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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Strahan loves retirement; won't return

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

After long deliberation and a million scenarios, seven-time Pro Bowler Michael Strahan declined the Giants' offer to come out of retirement.

MIKE DERER | Associated Press

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Michael Strahan is staying retired, although his agent said that the seven-time Pro Bowler seriously considered returning to the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

"He was very close to returning, but the great part about Michael is that he takes his time to think about things and he is very thorough," Tony Agnone said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press last night. "You can get excited about coming back and running through the tunnel one more time."

Agnone said that Strahan struggled deciding whether he could give 100 percent mentally.

"In the end, he felt he could not get back to where he was," Agnone said.

The first report of the news was provided by FoxSports.com, which contacted Strahan in Greece where he was vacationing.

"This has been one of the toughest nights of my life," Strahan told FoxSports.com. "But after long deliberation and throwing around a million scenarios in my head for the past day, I think it's just best if I stay retired."

Giants general manager Jerry Reese asked the 36-year-old Strahan to reconsider his retirement on Monday, just 48 hours after the Super Bowl champions lost Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora for the season to a knee injury in a preseason game against the New York Jets.

Strahan needed just about a day to turn down an offer to return for a 16th season with what could have been an $8 million contract.

"I really love my life now," Strahan said. "It's great having nobody put a finger on me. You really put yourself through an awful lot in this league, more than people realize."

BENGALS

PALMER TO SKIP GAME; RB JOHNSON LOOKS AHEAD

Quarterback Carson Palmer will skip Cincinnati's last preseason game, resting his broken nose while running back Rudi Johnson makes his first — and what he thinks could be his last — appearance in a Bengals uniform.

Palmer didn't participate in practice again yesterday, watching while the rest of the team got ready for tomorrow night's game in Indianapolis. Palmer broke his nose and cut his lip on a sack Saturday night during a 13-0 loss to New Orleans.

Palmer said he probably would have sat out the final preseason game even if he hadn't broken his nose. He expects to be ready for the opener at Baltimore on Sept. 7.

"I mean, I'm healthy, I could play, (it's) just not in the cards this week, I think mainly because we played Saturday and turn around and play again on Thursday," said Palmer, who had a protective brace on his nose. "I just want to be 100 percent and healthy and feeling great going into the Baltimore game."

Johnson and Pro Bowl receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh have missed most of training camp and the first three preseason games because of hamstring injuries, but are expected to play against the Colts. Coach Marvin Lewis hasn't decided how long they'll be in the game.

After hearing an ESPN report that the Bengals were interested in trading him for a receiver, Johnson called his agent and had an inkling that he would be moving on.

"I could be gone any minute now," the running back said after practice. "I'm just waiting on the call, looking at the clock. That's all. So you know, it is what it is. Nothing's surprising."

BRONCOS

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall was in New York yesterday to appeal his three-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had indicated he would reduce Marshall's suspension to two games if he kept in contact with a league-appointed counselor and stayed out of further legal trouble. Marshall and his attorney, Harvey Steinberg, want a further reduction in that penalty, assessed for a series of off-the-field misdeeds.

BROWNS

Cleveland starting quarterback Derek Anderson made an appearance on the practice field yesterday in Berea, Ohio, his first since suffering a concussion Aug. 18 in a preseason game against the New York Giants.

He did some throwing at the beginning of practice while wearing his helmet, and left the field once team drills began. Brady Quinn again took snaps with the first-team offense and is expected to start tomorrow night's preseason finale against Chicago.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards is ready to play after returning to practice yesterday. Edwards returned after missing a week with a bruised right thigh and said he should play in Buffalo's preseason finale against Detroit tomorrow night. Former Hawai'i receiver C.J. Hawthorne was among four players cut yesterday.

Buccaneers: Tampa Bay placed running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams on the reserve physically-unable-to-perform list, meaning his bid to return from a serious knee injury will be delayed at least until after the sixth week of the regular season.

Colts: Indianapolis placed kick returner T.J. Rushing and backup tight end Zac Herold on injured reserve with knee injuries yesterday, ending their seasons. The Colts also cut three players to reach the NFL's roster limit of 75.

Eagles: Philadelphia placed rookie cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu on the reserve/non-football injury list, cutting its roster to 75 players.

Patriots: New England Patriots placed starting guard Stephen Neal (recovering from knee surgery) on the physically-unable-to-perform list and backup tackle Ryan O'Callaghan on the injured reserve list yesterday.

Texans: Houston placed cornerback Dunta Robinson (recovering from knee surgery) on the physically-unable-to-perform list yesterday, trimming the active roster to 75 players.

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