“I feel he is too young to retire,” Waufle said yesterday.
This is Waufle’s fourth year with the Giants and he doesn’t want it to transpire without Strahan, who continues to stay away from camp. Thus far, Strahan has been fined $100,016. The Giants, though, actually haven’t taken any money from Strahan, as the fines will not kick in until the start of the regular season, when his paycheck would be reduced to $229,411 per game after a weekly fine deduction of $5,883. That’s if he reports today, which won’t happen. Today makes a full week without Strahan, who is said to be contemplating retirement.
Waufle said Strahan hasn’t lost any passion for the game.
It does not appear as if Waufle is going to work with Simeon Rice any time soon, or ever. Rice, who passed the Giants physical, came and left without an offer. This was a case of the Giants doing their due diligence on a player they wanted to meet and examine. If Strahan continues his holdout and Rice remains available in the next 2-3 weeks, the Giants could revisit the Rice scenario.
Without Strahan at left defensive end, the Giants’ options are Justin Tuck and William Joseph. Can Waufle get by with that duo?
“I am going to have to,” he said, though he praised both players.
TE Jeremy Shockey sat out both practice sessions with upper leg soreness. . . . New starting SS James Butler had an interception off an overthrown by QB Eli Manning. That was the only blemish for Manning, who was especially sharp in the morning. . . . Mathias Kiwanuka is the new strong side LB, but that doesn’t mean he’s through putting his hand on the ground and rushing the passer. He’s being used as the left DE in the nickel package. . . . Former Giants LB Jessie Armstead was on the scene and will work as a coaching intern for part of camp.