Even now, two seasons removed from the NFC East, retired Giants defensive end Michael Strahan clearly is locked into what the Eagles are up to:

The trials of Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick; the offensive line issues; the lack of a running game; and, by association, the limited playing time of Brian Westbrook due to ankle and head injuries.

The latter terrifies Strahan, who said he has never suffered a concussion.

"I'm hard-headed," he joked. "I've had a few instances where I've felt, 'That's not right.' But nothing to the point of what you're seeing with Brian Westbrook. That's scary."

Westbrook suffered his second concussion in 4 weeks Sunday in San Diego. He is scheduled to see a pair of concussion specialists today in Pittsburgh.

En route to 141 sacks, fifth all-time, Strahan rattled many backfield residents' crania, from Troy Aikman to Steve Young to McNabb. He's also hit Westbrook a few times.

The former pair, both superstar quarterbacks, quit the game in part because of their accruing concussions. Both, like Strahan, serve as polished TV analysts and endorsers (Strahan's new shill is for Vaseline men's lotions) – jobs they might not have been able to do had they continued to get pounded.

"It makes you wonder – you think more about his life outside of football," Strahan said of Westbrook's situation. "I've had great friends who've had to retire because of concussions. Some of the effects that they go through. Since they've retired? You can't imagine."

So, he filled in the blanks:

"From the depression, to having to sit up in the bed and for 45 minutes just to get their bearings, to other problems . . . you can't imagine, [just] because somebody gets knocked out a few times in football. The threat is real.

"One of my good friends takes Alzheimer's medicine right now to combat some of the issues with concussions," Strahan said. "The memory loss, and all those things. He's in his 30s. It's unfortunate to see that in such a young person."

Strahan declined to name his friend, but it sounds a lot like Ted Johnson, the former Patriots linebacker (and current local Patriots analyst) who, in 2007, accused his former team of pressuring him into playing despite having had several concussions and suffering postconcussion symptoms.

Listening to him talk, Strahan seems to think it's a minor miracle that McNabb hasn't been in more danger of getting dinged. The Eagles' typical lack of a power running game surfaced again Sunday, when the team was unable to punch in a touchdown from the 1-yard line, a key in their loss.

Strahan never has been able to figure out why a club with such consistently large and talented lines has never committed more to pounding the ball, the way the Giants have.

"The one unfortunate thing, with the size of the offensive lines that they've had over the years, is that they've never had a power running game. I've never understood that," Strahan said. "[Former right tackle] Jon Runyan is the strongest guy I've ever gone against. How do you not have a power running game? I think you have to establish that to take some pressure off your quarterback."

That said, McNabb has made some of his own problems.

"Is he having a great year? No. It's not his best year at all," Strahan said. However, "He still is a great quarterback in this league. Right now, without a running game, the balance isn't there, so teams don't have to [defend] a double-threat."

Adding Vick hasn't helped, either.

Granted, Vick was supposed to be the ultimate Wildcat weapon, but his infrequent and ineffective inclusion has made the Eagles' post-prison acquisition of him, along with its baggage and expense, seem unwise. Vick, suspended the first two games for his dogfighting and gambling convictions, has thrown seven times, with two completions, for 6 yards, and has run 12 times for 27 yards.

Making $1.625 million this year, over Vick's 14-game season, that's more than $24,000 per yard.

So what, said Strahan. He doesn't buy into the Vick-as-Wildcatter proposition. At that money, a viable, veteran backup isn't the worst investment in the league.

"In the realm of football, that's not a lot of money. When you have a guy that talented, it's good to have him there," Strahan said. "Donovan went out earlier [with a rib injury]; who knows? What if the backup, [Kevin] Kolb, goes out? You need a guy there who can come in and fill that void, who's a threat. Michael Vick is a threat."

Just not the ultimate threat.

Strahan stressed that, while Vick made unparalleled magic happen as an improvisational quarterback in Atlanta, he shouldn't be expected to create instant offense in the Wildcat scheme. For one thing, when he played quarterback full-time, his running was the final option, not the first one. So, no, you can't tell if Vick has lost a step.

"It's not the same Michael Vick I've seen in the past because he's not playing the same position," Strahan said. "What Michael Vick is doing right now is not [as] a quarterback. And Michael Vick is a quarterback."

A series or two and maybe he could be effective as a scrambler again. But that hasn't happened . . . and likely won't happen as long as McNabb is healthy.

"[Vick] gets in there a few plays on Wildcat, and because he doesn't run the ball 70 or 80 yards every time he touches it, everyone says he's not having a successful year," Strahan said. "I think a successful year for Michael Vick is, he's on a team. He's staying out of trouble."

Anything else, Strahan said, is a bonus:

"It's not like you just walk out on the field, touch the ball, and it's always going to be points."

It just seemed that way when Vick played in Atlanta.

And it seemed that way when a healthy and younger Westbrook was playing in Philadelphia.

You get the idea that Strahan, and a lot of other people, hope the memory of Westbrook's greatness is enough.