The Michael Strahan Saga: Selfish or Sincere??
The recent holdout by the Michael Strahan saga had seemingly started out to be the usual “am I too old or can I play” dilemma that all future hall of fame NFL players face at the conclusion of their careers. However, if you look at what has happened since the conclusion of the 2006 season and the comments that Strahan has made recently, I think it is overwhelmingly more about Michael trying to get more money than an athlete struggling with a difficult decision.
First of all it is common knowledge that Michael and his agent have tried to renegotiate an extension to his existing contract at the beginning of the year. However, according to many sources including NFL.com, the negotiations never amounted to anything significant or serious.
Second, Strahan and his former wife finalized their divorce this summer with the Jude awarding her over $15 million in alimony. Half of which had to be paid now and the other half is in a temporary stay until a jury determines if the amount was too much.
And finally, why I believe this whole fiasco is about Michael trying to get more money than his dilemma in retiring is the fact that Michael had 7 and half months to think about this decision. If this issue was in no way about money he would have made a decision at the conclusion of last season and he would have committed himself 100% to that decision. (Take Bret Favre and Tiki Barber as prime examples). However, in Strahans case he is at the end of his existing contract and it would be financially beneficial if he could negotiate a new contract, get a signing bonus and then retire after 1 or 2 years within the contract. Unfortunately for him, management new he was washed up and he is not near the worth the player he thinks he is.
For that reason, Michael can only now whine and complain how he is being treated unfairly through his “decision making” process and how he is not getting the proper respect the single season sack leader deserves. He is only making himself look more like a fool than the great player and person he is.
August 8th, 2007 at 12:38 am
The funny part to me is that why would the Giants negotiate at this point. They know his wife has him by you know what and that is a lot of money. He lost a lot on this divorce and his leverage is long gone. I think he’s a great football player and I wish he was a Chicago Bear, but if I’m the Giants I call his bluff and keep taking the money from him due to his fine for missing practice. He has no leverage to me at all and I’d let him sit until he comes back even poorer than he was before his wife got to him. Maybe it’s a way for his wife not to get so much, if he retires or gets fined. Who knows really? It’s an interesting topic though.