A headline in today’s New York Daily News reads, “Michael Strahan: $8M or goodbye.”

However, in typical New York Daily News fashion, the headline is designed to attract readers, not to accurately reflect the substance of the story underneath it.

The story, by Ralph Vacchiano, says that if the Giants offered to pay Strahan $8 million this season and make him one of the highest-paid defensive ends in football, Strahan would almost certainly accept it and decide to play another season, rather than retire.

But Vacchiano’s story also makes clear that Strahan hasn’t issued an ultimatum, and it quotes Strahan’s agent, Tony Agnone, as saying there have been no discussions about the exact amount of money Strahan will get if he plays for the Giants this season.

Vacchiano quotes one unnamed source as saying that Strahan has been told the team is willing to pay him as much as $6 million to play the 2008 season. That would be $2 million more than his contract calls for, and it would likely be enough to make him decide to stay.

Ultimately, there’s not much new to report, as Strahan still hasn’t decided whether he wants to keep playing or retire. And he hasn’t told the Giants that they have to give him $8 million or he’ll say goodbye.

UPDATE: This item originally said the article appeared in the New York Post. Apologies for suggesting that the Post would run headlines designed to attract readers, not accurately reflect the words below.