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By JOSHUA ROBINSON
Published: June 25, 2008
Michael Strahan was in the midst of being introduced as the newest pundit on Fox’s “NFL Sunday” program Tuesday when a television show broke out.
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Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Michael Strahan answered questions Tuesday at a news conference that previewed what the Fox "NFL Sunday" may be like.
Analysis and discussion of the N.F.L. draft and off-season news from around the league.
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Strahan, the former Giant, had just been asked what he thought of his former teammates, Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress. They are currently boycotting the team’s off-season training activities and demanding contract renegotiations.
“Obviously, he is underpaid for what he does and brings to the team,” Strahan said of Burress. “For him, in his defense, it is the right time to do that.”
“But to be honest with you,” he added, “In professional football, there is no loyalty. There is really no contract.”
That’s when Jimmy Johnson, the former Dallas Cowboys’ head coach jumped in and sparked a debate over player-management relations. Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw, also pundits on the show, chimed in, too, with their opinions. The room full of reporters might as well have been a television audience watching at home on a Sunday afternoon.
Within minutes of launching his second career, Strahan had made the transition from Superbowl-winning defensive end to broadcaster look seamless. “If he didn’t have the ring, he’d have caught flak on our set,” Johnson joked. “Terry gives us flak because he’s got four. But having a ring now, he’s on par.”
Strahan announced his retirement from football earlier this month, but he said Tuesday that the transition to television was not something he’d given much thought to.
“I never really looked at my career and thought, ‘O.K., I’m going to play football, but I’m going to do broadcasting next,’” Strahan said. “But a few years ago I realized that this was an option and now the timing is right.”
A year ago, Giants’ running back Tiki Barber made the same move, taking an on-air job with NBC Sports and appearing regularly on the Today program. Barber stirred up some controversy during his first year out of football by publicly criticizing his former coach Tom Coughlin and Giants quarterback Eli Manning. But Strahan insisted that won’t stop him from speaking his mind.
“Do I seem gun-shy to you?” he said. “I’m different than Tiki. So if I were to say something, I’m just going to tell you the truth. And for me, if I say something, I think a lot of people expect that.”
It’s also different, he said, than what someone might expect from Don Imus, the radio host whose racially charged comments this week have once again made him a magnet for criticism.
“I guess everybody’s entitled to their opinions,” Strahan said. “But it’s just after you’ve had issues with it before, I don’t know why you’d go there again. I guess with Don Imus, it’s what you expect.”
Strahan has always been outspoken, but frustrated by the media last season, he refused to talk to reporters for a spell. Now on the other side, Strahan said he would understand if someone did the same to him.
But for now, he’s thinking like Barbara Walters, lining up celebrities.
“I’d like to put in my first media request for an hour sit-down with Coach Coughlin,” he announced. “And tell him not to be late.”
Published: June 25, 2008
Michael Strahan was in the midst of being introduced as the newest pundit on Fox’s “NFL Sunday” program Tuesday when a television show broke out.
Skip to next paragraph
Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Michael Strahan answered questions Tuesday at a news conference that previewed what the Fox "NFL Sunday" may be like.
Analysis and discussion of the N.F.L. draft and off-season news from around the league.
Go to The Fifth Down Blog »
Strahan, the former Giant, had just been asked what he thought of his former teammates, Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress. They are currently boycotting the team’s off-season training activities and demanding contract renegotiations.
“Obviously, he is underpaid for what he does and brings to the team,” Strahan said of Burress. “For him, in his defense, it is the right time to do that.”
“But to be honest with you,” he added, “In professional football, there is no loyalty. There is really no contract.”
That’s when Jimmy Johnson, the former Dallas Cowboys’ head coach jumped in and sparked a debate over player-management relations. Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw, also pundits on the show, chimed in, too, with their opinions. The room full of reporters might as well have been a television audience watching at home on a Sunday afternoon.
Within minutes of launching his second career, Strahan had made the transition from Superbowl-winning defensive end to broadcaster look seamless. “If he didn’t have the ring, he’d have caught flak on our set,” Johnson joked. “Terry gives us flak because he’s got four. But having a ring now, he’s on par.”
Strahan announced his retirement from football earlier this month, but he said Tuesday that the transition to television was not something he’d given much thought to.
“I never really looked at my career and thought, ‘O.K., I’m going to play football, but I’m going to do broadcasting next,’” Strahan said. “But a few years ago I realized that this was an option and now the timing is right.”
A year ago, Giants’ running back Tiki Barber made the same move, taking an on-air job with NBC Sports and appearing regularly on the Today program. Barber stirred up some controversy during his first year out of football by publicly criticizing his former coach Tom Coughlin and Giants quarterback Eli Manning. But Strahan insisted that won’t stop him from speaking his mind.
“Do I seem gun-shy to you?” he said. “I’m different than Tiki. So if I were to say something, I’m just going to tell you the truth. And for me, if I say something, I think a lot of people expect that.”
It’s also different, he said, than what someone might expect from Don Imus, the radio host whose racially charged comments this week have once again made him a magnet for criticism.
“I guess everybody’s entitled to their opinions,” Strahan said. “But it’s just after you’ve had issues with it before, I don’t know why you’d go there again. I guess with Don Imus, it’s what you expect.”
Strahan has always been outspoken, but frustrated by the media last season, he refused to talk to reporters for a spell. Now on the other side, Strahan said he would understand if someone did the same to him.
But for now, he’s thinking like Barbara Walters, lining up celebrities.
“I’d like to put in my first media request for an hour sit-down with Coach Coughlin,” he announced. “And tell him not to be late.”
