Through everything the Giants have experienced for a decade, though the crumble under Dan Reeves, the rebirth under Jim Fassel, the rise to the Super Bowl and the plummet to last place, Michael Strahan has been the only constant on the field and in the locker room.
Through the transition to Tom Coughlin, through the unexpected fast start and the equally unexpected loss this past Sunday to the Bears, Strahan, as always, has been there for the Giants. The sturdy defensive end, a six-time Pro Bowler who’s chasing down Lawrence Taylor for the franchise sack record, is a fixture if ever there is one in the here today, gone tomorrow world of the NFL.
Even those solid as a rock, however, can crack, and Strahan’s invulnerability was shattered yesterday when word came down that he’s done for the season because of a torn right pectoral muscle.
Strahan will have surgery tomorrow. The injury occurred with 9:43 left in the third quarter of the brutal 28-21 loss to the Bears, as Strahan instinctively reached out behind him with his right arm to stop running back Anthony Thomas on a five-yard run. He knew he was hurt badly but hoped the injury was a strain and not a tear. An MRI and ultrasound examinations confirmed the worst fears for the Giants, that the muscle was indeed torn.
“Since I’ve been here I don’t think I’ve ever been on the field without Michael,” cornerback Will Allen said. “Will it be weird? Yeah.”
Nothing good came out of this latest loss. In addition to losing Strahan, the Giants also lost their other starting defensive end, Keith Washington, who will require season-ending knee surgery.
No player has been with the team as long as Strahan and none of them was around on Dec. 17, 1995, when Strahan did not play in Dallas because of a strained hamstring. He hasn’t missed a game since, a stretch of 137 consecutive games and 95 starts, not including the five postseason games he has started. His 118 career sacks is 12th on the all-time list and second on the Giants to Taylor’s 1321/2.
“We see what Michael means to this team every time we take the field,” Coughlin said. “On the field, our players look to him for inspiration. Actions inspire. What the average person doesn’t see is what a leader Michael is in the locker room and in the weight room when nobody is watching.”
Coming off a dismal performance by quarterback Kurt Warner, after blowing a 14-0 lead, the Giants limp this weekend to Arizona as a depleted defense in need of an emotional spark.
Reinforcements are needed and the Giants will bring defensive ends in today for a look-see. “There are some decent players out there,” GM Ernie Accorsi said, “but there aren’t any Michael Strahans out there. It’s tough, but we have to go on. We’re 5-3 and right in the mix.”
Strahan, 33, has a salary this season of $4.25 million. He was tied with Fred Robbins for the team lead with four sacks and leads the team with three fumble recoveries. Although he was not having a typical season in terms of numbers, Strahan is the one player opponents must identify on every play. He received special attention, was double-teamed and at times blocked by three different players. In addition to being the best pass-rusher on the team, he was also the best run-stopper along the line, a rare combination.
Before learning the gloomy truth, players who never before had to imagine life without Strahan hoped for the best and braced for the worst.
“Michael Strahan is not only a player for us, he’s a team leader, defensive leader, emotional leader,” cornerback Will Peterson said. “He’s a lot. If he’s not available, it’s like any other player, but he’s not like any other player.”
Osi Umenyiora, a second-year end who moves into one starting spot, admitted, “It’s gonna be weird. He’s always been there, if he’s not there I don’t know how we’re gonna respond.”
Sacked for a loss
With Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan gone for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, the Giants lose not only his veteran presence – he hasn’t missed a game since 1995 – but a significant amout of production as well.
Average season
Tackles Solo Assists Sacks
64 50 13.5 11
*Projected loss – rest of season
Tackles Solo Assists Sacks
35 28 7 4
Based on 2004 stats through eight games