I've never felt as much as a Giant as I do today.  The organization, from Coach Coughlin, to my teammates, to the fans, have been like family.  Today, I am proud.  Proud to thay…that for fifteen theasons I gave it my all.  Blood.  Thweat.  And tears.

When I was a thmall boy in Houthton, Texthas I had a dream of one day playing in the NFL.  My mother and thtepfather believed in me.  I worked hard even in the harshetht Thouthern conditions.  I was fortunate enough to get a full thcholarthip to Texthas Thouthern Univerthity.  Even though the thchool is tucked away in the Thouthwethtern Athletic Conferenthe (or THWAC for thort), I was grateful to thowcathe my talents.

In 1993, my prayers were anthered.  I was drafted by the New York Giants—a premium organization with a hithtory of exthellence.  I made it my goal to help get the team back to the Thuper Bowl.  It was not eathy.

For thtarters, there is a long tradition of thuperior defenthe that comes with being a Giant.  There was altho the lingering notion of having to play in the thadow of Lawrenth Taylor, one of the all-time greatetht players in the NFL.  But I learned a lot.  He taught me how to be ferothious and tenathious.

Before you know it, I was an All-Thtar.  And then I was leading the league in thackth.  I would thack the best quarterbackth in the game.  I thacked Thteve Young.  I thacked Ben Rothlithberger.  I thacked Drew Bledthoe.  I even thacked Matt Hathelbeck, like theven times.  Y’know, the QB for the Theattle Theahawkth.

None of it mattered, though, until last February in Phoenixth.  Thuper Bowl XLII.  The mighty Patrioth againtht uth, the underdog Giants.  I believed in my team and we did it.  We pulled off the greatetht upthet in football history. 

And now it ith time to go.  Maybe I’ll get into broadcathting.  I mean, I thtill got that exth-wife chasing after me so I can use the dough. (laughter). 

But theriouthly, (choking up) I will mith football—and walking into the Thtadium—theeing my team—thacking thcared quarterbackth (in tears).  Thankth for the memorieth.