Giants release Antonio Pierce

[TheClevelandSound]

http://www.giants.com/news/headlines/story...?story_id=43967

 

EAST RUTHERFORD - Antonio Pierce, who continued the Giants' tradition of outstanding linebackers and was one of the vital contributors to their Super Bowl XLII championship team, was released today.

 

Antonio Pierce, who continued the Giants' tradition of outstanding linebackers and was one of the vital contributors to their Super Bowl XLII championship team, was released today.

 

Pierce, 31, led the team in tackles three times, was a three-year captain, a Pro Bowler in 2006 and one of the inspirational leaders of the squad that made the playoffs four times and did not have a losing season in his five years in a Giants uniform.

 

"A.P. came right in and took the bull by the horns from day one and was very instrumental in helping the New York Giants win a lot of games and accomplishing a lot of our goals during his time here," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He has been an outstanding Giant and we wish him nothing but the best for his family and future."

 

Pierce joined the Giants as a free agent in 2005 after spending four seasons with the Washington Redskins, the team he signed with as an undrafted rookie free agent. His first Giants season was cut short by an ankle injury. But he started 62 of the next 63 regular season and postseason games at middle linebacker before a bulging disc in his neck forced him to sit out the final seven games of the 2009 season.

 

"When we brought him in here we were interested in A.P. for all of the dimensions he brought to the table - his leadership qualities, his natural charismatic ability to rally the troops, he loved football, he's a very smart football player - he took great pride in studying the tape and knowing what everybody did on defense," Coach Tom Coughlin said. "He had the ability to communicate assignments on defense as the leader in the huddle. He was a three-time elected captain here with the New York Giants. He demonstrated great leadership. He has been an outstanding football player. Think of the screen play against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game and the tremendous play that he made. Had he not made that play who knows where that ball would have gone?

 

"He has worn that Giant uniform very, very proudly."

 

Pierce led the Giants with 159 tackles in 2006 (when he became the first Giants linebacker to play in the Pro Bowl since Jessie Armstead in 2001), 116 in 2007 and 113 in 2008. He was at the forefront again before the bulging disc was discovered two days prior to the Giants' Nov. 22 victory over Atlanta.

 

Beyond the numbers, he was the heart and brains of the defense, an emotional, inspirational leader whose meticulous study of the next opponent enabled him to correctly position teammates before the snap and often predict which play was coming.

 

"When I came to New York I wanted to be a dominant player and help this organization win a championship, which we did in Super Bowl XLII," Pierce said. "I wanted to be a leader and I did that and was voted a captain for three years and another two years when we didn't have captains and I was still out there. I wanted to be a guy who always led by example, a guy you could count on every day. You never had to worry if A.P. was going to be at practice or if he was going to show up for the game. I was going to be there."

 

Asked what he is most proud of from his five years with the Giants, Pierce said, "Obviously, from a team standpoint, the Super Bowl. Personally, it's how the guys on the team looked at me. They looked at me as a guy that led. I led by example."

 

Pierce has played with uncommon determination and zeal throughout his nine-year NFL career. He believed he should have been drafted and arrived at his first camp with the Redskins determined to prove the teams that had passed on him had significantly erred in their judgment. After three seasons of part-time and special teams duty, Pierce started all 16 games for Washington in 2004.

 

That was Coughlin's first season with the Giants and both the coach and then-general manager Ernie Accorsi quickly noticed an opponent who seemed to be in the middle of every play. Pierce had 109 tackles that season and was a free agent at year's end. The Giants quickly moved in to secure his services.

 

"The one thing that has always been something that I've taken great stock in has been competing against players in the division and having a chance to see them firsthand twice a year," Coughlin said. "I felt from the other sideline that Antonio Pierce was a tremendous rallying point for the Washington Redskins when we played against him. He was an extremely strong leader, a guy who was very smart, an intelligent football player, a guy who could line his whole defense up. He was the kind of guy that participated on special teams. He just had a very, very competitive personality. The game was very important to him. If you studied his background, you knew why. He made himself into a football player. He was an undrafted free agent linebacker who did have the ability to play with some great players. He played with Jessie Armstead in Washington. He had these characteristics."

 

Pierce said he had a long talk yesterday with Coughlin and a meeting today with Reese. It is uncertain who will replace him in the middle of the Giants' defense. Chase Blackburn started the first two games after Pierce's neck injury was diagnosed before second-year pro Jonathan Goff stepped in for the rest of the season.

 

Pierce finished his final season with the Giants with 51 tackles (31 solo), three tackles for losses, a sack, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His five-year totals with the Giants were 537 tackles (322 solo), 7.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and four interceptions. Pierce also had 44 postseason tackles (28 solo).

