Tiki Barber continues to cause debate among Giants players.

Michael Strahan said Thursday if he were still playing he would want Barber on his team, two days after Antonio Pierce harshly criticized the former running back who is coming out of retirement.

“Would I welcome him as a teammate? Yeah. Yeah,” Strahan said of Barber on “The Dan Patrick Show.” “The way he left the Giants wasn’t smooth, it wasn’t good, but I would only hope that he would have sat back and reflected on how that all ended and would say, hey, it’s better to be a part of a team than trying to kind of seperate yourself in some instances.”

Barber announced during the 2006 season that he would retire from the Giants when it was over. Later, as a member of the media, he was extremely critical of coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning.

Barber on Tuesday announced he filed papers to return to the NFL, and the Giants replied by saying they would release their all-time leading rusher as soon as they are able.

Pierce, another former teammate, now an ESPN analyst, said if he were still playing he would not want Barber back in the locker room.

Strahan, a co-host of FOX’s NFL pregame show, said he had breakfast with Barber last week and the two discussed playing again, though Strahan said he was surprised when he heard of Barber’s comeback.

“I don’t doubt he can be successful,” Strahan said of Barber, who turns 36 in April. “Because the guy is tough. He retired when his body was still feeling good.

“I think he has some stuff left in him.”

Barber has interest in joining the Steelers.