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E-GIANTS By Dave Klein
It will be a huge surprise if former Giants' defensive end Michael Strahan is not one of the newest members, and a first-ballot inductee as well. This is his first year of eligibility - has it really been five years since he retired? - and like linebacker Lawrence Taylor before him, there is just no reason why he would be excluded. Strahan is no stranger to anyone these days since he is the co-host of the Kelly (Ripa) and Michael Show which airs nationally every weekday morning on the ABC Network. He is also a member of the FOX Sports panel that appears every Sunday pregame during the NFL season. Strahan played 15 years in the NFL - all with the Giants after they drafted him in the second round of the 1993 selection process. He was the 40th overall choice, having completed his collegiate career at Texas Southern University. Michael holds the NFL single season sack record with 22.5 in 2001, and finished his career with 141.5 sacks, which established a team career record by surpassing the 132.5 recorded by Taylor (1982-1993). The careers of these two superstars were almost identical until Strahan's final push vaulted him ahead in all categories. Strahan holds the single season sack record, as noted, with 22.5 while Taylor had previously set the team record with 20.5. The sack, the one that broke the established NFL record previously set by Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets, came against the Green Bay Packers on the final day of the 2001 season when quarterback Brett Favre "slipped" late in the fourth quarter and Strahan fell on him for an official sack. It looked like a gift, but Favre would only say "I slipped, and Strahan was there." His action drew criticism in the press and especially on television but it was official and it stands today, despite a recent onslaught from Houston's J.J. Watts this season. If elected as expected, Strahan will become the seventh who played only for the Giants during his career, the others being Rosey Brown, Harry Carson, Frank Gifford, Tom Landry, Tuffy Leemans and Taylor. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** The Giants and the Jets have been turned down by the NFL in their request to keep the two Super Bowl teams next year away from their practice and training facilities. ... Since the NFL assigns locations for the weekly practice, it will be a league decision only, and since both teams have state-of-the-art facilities within easy travel to MetLife Stadium, there is a more than realistic chance they'll be assigned to the Giants' Timex Performance Center and the Jets' digs in Florham Park, N.J. Oh, and about the weather next year. Super Bowl 48 may turn out to be the coldest in the history of this corporately-drive extravaganza if temperature patterns merely hold steady. ... The previous coldest ever was in New Orleans for Super Bowl 6, when the officially recorded temperature was 39 degrees. ... The game was played in Tulane Stadium before the construction of the Superdome. And chances are it will be very cold on Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, no matter what Joe Flacco thinks of the decision. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** The point spread for Super Bowl 47 has moved from 3.5 to 5, depending on the day and the hour. ... Looking for an edge? ... Ravens' safety Ed Reed, who figures to be a huge factor, is the only player on either team whose hometown is New Orleans. ... Which is why it's such a shame that the Giants and Broncos aren't here, since both Mannings (Eli and Peyton) are natives of the Big Easy. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Former Giants' draft choice safety Chad Jones (LSU, third round, 2010) who nearly lost his foot in an automobile accident three weeks after being drafted, had a tryout with the New Orleans Saints. ... Rob Ryan, twin brother of Rexie, seemed to have the defensive coordinator's job in St. Louis locked up three days ago but now an announcement has been made by the team that all plans are off. ... Apparently, head coach Jeff Fisher, upon serious reflection, seems to feel there would not be the proper "mix" if Rob became a member of the staff. ... Would Rexie hire him for the Jets? ... Golly, imagine all the fun that would generate. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Finally, from comedian Emo Philips: "A computer once beat me in chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing." Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS
where you can subscribe to his newsletters which
run much more frequently than what is available here. NEW - Send a request to davesklein@aol.com for a free week's worth of news!
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