Throughout the last decade, Michael Strahan has been one of the most feared defensive ends in the game.  Every team that plays against New York has had to gameplan the o-line to stop, or at least, slow down the Giant on the end.  Teams are constantly double and triple teaming him, trying to find a way to disrupt his pass-rush, leaving huge holes for other Giants to blitz and rush the QB.  He has made Umenyiora a threat on the other end and freed up an athletic hybrid in Kiwanuka to play linebacker.  Many outside linebackers have benefited from his presence, including Emmons, Arrington, and Torbor.

Strahan rushes the QB ferociously on every play, producing great numbers.  His productivity has only been marred by injuries.  He has dropped under forty tackles a season only four times in his career, two of those years being his rookie and second year, the other two coming in 04 and 06 when injuries stalled his season.  Pretty impressive considering he's played 14 seasons.  Strahan already owns the single-seaon sack record, though some doubt its validity saying Favre flopped, but I watched the game and Brett did what any QB does when a defensive player gets a hold of the jersey, he fell to the ground.  His sack total is nothing to sneeze about either at 132.5, thats 9.5 a season for his career, something most DE's across the league would only dream about.  The only Defensive end I can think of that could be named ahead of him would be the great Reggie White, which Strahan mimics in technique, speed, and power.  There are other great DE's in the league; Rice, the Freak, Douglas, and Julius Peppers, and they all demand respect on the field, but none of them have been on the constant level of Hall of Fame play that Strahan has exhibited.

He is starting to get old, mid-thirties, and injuries will probably become the norm, but when he steps on the field teams still recognize his presence and adjust.  Leaving Strahan open to rush the QB is a guaranteed sack.  He is the constant leader with Tiki retiring and the voice the team needs when things get tough.  The Giants will rely on his hard work this year and ability to rush.  It's always great to watch a Hall of Fame player perform, and I know I will enjoy watching him dominate these last few years.