Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has hit back at claims from Warren Sapp that he does not deserve a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Strahan is among the 15 finalists for election to the Hall of Fame this Saturday, but Sapp, who was inducted last year, claimed that the 42-year-old's credentials do not stack up against his fellow candidates.
In his criticism, Sapp hinted that Strahan's celebrity status after football played a part in his nomination, but the seven-time Pro Bowler was quick to remind him of his on-field achievements.
"Football was part of my life, but it is not my entire life. So for some guys, maybe that's their entire life and that's all they have to hold onto. Playing football, sacking quarterbacks, that was part of my life, and I did it and I moved on. The tiger does not pay attention to the opinion of the sheep," Strahan told reporters.
"I am. I'm all hype. I lasted 15 years, all hype. I had 141.5 career sacks, all hype. I was always a starter. I played left end, and that made me get sacks. My coaches kept putting me in the game because they felt it gave us the best chance to win, and that was all hype."
Strahan was also up for election in last season's Hall of Fame but did not get voted in.
Barney Corkhill
