Michael Strahan
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| Michael Strahan | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | November 21, 1971 |
| Place of birth | Houston, Texas |
| Position(s) | Defensive End |
| College | Texas Southern University |
| NFL Draft | 1993 / Round 2 |
| Pro Bowls | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 |
| Awards | 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year |
| Records | sacks, season (22.5) |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1993–Present | New York Giants |
Michael Anthony Strahan (born November 21, 1971, in Houston, Texas) is an American Football player who currently plays Defensive End for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He attended Texas Southern University and was drafted in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Strahan was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 2001.
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[edit] NFL record
He holds the NFL record for sacks in a single season with 22.5, breaking Mark Gastineau's total of 22 in the 2001 season, though it is tainted with controversy. Before the sack that enabled Strahan to set the record, Green Bay Packers quarterback (and close friend) Brett Favre spoke briefly with him. On the next play, Favre dropped back as if to pass, then suddenly scrambled towards the side that Strahan was rushing from, abruptly diving onto the ground, allowing Strahan to fall on top of him for an easy sack. After the play, during the ensuing celebration, many of the Giants' defensive players patted Favre on the helmet. Many observers accused Favre of deliberately falling to ensure that Strahan would get the record. [1] Mike Freeman, New York Times columnist wrote: "Yes, Mr. Favre, Strahan deserves the record, but please, handing it to him the way you did, as if you were throwing change into a Salvation Army bucket, is the kind of mistake Favre may never live down."
It should be noted, however, that Deacon Jones unofficially had 26 sacks in 1967 (the NFL did not keep official sack records until 1982). Strahan currently has 132.5 career sacks, 565 career tackles, 4 career interceptions, 21 forced fumbles and 2 career touchdowns in 175 games over a 12 year career (through 2004 season). Throughout the greater part of the 2004 season, Strahan was injured with a torn pectoral muscle, which limited him to only 4 sacks. He rebounded in 2005, returning to the pro bowl, with his protege, Osi Umenyiora as the two combined for 26 sacks, as they anchored the Giants' defense.
On October 23, 2006, with a sack of Drew Bledsoe in a Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys, Strahan tied Lawrence Taylor for the Giants franchise record for most career sacks, with 132.5. However, it should be noted that this total does not include 9.5 sacks accrued by Taylor in his rookie season of 1981, before sacks became an official statistic. Sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
[edit] Stats
DEFENSIVE STATS
| Year | Team | G | Total | Tckl | Ast | Sacks | Int | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD | Pass Def |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | New York Giants | 9 | 3 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | New York Giants | 15 | 38 | 25.0 | 13 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | New York Giants | 15 | 58 | 48.0 | 10 | 7.5 | 2 | 56 | 28.0 | 56 | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 | New York Giants | 16 | 62 | 52.0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1997 | New York Giants | 16 | 68 | 46.0 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1998 | New York Giants | 16 | 67 | 53.0 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 24 | 24.0 | 24 | 1 | 3 |
| 1999 | New York Giants | 16 | 60 | 41.0 | 19 | 5.5 | 1 | 44 | 44.0 | 44 | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 | New York Giants | 16 | 66 | 50.0 | 16 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2001 | New York Giants | 16 | 73 | 60.0 | 13 | 22.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 | New York Giants | 16 | 70 | 55.0 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 | New York Giants | 16 | 76 | 61.0 | 15 | 18.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2004 | New York Giants | 8 | 34 | 24.0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | New York Giants | 15 | 76 | 57.0 | 19 | 11.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 190 | 751 | 573.0 | 178 | 129.5 | 4 | 124 | 31.0 | 56 | 2 | 28 |
[edit] Quotes
"You don't cup. A guy can get the wrong idea if you cup. You never squeeze, you never never ever squeeze. Because there will probably be a fight right there on the field if you ever squeeze. Just stiffen the hand and slap one or two times depending on the play. Just never squeeze or cup and you will be OK with the butt slap." -- Strahan, NFL Films episode on the Butt Slap
"...We fly high, no lie, you know this... BAAAAAALLLLLIIINNN!!!!" --Strahan, explaining the reasoning behind the new Giant defense sack celebration 'jump shot' to a reporter.
[edit] Trivia
- In a TV PSA called “Cold Paws,” Strahan warns that dogs left outside in cold weather can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia, as well as stress and loneliness.
- Strahan appeared, playing golf, in an advertisement for Right Guard.
- Strahan also appeared in a Snickers commercial. In this commercial, a Dallas Cowboys fan was saying to Strahan "How 'bout them Cowboys!" The screen then says "Forgetting you're in New York, another unfortunate side-effect of hunger," while Strahan charges toward the fan.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Ray Lewis |
NFL Defensive Player of the Year 2001 |
Succeeded by: Derrick Brooks |
