If the Giants actually sign Simeon Rice to replace Michael Strahan, do not expect Osi Umenyiora to embrace the move by welcoming the former Buccaneer with open arms.
Every day the Giants have been in training camp, Umenyiora has spoken with missing Michael. The two are fast friends and have the same agent, Tony Agnone. Connect the dots. Much of what Strahan is thinking and feeling, Umenyiora yesterday was saying and revealing.
"We're not talking about Julius Peppers," Umenyiora said, comparing Rice to the Panthers' stud defensive end. "Simeon Rice is an outstanding pass rusher, but that's what he is."
March 2007 - New York Giants Wiretap
Giants Interested In Rice
Simeon Rice will be in New York City for a physical Wednesday. Maybe he and Michael Strahan, who presumably is in the city as well, can flip a coin or draw cards to see who wants to be a Giant this season.
Rice then will come up to Albany and meet with general manager Jerry Reese, who said not even Strahan's arrival before Wednesday would derail talks with Rice. The Giants mean business with Rice, a 12-year veteran who for many years was considered the second-best defensive end around, behind No. 92.
Teammates: Strahan's Not The Retiring Type
Just in case Michael Strahan is serious about retirement, the Giants are moving on, switching William Joseph to left defensive end and flirting with Simeon Rice.
But most of Strahan's teammates don't believe he's serious. They think his return to training camp is only a matter of time.
"My gut feeling is yes, he'll be back to play," linebacker Antonio Pierce said yesterday. "Maybe he just wants a week or two off. It's a little hot today. Maybe Mike is sitting at home sipping pi?a coladas thinking, 'OK, I'll give it another week and then I'll be back.'"
"I wouldn't be surprised if you see him tomorrow," added defensive end Justin Tuck. "We're still approaching this camp and this season as though Michael will be our left end."
Strahan Mulling Retirement, Absent From Camp
Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan failed to report to the New York Giants training camp, and he is mulling retirement, his agent told the team.
"He is not here," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said after Strahan failed to report with veterans and rookies to the University at Albany. "Last night I talked to his agent (Tony Agnone) and his agent said to me at seven o'clock last night that he is contemplating retirement. That's all I know right now."
Neither Reese nor coach Tom Coughlin has successfully contacted Strahan, although the 35-year-old who holds the NFL single-season record for sacks (22? in 2001) left a message for Coughlin around 11:30 p.m. on July 26.
Coughlin did not see the message until this morning. He left a telephone message for Strahan, but it was not immediately returned.
"Obviously I am disappointed that he is not here," said Coughlin, who said that Strahan left no message other than to call him. "He is a very important part of our team, as we have talked all along. We are just going to have to wait for more information.
Jacobs: Even Giants Are Doubting Skills As No. 1 Back
Brandon Jacobs is aware Giants fans will compare his productivity and versatility to that of retired Tiki Barber -- and the 6-4, 265-pounder must prove that he belongs somewhere other than the shadow of a former player half a foot shorter and 50 pounds lighter.
He even said there "may be some question within the (Giants') organization" that he can be the team's true No. 1 running back.
But Jacobs has spent the off-season preparing for this opportunity -- retooling his running style and workout regimen, embracing the motivation provided by the arrival of Droughns, and inspired by the birth of his first child.
All while remaining ever-confident and defiant.
"I don't give a damn what people say," Jacobs said. "I have talent, I can catch the ball, I can run with it. I don't have to run somebody over all the time. I actually am a running back."
Eli: I'm Ready To Lead
With Tiki Barber gone into retirement, Tom Coughlin has laid the mantle of leadership at the feet of Eli Manning, who can either kick it aside or reach down and embrace it the way all Giants fans desperately want him to do.
Manning says he's ready to accept the challenge.
"It's a matter of kind of holding the team together and controlling the offense, that's my job, I think," Manning told The Post yesterday. "You lose Tiki, a guy who kind of did that, I look forward to that opportunity to take it over and be in charge of having our offense mentally and physically ready to go out there and be prepared for every game."
WR McMahan Signs With Giants
Kevin McMahan, the last player taken in the 2006 NFL Draft, was signed by the Giants on Wednesday.
McMahan was waived by the Raiders in last year's final cut. He had several tryouts last season before signing a reserve/future contract with Indianapolis on Jan. 11. He was waived by the Colts on June 22.
Strahan Knows End Is Near
"I always tell them (media) I'm retiring every year," Michael Strahan said. "I've been saying I'm going to retire for the past five years ... who knows, man. Every year I go day to day, game to game. Some days I wake up and I think there is no way I can do it. Other days I wake up and I think I can do it for another five years. We'll see."
The 15-year NFL veteran, who holds the NFL record for sacks among active players with 129 1/2, does believe his time in the league is winding down.
"Fifteen, that is a long time, but I was talking to Tim Brown (former wide receiver for Raiders) and he was like, 'I played 17, you can do it,'" Strahan said.
Strahan is eager for the season to begin and with the sand in the hourglass rapidly falling, he believes it is time for the Giants to step it up because he's running out of time.
"I'm looking forward to (this season), because when you're older, you don't take it for granted that success is going to happen.
Arrington Released From Hospital
LaVar Arrington was released from the hospital Monday, two weeks after breaking his right arm and severely cutting his leg in a motorcycle accident.
"He's doing much better," said Arrington's attorney, Rosalyn Pugh. "I won't say he's 100 percent, but he's doing better."
Pugh said Arrington had a "little limp" from a gash in his leg as he left Prince George's Hospital Center and will also need time to recover from the broken bone in his right forearm. She had no timetable for Arrington's full recovery.