 

"I appreciate everything the Giants organization has done for me," Pierce said. "I told both Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese when I sat in front of them that I have no animosity, I have no anger. It's nowhere near that kind of situation. You might not agree with everything that's said, but you understand how the game is. It comes and goes.

 

"I had support from everybody in the Giants organization from Mr. (John) Mara, Steve Tisch and everybody all the way down to Jose (Garcia), the guy that cleans the locker room. I appreciate everything. I have nothing but very strong love for the New York Giants. Obviously, I wanted to end it when my contract ended, but it didn't. It ended a year early. But I have no regrets. I have nothing to look back on and wish I had done it differently. Now it's time to look forward at the possibilities that I have."

[cdl15]

http://www.giants.com/news/headlines/story...?story_id=43967

 

EAST RUTHERFORD - Antonio Pierce, who continued the Giants' tradition of outstanding linebackers and was one of the vital contributors to their Super Bowl XLII championship team, was released today.

 

Antonio Pierce, who continued the Giants' tradition of outstanding linebackers and was one of the vital contributors to their Super Bowl XLII championship team, was released today.

 

Pierce, 31, led the team in tackles three times, was a three-year captain, a Pro Bowler in 2006 and one of the inspirational leaders of the squad that made the playoffs four times and did not have a losing season in his five years in a Giants uniform.

 

"A.P. came right in and took the bull by the horns from day one and was very instrumental in helping the New York Giants win a lot of games and accomplishing a lot of our goals during his time here," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He has been an outstanding Giant and we wish him nothing but the best for his family and future."

 

Pierce joined the Giants as a free agent in 2005 after spending four seasons with the Washington Redskins, the team he signed with as an undrafted rookie free agent. His first Giants season was cut short by an ankle injury. But he started 62 of the next 63 regular season and postseason games at middle linebacker before a bulging disc in his neck forced him to sit out the final seven games of the 2009 season.

 

"When we brought him in here we were interested in A.P. for all of the dimensions he brought to the table - his leadership qualities, his natural charismatic ability to rally the troops, he loved football, he's a very smart football player - he took great pride in studying the tape and knowing what everybody did on defense," Coach Tom Coughlin said. "He had the ability to communicate assignments on defense as the leader in the huddle. He was a three-time elected captain here with the New York Giants. He demonstrated great leadership. He has been an outstanding football player. Think of the screen play against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game and the tremendous play that he made. Had he not made that play who knows where that ball would have gone?

 

"He has worn that Giant uniform very, very proudly."

 

Pierce led the Giants with 159 tackles in 2006 (when he became the first Giants linebacker to play in the Pro Bowl since Jessie Armstead in 2001), 116 in 2007 and 113 in 2008. He was at the forefront again before the bulging disc was discovered two days prior to the Giants' Nov. 22 victory over Atlanta.

 

Beyond the numbers, he was the heart and brains of the defense, an emotional, inspirational leader whose meticulous study of the next opponent enabled him to correctly position teammates before the snap and often predict which play was coming.

 

"When I came to New York I wanted to be a dominant player and help this organization win a championship, which we did in Super Bowl XLII," Pierce said. "I wanted to be a leader and I did that and was voted a captain for three years and another two years when we didn't have captains and I was still out there. I wanted to be a guy who always led by example, a guy you could count on every day. You never had to worry if A.P. was going to be at practice or if he was going to show up for the game. I was going to be there."

 

Asked what he is most proud of from his five years with the Giants, Pierce said, "Obviously, from a team standpoint, the Super Bowl. Personally, it's how the guys on the team looked at me. They looked at me as a guy that led. I led by example."

 

Pierce has played with uncommon determination and zeal throughout his nine-year NFL career. He believed he should have been drafted and arrived at his first camp with the Redskins determined to prove the teams that had passed on him had significantly erred in their judgment. After three seasons of part-time and special teams duty, Pierce started all 16 games for Washington in 2004.

 

That was Coughlin's first season with the Giants and both the coach and then-general manager Ernie Accorsi quickly noticed an opponent who seemed to be in the middle of every play. Pierce had 109 tackles that season and was a free agent at year's end. The Giants quickly moved in to secure his services.

 

"The one thing that has always been something that I've taken great stock in has been competing against players in the division and having a chance to see them firsthand twice a year," Coughlin said. "I felt from the other sideline that Antonio Pierce was a tremendous rallying point for the Washington Redskins when we played against him. He was an extremely strong leader, a guy who was very smart, an intelligent football player, a guy who could line his whole defense up. He was the kind of guy that participated on special teams. He just had a very, very competitive personality. The game was very important to him. If you studied his background, you knew why. He made himself into a football player. He was an undrafted free agent linebacker who did have the ability to play with some great players. He played with Jessie Armstead in Washington. He had these characteristics."

