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Kevin Hagen/for New YOrk Daily NewsLast year, Michael Strahan missed out on the special honor, but this year he makes it.
Michael Strahan never acted upset and shocked when he was snubbed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame last February. So maybe it was fitting that he when he did make it to Canton on Saturday night, he didn't act like that mattered much, either.
The Giants' all-time leader in sacks graciously accepted the honor on Saturday night. And then, he put a swim move on everyone and headed elsewhere.
PHOTOS: GIANT HONOR AS STRAHAN GETS INTO HALL
Strahan was named to Canton's Class of 2014 during the NFL Honors awards show at Radio City Music Hall, making it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility. He was joined by Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones, Buffalo Bills receiver Andre Reed and Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams in the modern-day class. Meanwhile, Raiders legend Ray Guy, the first punter headed to Canton, and Falcons linebacker Claude Humphrey also made it as Veterans Committee candidates.
But just moments after he walked across the stage to heavy applause, Strahan bolted. He'd said earlier in the week that he had a prior commitment, so instead of basking in the glory of his Hall selection, he left the building, skipping the press conference with the other members of the Class of 2014.
RELATED: SAPP ESCALATES WAR OF WORDS WITH STRAHANIt was an odd move, but it couldn't diminish the career of a player that Giants co-owner John Mara called 'one of the greatest players in franchise history.'
'I'm not sure what more an individual can accomplish in his career,' said Mara. 'He was a great all-around player, not only a great pass-rusher, but he was great against the run. And I think if you ask any coach that coached against him, they'll tell you he was a complete defensive lineman.'
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Strahan played the run solidly for 15 brilliant seasons in East Rutherford, after being a second-round pick out of Texas Southern in 1993. But he's still most known for his spectacular 2001 season, in which he set the NFL single-season sack record with 22.5. He finished his career with 141.5 sacks, tops in team history.
'He takes his place along with the great, great defensive players of the game and the great Giants of the game who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame,' said Giants coach Tom Coughlin. 'Michael Strahan has a magnetic personality and because of the quality of football player that he was, and because of the way in which he worked, he naturally led by his words and by his example.'
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Strahan was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time first-team All-Pro. He also played in two Super Bowls, and he was a driving force behind the Giants team that shocked the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in 2007.
'Without him, there's no way we would have won Super Bowl XLII,' said Mara. 'Not only was he a huge part of that team because of his play on the field, he was the leader of that defense.'
'He established a mark for consistency during his outstanding 15-year career,' Mara added. 'Very few people played the position as well as he did.'
Even if that didn't matter to Strahan on Saturday night, it certainly mattered to the football world.
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