The New York Giants are interested in luring Michael Strahan out of retirement after losing Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury Saturday night.

The Super Bowl champions contacted the representative for the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end yesterday to gauge Strahan's interest in returning for a 16th season.

"They want to see if there is any interest there," agent Tony Agnone told The Associated Press. "I have to talk to Michael."

Strahan is on vacation in Greece. Agnone said he has not talked to him about the Giants' inquiry.

Agnone described the Giants' call as a courtesy — for now — and noted the two sides did no negotiating.

"Part of the talk was about Osi," said Agnone, who also represents Umenyiora.

Strahan turned down a $6 million contract offer in the offseason. He then signed with Fox Sports to work on its NFL pregame show.

With Strahan's status uncertain, the Giants shuffled their defense yesterday and moved Mathias Kiwanuka back to end from his strongside linebacker spot.

A 2006 first-round draft choice, Kiwanuka was switched to linebacker 17 months ago so the Giants could get their best 11 defenders on the field.

PATRIOTS

QB BRADY SAYS HE'LL PLAY IN SEASON OPENER

Tom Brady says he'll be ready for New England's opener even if a foot injury keeps him from taking a single snap in exhibition games.

Last season's NFL MVP sat out the first three games and plans to tell coach Bill Belichick he's "feeling great" in hopes of playing in Thursday night's final exhibition game at the New York Giants, the team that ruined the Patriots' unbeaten season by beating them in the Super Bowl.

"I'm hoping I'm always out there," Brady said yesterday on WEEI radio, "and if I don't play, I'll be ready for Kansas City."

The Patriots open the regular season at home against the Chiefs.

Without Brady, the Patriots are 0-3 and have played poorly on offense, defense and special teams.

CHARGERS 18, SEAHAWKS 17

LATE CONVERSION PASS LIFTS SAN DIEGO TO WIN

Backup quarterback Billy Volek threw a 2-point conversion pass to Malcom Floyd in the fourth quarter, giving host San Diego a preseason win over Seattle last night.

Volek's lob to Floyd followed a 1-yard touchdown run by rookie Jacob Hester that pulled the Chargers to 17-16 with 2:30 left in the game. The 6-foot-5 Floyd out-jumped Omare Lowe, a 6-1 cornerback, near the left sideline in the end zone for the go-ahead score.

"It was a mismatch and we took advantage of it," Floyd said. "Billy put it in the right spot and he allowed me to go get it."

Philip Rivers completed 11 of 21 passes for 143 yards, driving the Chargers to the 1-yard line on their first possession before a bad snap out of the shotgun formation by backup center Jeremy Newberry was recovered by Seattle.

ELSEWHERE

Cowboys: Terence Newman was on the practice field with Dallas for the first time in four weeks yesterday, an indication that the Pro Bowl cornerback could be ready to play in the season opener.

Also, Frank Cornish IV, an offensive lineman on two of the Cowboys' Super Bowl champion teams in the 1990s, died over the weekend in Dallas at age 40. His death was caused by heart disease, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office found.

Colts: Quarterback Peyton Manning (left knee) might be activated by Indianapolis today, although the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is not expected to play in the team's final preseason game Thursday night.

Browns: Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson (concussion) wasn't cleared to return to practice yesterday, so Brady Quinn likely will start his second straight game Thursday night in the preseason finale against Chicago.

Dolphins: Chad Pennington was named the starting quarterback today by head coach Tony Sparano. The 32-year-old was competing with rookie Chad Henne for the starting role.

Steelers: Receiver-kick returner Jeremy Bloom, the former World Cup skiing star and two-time Olympian, was among three players cut by Pittsburgh.

Packers: Green Bay placed defensive tackle Justin Harrell on the physically unable to perform list and released running back DeShawn Wynn.

Cardinals: Former University of Hawai'i offensive lineman Hercules Satele was released by Arizona. The rookie was competing at center.