With apologies to Warren Sapp, Michael Strahan officially is not a bust. But he will get a bust.
As of Saturday, Strahan is officially headed to the Hall of Fame. The former Giants defensive lineman was voted in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon, honored at Radio City Music Hall.
Strahan led the Giants to an upset of then-unbeaten New England in his final game in Super Bowl XLII, set the NFL’s single-season sack record of 22 ½ in 2001 and had 141 ½ sacks in his career.
“The years I played went by really fast. And it feels good that all the hard work I put into it and all the dedication I put into it and all the teammates that I played with that helped me get this far, it all paid off,’’ Strahan told the Giants’ website, adding it was even better the honor came in New York. “Everything is better in New York.
“It’s incredible. Football changed my life, period. And now I’m sure this will definitely change my life as well. I just think about being recognized as one of the best that’s ever played in the greatest sport in our country, and being respected for the way that you played it. That in itself changes my life. Maybe not for anybody else, but it does for me, and that’s very important to me.’’
After Sapp, the former Buccaneers defensive tackle, said Strahan’s résumé didn’t match up to his or come up as Hall of Fame worthy, the 42-year-old Strahan called him a coward.
“Pick the spot and I’ll come see you and you can have a dose of it. If you think that’s what it is, pick the spot and I’ll come see you,’’ Sapp responded. “Why does his résumé not get examined like everybody else? What makes him so special?”
Strahan was special as a fierce pass rusher and also as a stout run-stuffer, and now the rest of the country knows him as Kelly Ripa’s co-host on ABC’s morning talk show “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
“He has earned the right to be in the Hall. He was a Hall of Fame player,’’ said Giants chairman Steve Tisch. “He’s more than a great football player, as evidenced by the work he’s now doing and his popularity. People really like Michael Strahan. He’s charismatic, he’s smart, he’s funny, he’s charming. … I think the Hall is a better place now that Michael Strahan is going to be there.’’
Strahan was in Radio City to be honored onstage Saturday, then escaped like a running back wiggling free from a tackle, off to dinner without speaking to reporters.
“I sent him a text when I first learned of the nomination and I said, ‘There are a lot of great things in this life that are taking place for you right now and you deserve it,’ ” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “The other thing you have to remember about Michael Strahan is he has an effervescent personality, he’s loquacious, he’s the kind of individual that’s very entertaining.’’
Strahan headed a seven-man Hall of Fame class that includes Seahawks tackle Walter Jones, Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, Cardinals and Rams cornerback Aeneas Williams, Bills wide receiver Andre Reed, Raiders punter Ray Guy and Falcons and Eagles defensive end Claude Humphrey. The induction ceremony will be held Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio.
“I’m thrilled for Michael. He was one of the greatest players in franchise history,’’ Giants president John Mara said. “Without him, there’s no way we would have won Super Bowl XLII. Not only was he a huge part of that team because of his play on the field, he was the leader of that defense.’’