 

Pierce said he had a long talk yesterday with Coughlin and a meeting today with Reese. It is uncertain who will replace him in the middle of the Giants' defense. Chase Blackburn started the first two games after Pierce's neck injury was diagnosed before second-year pro Jonathan Goff stepped in for the rest of the season.

 

Pierce finished his final season with the Giants with 51 tackles (31 solo), three tackles for losses, a sack, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His five-year totals with the Giants were 537 tackles (322 solo), 7.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and four interceptions. Pierce also had 44 postseason tackles (28 solo).

 

"I appreciate everything the Giants organization has done for me," Pierce said. "I told both Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese when I sat in front of them that I have no animosity, I have no anger. It's nowhere near that kind of situation. You might not agree with everything that's said, but you understand how the game is. It comes and goes.

 

"I had support from everybody in the Giants organization from Mr. (John) Mara, Steve Tisch and everybody all the way down to Jose (Garcia), the guy that cleans the locker room. I appreciate everything. I have nothing but very strong love for the New York Giants. Obviously, I wanted to end it when my contract ended, but it didn't. It ended a year early. But I have no regrets. I have nothing to look back on and wish I had done it differently. Now it's time to look forward at the possibilities that I have."

no to old for too much money. flash in pan

[PlayoffsIN09]

We need to develop young talent, not bring in veterans that are soon at the end of their careers. Thats what I believe in.

[choco]

we gotta get this guy!

 

 

 

 

wait....

 

 

 

no.

[cdl15]

we gotta get this guy!

 

 

 

 

wait....

 

 

 

no.

hey did you guys hear another guy wants off of their respected team. Lets go get him okay! Doesn't matter i want him

[choco]

casey hampton is a free agent pro-bowl NT....we could trade rogers for kolb and use big snack to spell rubin!

 

lol.....

 

 

 

im not against free agency, just would rather draft linebackers at this point. we have a few vets....we need youth there, not more mediocre play that keeps the young guys off the field.

[Tim Couch Pulls Out]

Wasn't Pierce involved in the whole Plax ordeal? I don't think that's a redeeming quality in Mangini's eyes.

[TheClevelandSound]

Sorry.

[miktoxic]

Wasn't Pierce involved in the whole Plax ordeal? I don't think that's a redeeming quality in Mangini's eyes.

 

he was involved by being with him. i don't think he knew plax even had the gun. you also have to remember their team mate steve smith was robbed at gunpoint the week before. (not giving anyone a pass.....they've got enough money to hire security).

 

i think pierce would be a solid addition. he's tough and smart and was the captain of a super winning team for years. BUT the only way i'd sign him is if his injury is healed completely and he's not looking for alot of money. then why not, at least he can bring in knowledge of what it takes to win a championship into the locker room. my only fear is he'll become another pepper johnson.

[Tim Couch Pulls Out]

Sorry.

 

Don't be sorry. Some people on here are vehemently against the addition of FA's whatsoever. If they're over the age of 25, they shouldn't be a Brownie in their eyes.

 

For the record, I think Pierce has still got it. I'd love to see a linebacker with talent in Cleveland.

[Flugel]

http://www.giants.com/news/headlines/story...?story_id=43967

 

EAST RUTHERFORD - Antonio Pierce,

 

There's nothing wrong with bouncing ideas off us. It makes for good conversation TCS.

 

If I didn't think Bowens was such a great pleasant surprise, I'd be a little more inclined to say thumbs up to Pierce. At this time I don't think we need Pierce which is such an upgrade over where we were last year at this time IMO.

 

That said, I don't think alot of our fans share my opinion of Bowens. He's rarely ever mentioned or complimented. I thought he was hands down our best defensive player; because his true value came to fruition when Jackson AND Barton both went down with season ending injuries and our ILBer performance improved at WHERE tackles were being made consistently. This guy was a gem and a silent leader that got better with every start at his position change. I don't think many people noticed how much our ability to get off the field within 3-6 downs changed. He was a HUGE factor in that. I think his biggest asset is instincts, which makes him easier to coach and position flex. He doesn't play with hesitation so he can beat a blocker to an area, which always seems to have him in favorable position to make the tackle where you WANT your ILBer making the tackle. I hope Bowens STAYS inside and Jackson either plays next to him or we move Jackson outside.

 

Before Mangini LBer was a pressing need. Today, here's our slew of LBers:

David Bowens, Matt Roth, Kam Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson, Marcus Benard, Jason Trusnik, Eric Barton, Kaluka Maiava, Blake Costanzo, David Veikune and Alex Hall.

