EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – David Diehl remembers getting into his stance shortly after being moved to right tackle during training camp. Looking up, Michael Strahan stood in front of him.

Diehl stared at the six-time Pro Bowl defensive end, looked at his stance and made up his mind. Strahan was going to “bull rush,” so Diehl set himself ever so slightly.

Alarms immediately went off in Strahan’s head, and he turned his body to the inside to give Diehl the appearance the “bull rush” was coming. As soon as the ball was snapped, Strahan stretched out his right hand like he was going to make a power move, then pulled Diehl by the right shoulder and slammed him down.

The NFL’s single-season sacks king had just given another newcomer a lesson free of charge.

“He’s got a backup plan for everything,” Diehl said, skaking his head. “If it’s a pass rush or whatever, he’s always got a second move lined up if you are able to see the first one coming.”

A banged-up Strahan last Sunday gave the Cleveland Browns some not-so-free lessons with two sacks, two fumble recoveries and six tackles in the New York Giants’ 27-10 win.

“In my mind he is the best defensive end in the league,” said NFL all-time sacks leader Bruce Smith, who retired after last season with 200 career sacks. Strahan has 117.

“He certainly has a great deal of God-given talent,” Smith added. “There are other players who have as much, but Michael is smart enough to know he has to work everyday to improve.”

Strahan’s work ethic is what teammates mention repeatedly. The 32-year-old is a workaholic, whether it’s lifting weights, looking at videotapes or just being on the practice field.

“I’m afraid to fail,” Strahan said Thursday before practicing for Sunday’s game with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.

“I think at one point, when you get to a certain level that you expect of yourself and everyone expects of you, you can’t take a break. If you do, your game drops off, and it’s noticed easier than if you are trying to build a career. So for me, I want to play at a certain level until I am tired of playing. At that point, it’s time for me to quit.”

Strahan, who has 52 sacks in the last three seasons, feels retirement could be years down the road, although he jokes about not hanging around as long as Smith, who retired at 40.

Smith and Strahan, who has three sacks this season, have much in common, especially in the way they use videotapes to prepare for opponents and to learn from fellow linemen. Strahan spends hours looking at tapes of Smith, Reggie White, Kevin Greene, Jevon Kearse, Julius Peppers and anyone else he thinks can teach him.

“You steal a little bit from everybody,” Strahan said. “I don’t care if you are a rookie, I’ll watch you.”

Before this year, Jets defensive line coach Denny Marcin was Strahan’s position coach with the Giants for the last seven seasons. During his 41 years in football, he coached Lawrence Taylor, Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy and calls Strahan a true professional.

“He takes a lot of pride in what he does, he works extremely hard on whatever he does,” Marcin said. “The thing about him, very seldom did he want to take plays off. There were many days I told him, Hey, Stray, We have 10 reps, take about six and get out of there.’ And he says I’ll see how I am.’ He’s always looking to get better.”

Strahan also plays hurt. Last weekend against the Browns, he was hampered by a nagging muscle pull in his backside and a bruised hand and finger.

Strahan reinjured his hand sacking Jeff Garcia on the Browns’ opening drive of the second half. He left the game and Cleveland marched downfield.

When the Browns got near the goal line, Strahan ran back on the field. On a second-and-2 from the 5-yard line, Garcia didn’t handle the snap. The ball popped loose and Strahan pounced on it.

The Giants drove 95 yards to take a commanding 17-0 lead.

Linebacker Carlos Emmons, who signed with the Giants after years with the rival Philadelphia Eagles, has been impressed by Strahan.

“You get to see how dominating he is and how much teams game-plan for him,” Emmons said. “The team that single blocks him all game, he is going to kill them. Not many players are like that, where they can flat out dominate a guy. Him, it’s almost like a professional going against a high school player some times.”

This week will be difficult for Strahan. He is going against Mark Tauscher, the tackle who almost prevented Strahan from getting his league-record 221/2 sack in 2001. The sack came when Favre gave Strahan the mark by dropping to the turf.

“One play doesn’t define a player, doesn’t define a team and what Michael Strahan did that year, as well as other years, (says that),” Favre said. “He is an outstanding player.”

Watching Strahan, Packers coach Mike Sherman is reminded of White. When the defense broke the huddle, White would emerge with a smile on his face.

Strahan does the same. He even looks to the opposing sideline to either smile or wave at opposing coaches, just for fun.

“I used to try to play like I was angry to get myself going for the game,” Strahan said. “It’s impossible to be angry every week to go out there and play. Now I prepare and I watch films and I go to the game calm. I listen to calming music and I go out to have a good time. It’s like going to a party instead of going to a fight.”

AP-ES-09-30-04 1627EDT