The New York Giants are not going to renegotiate Michael Strahan’s $4 million contract to persuade the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end to stop mulling retirement and play this season.
“I don’t want to get into negotiating in the media,” co-owner John Mara said Wednesday as Strahan’s holdout entered its sixth day. “He is under contract, and I think you all know what our position is on that.”
In his gut, Mara said he feels the 35-year-old Strahan would eventually decide to play, but he said the team was prepared to move on without him.
Veteran defensive end Simeon Rice took a physical for the Giants in New York and met with coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese in Albany, N.Y., after practice.
Rice was set to have dinner with team officials, and there was no word on whether Rice, who is No. 2 in sacks among active players behind Strahan, would be offered a contract.
Eagles: Despite a bulky brace protecting his surgically repaired right knee, five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb had no problems facing a pass rush for the first time.
He moved around the pocket well and threw crisp passes to his targets during Philadelphia’s first full practice in pads. McNabb even jumped into a receivers drill at one point and ran a route, drawing cheers from a huge crowd gathered at Lehigh University.
Raiders: Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah.
Otto, 69, has had a litany of health problems. He has had prostate cancer, two major infections that nearly killed him and approximately 40 operations – mostly on his banged-up knees from playing football.
Redskins: Running back Clinton Portis was held out of practice for the second straight day, reduced to riding a stationary bicycle because of swelling and soreness due to tendinitis in his right knee, the same ailment that hampered him during offseason workouts.
Bills: Receiver Roscoe Parrish was treated after experiencing symptoms of dehydration.
Coach Dick Jauron said Parrish was expected to be OK after he was sent as a precaution to a cooling tent located just off the team’s practice field.
Browns: Defensive end Orpheus Roye will have arthroscopic surgery today on his right knee, an early training camp setback for the team, which may be without their best lineman to start the season.
Patriots: Randy Moss left practice with an apparent upper leg injury.
During an 11-on-11 passing drill, Moss reached into the end zone for a ball thrown by Tom Brady. The pass was incomplete and Moss immediately went to the sideline.
Steelers: Running back Willie Parker missed practice for the second day in a row because of a sore knee and is not expected to play in the Hall of Fame exhibition game Sunday night.
Colts: Owner Jim Irsay said he expected to release former Pro Bowl tackle Corey Simon, who did not play last season after being placed on the non-football illness/injury list with an undisclosed ailment.
Bengals: Suspended linebacker Odell Thurman has been ordered to appear in court for allegedly violating probation on his drunken driving conviction.
