NEW YORK — Tiki Barber regrets criticizing Michael Strahan. But he won't take it back.

        The Giants running back expressed remorse only for airing his grievance publicly.

        “The mistake is in voicing your opinion,” Barber said. “It's my mistake, and I admit that. But things are done. You can't worry about it.”

        Negotiations between Strahan and the Giants recently broke down, with the All-Pro defensive end wanting a $17 million signing bonus paid up front and the team preferring to split the amount over two years. Strahan then accused the Giants of not wanting to be competitive.

        Barber reportedly then chastised Strahan for not being a team player and for acting like a spoiled athlete who failed to understand how much money the Giants were offering. Strahan responded Thursday by telling the New York Daily News, “I'm not going to get into a (war of words) with someone. ... I'm not going to drag someone else into my business.”

        Strahan and Barber spoke by telephone Thursday night, although Barber refused Friday night to say who had initiated the call or what was discussed.

        The Giants begin their offseason conditioning program Monday. Barber, who reportedly was criticized by defensive tackle Keith Hamilton, said the recent turmoil wouldn't undermine the team.

        “I don't expect it to be an issue,” Barber said. “I think guys know each other well enough to know that we have differences but we're still a team.”

        RAIDERS: Rick Mirer signed with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, the former Notre Dame quarterback's sixth NFL team in nine seasons.

        Mirer, 32, spent most of the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers as a backup to Jeff Garcia.

        STEELERS: Backup cornerback Deshea Townsend agreed to a $4.2 million, four-year contract to return to Pittsburgh.

        The contract includes a signing bonus of about $1 million and counts about $800,000 against the Steelers' 2002 salary cap. He will make a base salary of $525,000 this year, the minimum for a five-year veteran.

        • Former running back George Kiick, who played for Pittsburgh just before and immediately after World War II, died in Pompton Plains, N.J. Thursday. He was 84. Between football stints, he served as a lieutenant with the 2nd Armored Division in Europe.

        VIKINGS: The team signed free agent cornerback Corey Chavous, who spent the past four seasons with Arizona. Terms were not disclosed.

        Chavous, 26, played in 61 of a possible 64 games with the Cardinals. He took over a starting role last season and played in 14 games, making 87 tackles.

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