In the wake of Osi Umenyiora’s season-ending knee surgery, the best news for Giants fans is that Michael Strahan is staying put in retirement.  Why, do you ask?  Because Strahan was a warrior for the Giants over his prolific 15-year career, and he deserves that his final chapter be written with its current fairy tale ending.  He went out healthy, he went out respected, and most importantly, he went out a champion.

Strahan’s leadership will sorely be missed in New York, but now is the time for Eli Manning to take the reins of the franchise. Eli’s fourth quarter in Super Bowl 42 demonstrated that not only is he capable, but also he is ready.

Strahan anchored the defensive front for the GMEN and did it with pride.  He made it fun for guys like Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, and helped guide them into becoming Pro Bowl caliber defensive ends.  He spoke loudly and his voice was always heard.   His final farewell, with a Giant-sized smile on his face and the Vince Lombardi Trophy in his hand, is the way every player who poured his heart into one team wants to be remembered.

At the Giants victory parade at City Hall, he thanked everyone.  He thanked the league, thanked the organization, thanked the city and fans, and also thanked the New England Patriots for allowing him and his teammates to “Stomp Them Out!”

And now, it is time to thank Michael Strahan for avoiding a Brett Favre-like continuous saga, and enjoy his life after football, always being remembered as the driving force that willed the New York Football Giants to the greatest Super Bowl upset this world has ever seen.