What was the Giants’ reaction to Michael Strahan’s assertion on Sunday’s Fox NFL pregame show that the Cowboys are the best team in the NFL, and that as such they will win the Super Bowl?

All smiles.

“You know he is media now, so that is what happens when you go to the dark side,” Eli Manning cracked.

Said linebacker Antonio Pierce: “That’s why they hired him, to do things that are outrageous and a little bit out of the norm. Hey, if I was a broadcaster, I’d probably pick the Cowboys, too.

“That’s what everybody’s doing, just go with the flow. We just sent Mike text messages and laugh about it. We know where Mike’s heart is. At the same time, he has a job to do.”

Defensive end Justin Tuck, who replaced Strahan as the starting left defensive end, believes there was a method to Strahan’s madness. He also took a shot at former Giant running back Tiki Barber.

“Give Stray credit to the fact that he didn’t say anything that was going to make it that every time they show his highlights on the Jumbotron the stadium is going to boo,” Tuck said.

“Do I really think he thinks that Dallas is going to win the Super Bowl? No. . . . He is a Giant at heart and he hates the Cowboys just as much as anybody else in this locker room, so for him to say that, I think it has some underlying motives.”

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The left ankle of DE Mathias Kiwanuka is sore and swollen, according to coach Tom Coughlin, but there’s hope he can practice tomorrow.

Given the Jets’ opening-game predicament, when K Mike Nugent was injured during the game and unavailable, Coughlin said P Jeff Feagles is the emergency kicker.

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Former Giant LB Jessie Armstead has been hired on a full-time basis as a special assistant/consultant.