EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan retired Monday after a 15-year NFL career with the New York Giants that was capped by a Super Bowl title four months ago.

The 36-year-old Strahan, the NFL’s active leader in sacks, informed the front office in the morning without telling his coaches and teammates.

“I’m just finding out about it; let me get organized,” coach Tom Coughlin said after a team workout.

Strahan is walking away from a $4 million salary for the final year of his contract. He has long said he wants a job in television.

Tony Agnone, Strahan’s agent, said the Giants offered Strahan more money to play another season, but that was never the key issue. He noted that winning the championship might have been most important for Strahan.

“I really believe that was it,” Agnone told The Associated Press. “He really felt he has a chance to repeat this year, so it was tough to walk away.”

Giants co-owner John Mara was disappointed after Strahan telephoned him to say he was leaving football.

“I told him he’s been a great Giant,” Mara said.

“He thanked me for everything the organization has done for him. I said, ‘I think you’ve done more for us than we can ever do for you.”‘

Strahan’s retirement was first reported by Foxsports.com

“It was important that my teammates knew which way I was going before they got on the field to start the work to defend our title,” Strahan told the Web site. “It’s time. I’m done.”

Strahan seriously considered retirement before the start of last season, missing almost all of training camp while coming to a decision. He returned days before the season, anchoring a defensive line that was instrumental in hounding New England quarterback Tom Brady in New York’s stunning Super Bowl 17-14 victory over the previously unbeaten Patriots.

“I knew it was going to (eventually) happen,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “He had a tremendous career. If that is the case, he picked a great season to go out on.”

Fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora was told of the retirement as he walked to the locker room after practice.

“I talked to Mike last week and he told me he was still unsure,” Umenyiora said. “He was really, really thinking about it, but I didn’t think he was going to do it today.”

Strahan was the Giants’ leader in the locker room. He taught the young defensive ends how to play the position. He was also a gym rat, spending as much time working out as the youngest free agent trying to win a roster spot.

“It’s a very, very sad day for me personally,” Umenyiora said. “I loved him like a brother. You put in 15 strong years in the NFL, man that is something in this day and age is impossible to do.”

Last season, Strahan was outstanding. He started 15 of 16 games, had 46 tackles and nine sacks.

“I am very happy for him,” said receiver Amani Toomer, who played 12 seasons with Strahan. “I think he is going to find a way on his feet. I just wish him the best.”

A second-round pick in the 1993 draft, Strahan is the Giants’ career sacks leader with 141. Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor had the old mark of 132, although that total does not included 91/2 the linebacker had as a rookie in 1981, the year before sacks became an official statistic.

Strahan set the single-season mark of 22sacks in 2001, getting the last one in the final game of the season when Brett Favre mysteriously fell late in the game, and No. 92 got credit for the sack. Favre retired shortly after the Giants’ Super Bowl win.

Bears release Benson following 2nd arrest

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was released Monday following his second alcohol-related arrest in a month.

“Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate,” General Manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement. “As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions.”

The troubled running back did not participate in organized team activities on Monday, and it was unclear whether he showed up at Halas Hall.

Benson’s agent Eugene Parker and attorney Sam Bassett did not return messages seeking comment before the announcement that he’d been waived.

Terrell Owens missed random drug test

IRVING, Texas – Terrell Owens acknowledged Monday having missed a random drug test several weeks ago, blaming it on a “communication problem involving cell phone numbers.”

He also said he was in New York last week talking about his absence with league officials the day he agreed to a $34 million new contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Owens was not suspended or fined, although he could’ve been, according to ESPN.com, which first reported the story, citing NFL, team and player sources. The report also said Owens now could face up to 24 tests per year as part of the league’s “reasonable cause” program for performance-enhancing drugs.

“I’m not really worried about anything,” Owens said Monday afternoon in an interview with The Associated Press.

“It’s not a big deal. Anything I do is going to grab headlines. I have nothing to hide. I’ve made a statement and that’s it. It’s basically a dead issue.”