Without Strahan, Giants other leaders must step up

Originally Published: July 28, 2008

Michael Strahan was a dominate force on and off the field as the team leader of the Giants. Now that the future Hall of Famer has retired, it's time for his former teammates to step up, writes Jeffri Chadiha.

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By Jeffri Chadiha
ESPN.com
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Evan Pinkus/Getty ImagesAntonio Pierce is one of the many veterans the Super Bowl champion Giants can count on for leadership.

The New York Giants defense had to know the question was coming once training camp opened. It had watched star defensive end Michael Strahan retire in the offseason and knew what he'd meant to that unit. Strahan provided the bulk of the personality. He produced the lion's share of vocal leadership. And his loss would result in a popular question for his former teammates: How do you fill the void he left behind?

It's a fair issue to raise because Strahan was the foundation of that defense for 15 years. He gave the media the sexy sound bite and he could energize that unit merely by opening his mouth. But it's also important to note that the Giants weren't lacking for leaders before Strahan called it a career. It's just that his presence was so dominant that it was easy to overlook anybody else.

The Giants acknowledged that much when they addressed this topic. Even though they'll miss their ex-teammate, they know there are plenty of self-starters left on the team that won last season's Super Bowl. "Our roster speaks for itself," said middle linebacker Antonio Pierce. "We've got guys like [cornerback] Sam Madison, who helped a lot of young guys last year. We've got [defensive ends] Osi [Umenyiora] and [Justin] Tuck. We've got myself and [linebacker] Danny Clark.

"You never want to have just one leader because what happens if he goes down? We have a lot of guys who can lead."

Pierce actually joked about being offended by the notion that the Giants need somebody to step into the leadership void. After all, he's been a vital part of that unit's chemistry since his arrival in 2005 and that's not going to change this season. In fact, Strahan once said that Pierce's contributions too often are underrated. While Strahan was the player who rallied teammates with his words and reputation, Pierce was the guy who set the tone with his attitude and actions.

Still, that doesn't mean the Giants won't need more people to embrace their role as leaders on defense. The offense can absorb the trade of tight end Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans because it thrived without him for the last five games of 2007. Quarterback Eli Manning made dramatic strides. Wide receiver Amani Toomer has 12 years of experience and fellow wideout Plaxico Burress gives the unit ample attitude, even though he's miffed about his current contract. There's also the presence of center Shaun O'Hara, who anchors the offensive line.

As Pierce noted, the defense has plenty of capable leaders as well. It's just that they'll have more opportunity to assert themselves. For example, Umenyiora and Tuck now become the players who their fellow defensive linemen will look to when times get hard. They're both far less animated than Strahan but they also accept that leadership comes in many forms. As Umenyiora said, "We're not in college anymore. If you don't do your job, then you end up out of a job. We don't need somebody in our ears telling us how to stay motivated."

Tuck agreed. "It's still to be determined as far as who are leaders will be but I'm also happy with the younger guys. They know that talking doesn't get things done. And if you need a rah-rah guy at this level, then something is wrong. That's why I don't worry about all that vocal stuff."

Most of the Giants who spoke about leadership stressed that it's the little details that matter more than memorable speeches or dramatic gestures. Pierce pointed to the importance of showing up for meetings on time, being prepared for practice and taking the extra reps that help players perfect their techniques. He added that there's been just as much passion on the practice field this offseason. "Can you say guys aren't still hungry? I don't see that, " Pierce said. "Guys came in and made weight. We all passed our conditioning tests. I didn't see a letdown."

While that is true, the reality is it's easy to be a leader at this time of the year. The good vibes from a championship season are still wafting over a team that wants to use that experience as the foundation for another run at a ring. The Giants also have the benefit of knowing some people still don't respect what they accomplished in 2007. They've seen some of the preseason predictions. They've heard the talk that Dallas is once again the team to beat in the NFC. And they've now got the same chip on their shoulders that helped drive them to last year's championship.

So yes, the motivation is clearly there. But we'll learn more about the Giants' current leaders when the adversity starts hitting them. It's easy to forget that this is the same team that started last season with two straight losses and also struggled after midseason before nailing down a postseason spot. They endured because of their unity yet they also thrived because they had players who knew their roles.

When it comes down to it, that's the kind of leadership the Giants will need again this season. For as much as they'll miss Strahan, they also know they didn't win a championship because of one guy. They did it because they have more leaders than people realize. It's just that now we'll find out how effective they really are.

Jeffri Chadiha covers the NFL for ESPN.com