Michael Strahan hasn't been spotted around his California beach community since the weekend, and locals believe he's already back east preparing to hit the gridiron. The Giants defensive end failed to report to training camp on July 27 and has done little to quash rumors he's contemplating retirement with two years left on his $46million contract, or speculation that he's holding out for more money. That's just politics, say locals who've seen Strahan working out like a fiend in recent weeks and generally in high spirits. "He'll play," said a confident Troll Subin, president of the Yard Training Center, the Hermosa Beach gym where Strahan has been putting in long hours pumping iron. "When the games that count start up, he'll be ready," Subin said. "He's been readying himself, just not out in the open."

Michael Strahan still has not made a decision whether to play for the Giants or retire after 14 seasons and seven trips to the Pro Bowl. Agent Tony Agnone said Wednesday in one of four e-mails to The Associated Press that the 35-year-old defensive end was still on the West Coast considering his options. Strahan discussed his role with the team and "do they really want him, etc. etc.," in talks with Giants GM Jerry Reese on Tuesday, Agnone added in another e-mail.

Michael Strahan, who has kept everyone waiting (and waiting and waiting) for more than a month, told the team yesterday he will make his decision on whether to retire or return either today or tomorrow. Strahan did so in phone calls to general manager Jerry Reese on Monday night and yesterday morning. "Both conversations were constructive and positive," Giants VP of communications Pat Hanlon said in an e-mail to reporters. "(Yesterday) morning's conversation ended with Strahan telling Jerry that he expects to arrive at a decision about whether or not to continue his playing career within the next day or two." Neither Hanlon nor Reese would comment further on the conversations. Strahan's agent, Tony Agnone, did not return several calls and text messages to his cell phone yesterday.

With FB Robert Douglas out of practice with a meniscus injury that will require surgery, Reuben Droughns worked with the first team at fullback. It's been asked about and speculated about since the Giants traded for Droughns and especially since Jim Finn went on IR in June. "We're going to work Reuben, who's done that before in Denver, (at fullback) and of course, (Michael) Matthews," coach Tom Coughlin said. "I'd like to see Reuben (against the Patriots on Thursday) at fullback."

Giants wide receiver David Tyree will miss four to six weeks with a fractured left wrist, coach Tom Coughlin announced Monday. Tyree will undergo surgery Monday night. Tyree, 27, played in all 16 games last season, catching 19 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He has excelled in coverage on special teams, making the Pro Bowl in 2005.

Michael Strahan has not ruled out playing in 2008 and possibly beyond, according to someone who speaks regularly with the still-absent defensive end. He's expected to announce his return for the 2007 season in the next few days, and the source cautioned against trumpeting the announcement as the start of the Strahan Retirement Tour. "He might not just be coming back for one season," the source said. "What happens if he plays well this year? He could earn himself a lot more money." According to the source, Strahan is still looking for one more huge payday, especially after watching the market for defensive ends explode during the offseason. He is scheduled to make $4 million this season and $4 million in 2008 - the final two years on the seven-year, $46 million contract he signed in 2002 - and believes he is vastly underpaid.

Tiki Barber seemed particularly bothered that Eli Manning allegedly questioned his heart. ?He also said that I didn?t have any heart and he could see it on the field,? Tiki said on The Barber Shop. ?I guess I really would have been a Hall of Famer if I had played with heart instead of rushing for 1,650 yards with no heart. Who knows? ?(One) thing that I think every Giants fan knows and why, in some ways, some things ring hollow that Eli said, is I have never, ever, ever not left 100% of myself on the football field. And you can say whatever you want but don?t say that because that?s offensive.?

Retired running back Tiki Barber, debuted as an analyst for NBC's Sunday Night Football by ripping Eli Manning's ability to lead the team. Manning shot back on Tuesday. "I guess I'm just happy for Tiki that he's making a smooth transition into the media world. It'll be interesting to see if he has anything else to say (about anything) besides the Giants and what his comments will be on that. It's one of those deals; I'm not going to lose any sleep (over) what Tiki has to say. I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season and (how) he's lost the heart. As a quarterback, you're reading your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week. Well, I could see that a little bit at times. But I'm not going to get concerned and I'm going to go out there and play ball. "It's just one of those deals. The guy goes to the media and he's got to say stuff. He's been put in a situation where he's got to talk. That's just the way it is. That's the world we live in and you have to deal with it."

Michael Strahan likely will inform the Giants this week that he's returning to play this season and could rejoin the team as early as Saturday, when the Giants play the Jets in a preseason game at Giants Stadium, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person, who requested anonymity, said that Tony Agnone, Strahan's Baltimore-based agent, met with Giants general manager Jerry Reese yesterday and indications were that Strahan, who has missed all 24 days of training camp and accrued fines totaling $342,912 to date, would be ready to end his holdout and thoughts of retirement and join the team for the final two weeks of the preseason. Reese declined to comment last night. Agnone, who attended last night's game, said that Strahan still had no timetable to make his decision, nor had he made one yet.

The Giants suffered a rash of injuries in Sunday's 13-12 preseason victory over the Ravens. Reserve wide receiver Michael Jennings ruptured an Achilles tendon and is lost for the season. Jennings was starting in place of Plaxico Burress, who did not play. In addition, free safety Will Demps dislocated an elbow and is expected to be out three to four weeks. The secondary took another blow when cornerback Sam Madison suffered a pulled hamstring.