 

The better that group became - the more you saw some creative formations and schemes. Riffer has reminded us that our defense ended up 10th out of 32 teams at sacking the QB for those out there that think Mangini and staff doesn't know whether to shit or winde their wrist watches. Ryan even broke out some of his dad's 46 Defense which was a sign that he was getting comfortable enough with personnel packages. All good news IMO.

 

Another undermentioned value we have on defense is Mike Adams. He can play Safety as well as Brodney Pool and I think he's a better #2 corner than Brandon McDonald at this time. That's actually a compliment because I don't think McDonald sucks when healthy - I just equate his ability to that of Anthony Henry where he'd be more of an asset as a #3 corner working mostly in nickle/dime packages against 3rd best WRs. I think he's overmatched when he faces the more talented #2 WRs in this league as Anthony Henry proved to be. I think what made Anthony Henry's INT inflation was Jamir Miller's relentless pressure off the edge forcing Qbs to throw the ball earlier than they wanted to the closest receiver in the slot. People forget we LEAD the conference in INTs back in 2001 with just an average group of DBs at the time (Fuller, Little, Bush, Ellsworth (Rich's alltime favorite), McCutcheon, and Henry.

 

When we talk instinct beating faster feet to an area - did anyone see this showing up with Mike Furrey on occasion in our secondary? Who better understands the centerfield seams than a former slot receiver eh?

- Tom F.

[TheClevelandSound]

There's nothing wrong with bouncing ideas off us. It makes for good conversation TCS.

 

If I didn't think Bowens was such a great pleasant surprise, I'd be a little more inclined to say thumbs up to Pierce. At this time I don't think we need Pierce which is such an upgrade over where we were last year at this time IMO.

 

That said, I don't think alot of our fans share my opinion of Bowens. He's rarely ever mentioned or complimented. I thought he was hands down our best defensive player; because his true value came to fruition when Jackson AND Barton both went down with season ending injuries and our ILBer performance improved at WHERE tackles were being made consistently. This guy was a gem and a silent leader that got better with every start at his position change. I don't think many people noticed how much our ability to get off the field within 3-6 downs changed. He was a HUGE factor in that. I think his biggest asset is instincts, which makes him easier to coach and position flex. He doesn't play with hesitation so he can beat a blocker to an area, which always seems to have him in favorable position to make the tackle where you WANT your ILBer making the tackle. I hope Bowens STAYS inside and Jackson either plays next to him or we move Jackson outside.

 

Before Mangini LBer was a pressing need. Today, here's our slew of LBers:

David Bowens, Matt Roth, Kam Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson, Marcus Benard, Jason Trusnik, Eric Barton, Kaluka Maiava, Blake Costanzo, David Veikune and Alex Hall.

 

The better that group became - the more you saw some creative formations and schemes. Riffer has reminded us that our defense ended up 10th out of 32 teams at sacking the QB for those out there that think Mangini and staff doesn't know whether to shit or winde their wrist watches. Ryan even broke out some of his dad's 46 Defense which was a sign that he was getting comfortable enough with personnel packages. All good news IMO.

 

Another undermentioned value we have on defense is Mike Adams. He can play Safety as well as Brodney Pool and I think he's a better #2 corner than Brandon McDonald at this time. That's actually a compliment because I don't think McDonald sucks when healthy - I just equate his ability to that of Anthony Henry where he'd be more of an asset as a #3 corner working mostly in nickle/dime packages against 3rd best WRs. I think he's overmatched when he faces the more talented #2 WRs in this league as Anthony Henry proved to be. I think what made Anthony Henry's INT inflation was Jamir Miller's relentless pressure off the edge forcing Qbs to throw the ball earlier than they wanted to the closest receiver in the slot. People forget we LEAD the conference in INTs back in 2001 with just an average group of DBs at the time (Fuller, Little, Bush, Ellsworth (Rich's alltime favorite), McCutcheon, and Henry.

 

When we talk instinct beating faster feet to an area - did anyone see this showing up with Mike Furrey on occasion in our secondary? Who better understands the centerfield seams than a former slot receiver eh?

- Tom F.

 

I really like Bowens but the problem I have is that Barton was the clear leader of our defense until he was hurt in the Chicago game. He was showing outstanding potential but wasnt with us for most of the season...so what do we do with him?

[Riffer X]

I really like Bowens but the problem I have is that Barton was the clear leader of our defense until he was hurt in the Chicago game. He was showing outstanding potential but wasnt with us for most of the season...so what do we do with him?

 

I didn't know you could have too many good linebackers.

[TheClevelandSound]

I didn't know you could have too many good linebackers.

 

I mean't do we start or sit.