EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants are interested in luring Michael Strahan out of retirement after losing Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury Saturday night.
The Super Bowl champions contacted the representative for the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end on Monday to gauge Strahan's interest in returning for a 16th season.
“They want to see if there is any interest there,” agent Tony Agnone told The Associated Press. “I have to talk to Michael.”
Strahan is on vacation in Greece. Agnone said he has not talked to him about the Giants' inquiry.
Agnone described the Giants' call as a courtesy - for now - and noted the two sides did no negotiating.
“Part of the talk was about Osi,” said Agnone, who also represents Umenyiora.
Strahan turned down a $6 million contract offer in the offseason. He then signed with Fox Sports to work on its NFL pregame show.
With Strahan's status uncertain, the Giants shuffled their defense Monday and moved Mathias Kiwanuka back to end from his strongside linebacker spot.
“I was told all along that if something were to happen that this is a position I could find myself in,” Kiwanuka said. “I am ready to step in there and hopefully there won't be a letdown at all.”
A 2006 first-round draft choice, Kiwanuka was switched to linebacker 17 months ago so the Giants could get their best 11 defenders on the field.
Whatever happens with Strahan, it seems certain that Kiwanuka is going to be a defensive lineman this season, even if Strahan returns.
“We are going to go forward with the players that we have,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “And we are always looking for and searching for people who can help our team. And nothing is going to change with regard to that.”
General manager Jerry Reese had said earlier Monday that the Giants were looking at all their options.
Jets quarterback Brett Favre, recently unretired himself, said the Giants should do whatever possible to get Strahan back.
“The guy still looks great, hell of a player,” Favre said at the Jets' facility in Hempstead, N.Y. “I would have done whatever to try to get him back initially, but now, how could you not want him back?
“Wouldn't that be something, he comes back and we start a trend?”
“They want to see if there is any interest there,” agent Tony Agnone told The Associated Press. “I have to talk to Michael.”
Strahan is on vacation in Greece. Agnone said he has not talked to him about the Giants' inquiry.
Agnone described the Giants' call as a courtesy - for now - and noted the two sides did no negotiating.
“Part of the talk was about Osi,” said Agnone, who also represents Umenyiora.
Strahan turned down a $6 million contract offer in the offseason. He then signed with Fox Sports to work on its NFL pregame show.
With Strahan's status uncertain, the Giants shuffled their defense Monday and moved Mathias Kiwanuka back to end from his strongside linebacker spot.
“I was told all along that if something were to happen that this is a position I could find myself in,” Kiwanuka said. “I am ready to step in there and hopefully there won't be a letdown at all.”
A 2006 first-round draft choice, Kiwanuka was switched to linebacker 17 months ago so the Giants could get their best 11 defenders on the field.
Whatever happens with Strahan, it seems certain that Kiwanuka is going to be a defensive lineman this season, even if Strahan returns.
“We are going to go forward with the players that we have,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “And we are always looking for and searching for people who can help our team. And nothing is going to change with regard to that.”
General manager Jerry Reese had said earlier Monday that the Giants were looking at all their options.
Jets quarterback Brett Favre, recently unretired himself, said the Giants should do whatever possible to get Strahan back.
“The guy still looks great, hell of a player,” Favre said at the Jets' facility in Hempstead, N.Y. “I would have done whatever to try to get him back initially, but now, how could you not want him back?
“Wouldn't that be something, he comes back and we start a trend?”
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