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."