Giants Place Antonio Pierce on Injured Reserve: The Giants placed LB Antonio Pierce on Injured Reserve yesterday, effectively ending his season. Pierce missed the last two games with a bulging disc injury in his neck.
“The doctors have told me that given my current condition, the risk of playing is too great, regardless of how I feel physically,” Pierce said. “That is the most disappointing part of this, because I feel great and have no pain. But I will keep my head up and be there the rest of the way to do my part to keep the boys going.”
“He’s certainly going to be missed,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “You have a guy who’s been a three-year captain. He’s an outstanding leader. He rallies the troops as well as anybody we’ve had. He’s a very strong personality, obviously. He’s a very, very smart player. He could make a lot of significant adjustments. He made all the checks from the defensive standpoint.
“Originally our concerns were for him and I told the team this. In a team meeting I said, ‘Our concerns are for A.P., because it was a shock for him.’ I remember seeing him right after he found out the news and he couldn’t hold back the tears. He’s a very emotional guy. He loves the game, loves to play. He’s very smart. He does an outstanding job with all the intellectual parts of the game. The players have relied and depended on him.
“He (Pierce) cannot play any more this season and other players are going to have to recognize what his contribution was to the defense and to the team. They’re going to have to play better – they’re going to have to step up and play better.”