strahan 
was trying to get a few extra bucks from the Giants since the ex-wife got him for 15mil. I thought he was right for doing it. It never hurts to try. I quickly turned on Strahan when training camp rolled around and he didn’t show up. My line of thought was he tried to get the money, it didn’t work, go to camp… When he didn’t show I read it as a money struggle… And it still could be, but #92’s statement did a good job of convincing me that this really isn’t about the money. I probably got Jedi mind tricked by Strahan’s PR staff but I no longer think it’s about the money. Michael just doesn’t feel like going to Coughlin’s  training camp.
This off season has been one of the best in my professional career. I have worked extremely hard to make sure that I’m in shape and ready to tackle the rigors of another physical season. I am proud to say that at my body feels years younger and ready to compete at the highest level. I love training and preparation, and this off season has made it clear to me that this is one aspect of the game that I will miss tremendously when I decide to one day unstrap the helmet for the last time.
When I translate that I get “Look, I’m ready to go, I’m in shape. I been doing this for 15 years, I don’t need this training camp bs.” Plenty of vets have felt this way, and have had similar “holdouts” to avoid training camp. Strahan also had a message for those of you (me) that thought he was all about the Benjamins:
Despite what some might believe there are those of us who make decisions that have nothing to do with money. Many athletes ask themselves daily if they are emotionally and psychologically at the level where they can compete at the highest level for twenty-four weeks. For them also it isn’t about the money, rather a serious athlete asking serious questions about his future. All that I ask, after fourteen seasons, is that you afford me the patience so that I might arrive at my decision on my own terms.
Yeah, you can call me a sucker or whatever, but I don’t think Michael is doing this for the cash. Don’t get me wrong, he could use a few extra bucks and he’ll probably go back to training musicians on the side.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knAuswdP2xo[/youtube]
Giants: Strahan releases statement. Courtesy of Newsday
