Giants' Strahan takes $200,000 hit in the wallet

When Michael Strahan reported to the New York Giants, he was lighter everywhere, including in the wallet.

One Giant said that when Strahan reported to the team Monday, he weighed in at under 250 pounds, slightly below his playing weight of 255 pounds.

Where Strahan was even lighter –- though not as light as he could have been -– was in his bank account.

The Giants reduced the $514,000 worth of fines that Strahan had racked up this summer to $200,000 instead. The Giants were more content with the lower number than Strahan was said to be. He was, in a word, miffed.

Yet the Giants attempted to turn the negative into a positive, challenging Strahan to show them something and prove he is worth more money in the future.

Strahan has one year remaining on his contract that contains a $500,000 roster bonus due March 1. The Giants are open to paying him into the future and cementing a relationship that has existed for 15 years, since New York drafted Strahan out of Texas Southern with its second-round pick in 1993.

Strahan will have a chance to do it starting Sunday night, when New York opens the season at Dallas. The Giants plan to play Strahan in spot situations –- obvious passing downs, third downs, crucial downs. It’s no longer a question of whether Strahan will play, but how much.