QB in a sack

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- No one has had a closer view of Michael Strahan's assault on the NFL single-season sack record than Cornelius Griffin.

As Strahan has gotten into his stance at defensive left end for the New York Giants, Griffin has lined up beside him at tackle through hundreds of plays and a near-record 21 1/2 sacks.

Strahan needs one more against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers today to break Mark Gastineau's 17-year-old record of 22.

"Everyone sees the sacks," Griffin said. "What they don't see is the hard work he puts in during the week, the dedication on the practice field, with the film or in the weight room. He never stops."

And it hasn't been just this year.

Strength coach John Dunn has worked with Strahan for five years. He said the biggest mistake is to assume that Strahan has done something different this season.

"We've sat around and talked a couple of times," Dunn said. "He said for some reason the sacks are coming. He said he's not playing any better. The sacks are just coming, no matter what anyone has done."

No cure for Strahan

Teams have tried just about everything -- double teams, triple teams, running backs and receivers chipping, tackling, holding, tripping -- and the sacks still come.

Strahan even joked about a half dozen sacks he missed in games against Jake Plummer of Arizona, Rich Gannon of Oakland and Kurt Warner of St. Louis.

"I've thought, 'You dummy! If you got them all, you'd be at 30,"' Strahan quipped.

It's rare to hear Strahan laughing about sacks because they have been a sore point for him at times in his career.

After recording a combined 29 sacks in 1997 and 1998, Strahan signed a four-year, $32 million contract that made him at the time the NFL's highest-paid defensive lineman. The following season he had 5 1/2 sacks and everyone assumed he had a bad year, or had taken it off.

Strahan didn't do either. He played the season with elbow and other injuries and noted that his pressures, hurries and run defense made up for the lack of sacks, a statistic he insists is overrated.

Strahan still believes that, even though he is excited about the possible record.

Lawrence Taylor (20 1/2 in 1986), Chris Doleman (21 in 1989) and the late Derrick Thomas (20 in 1990) all came close to breaking Gastineau's record.

"It's stood for a long time, through a lot of great players," Strahan said. "For me to even be this close is a privilege. You never know what's going to happen. Maybe this is it.

"When you look at some of the names that have come close, it puts you in an elite class," said the 30-year-old who is finishing his ninth season.

It's surprising that Strahan has a chance at breaking the record.

That has nothing to do with talent. He has a ton of it.

The oddity is that Strahan really didn't take up football until he was a teen-ager. The overweight son of an Army officer, he grew up in Germany and got himself into shape running five miles with his dad at dawn.

He played one season of football in high school, before setting a school record at Texas Southern with 41 1/2 sacks.

A second-round draft choice of the Giants in 1993, he caused some laughs guaranteeing double digit sacks as a rookie. He finished with one.

He had 4 1/2, 7 1/2 and five in the next three season before his two breakout years.

Lethal combination

"He has that blend of size, speed and smarts," Giants quarterback Kerry Collins said. "I think what people just don't know is that he is one of the most intelligent football players."

Strahan also has size at 275 pounds to handle any tackle and the speed to get to the quarterback in a hurry and change the complexion of a game.

Strahan did that for a while in last week's game with Philadelphia

Trailing 7-0 and with the Eagles driving at the New York 30 in what was a must-win game for the Giants, Strahan beat tackle Jon Runyan and sacked Donovan McNabb.

The play took the momentum away from the Eagles, who lost a fumble on the next play. Philadelphia's offense didn't recover until the closing minutes, pulling out a 24-21 win that eliminated the Giants (7-8) from playoff contention.

"Most guys, if you let up a little or make a mistake, they'll get you some of the time," Runyan said. "With him, if you let up or make a mistake, he'll beat you every time. That's what makes him better than most guys."

Giants defensive coordinator John Fox said it's a mistake to judge Strahan by sacks alone.

"Mike Strahan is an every down end," Fox said. "He plays the run as effective as he rushes the passer. He has a different style about him. He is more power than flash."

What's remarkable about this season is that Strahan didn't register his first sack until the third game, when he got three against New Orleans.

It was one of three games where he had at least three, the best being a four-sack day against Kurt Warner when Strahan manhandled offensive tackle Ryan Tucker, who was playing with a broken hand and shoulder injury.

"He's a remarkable player. Whatever they're paying him, it's not enough," said Rams coach Mike Martz.

Strahan would gladly trade the money and the record for a spot in the playoffs. The day after Strahan chases Favre around the field, he'll be in the Giants locker room packing his belongings.

"That's the bad part about it," Strahan said. "Trust me, to have 9 1/2 sacks like I did last season and have a chance to go to the Super Bowl? Oh, man, you can take those other 12 sacks from me, I'd do that any day."