Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó The New York Giants are interested in luring Michael Strahan out of retirement after losing Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury Saturday night.
The Super Bowl champions have contacted the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end to see if he is interested in ending a brief retirement, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person requested anonymity because the talks were in the early stages, and there is no guarantee that the 36-year-old Strahan wants to return.
Tony Agnone, Strahan’s agent, did not return messages left at his office and on his cell phone by The Associated Press on Monday.
STEELERS
PITTSBURGH ó Receiver-kick returner Jeremy Bloom, the former World Cup skiing star and two-time Olympian, was among three players in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason roster cut Monday.
Also released were former William and Mary quarterback Mike Potts and defensive lineman Martavius Prince. The Steelers, who play the Carolina Panthers on Thursday in their final exhibition game, must make one more roster cut by today.
BRADY
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó Tom Brady says he’ll be ready for the New England Patriots opener even if a foot injury keeps him from taking a single snap in exhibition games.
Last season’s NFL MVP sat out the first three games and plans to tell coach Bill Belichick he’s “feeling great” in hopes of playing in Thursday night’s final exhibition game at the New York Giants, the team that ruined the Patriots’ unbeaten season by beating them in the Super Bowl.
“I’m hoping I’m always out there,” Brady said Monday on his regular weekly appearance on WEEI radio, “and if I don’t play, I’ll be ready for Kansas City.”
The Patriots open the regular season at home against the Chiefs.
MANNING
INDIANAPOLIS ó Peyton Manning might be activated by the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, although the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is not expected to play in the team’s final preseason game Thursday night.
Manning underwent surgery July 14 to have an infected bursa sac removed from his left knee and has been on the physically unable to perform list the entire preseason. He has never missed a regular-season start in his 10-year career.
“We have a chance to get Peyton activated and out to practice. So we’ll see how that goes,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said Monday.
Manning got limited light work in practice last week and was on the sideline, but not in uniform, during Sunday night’s 20-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills.