Pierce less talkative but every bit as intense

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published January 4, 2008

Antonio Pierce has curbed his trash talking after last year's one-and-done.
	[Getty Images]

Defensive end Michael Strahan has played 15 seasons with the Giants. His 141 1/2 career sacks not only are the franchise record, but the most among active NFL players. He's a New York media favorite. But Strahan's is not the loudest voice in the Giants huddle. That role belongs to linebacker Antonio Pierce.

Pierce, acquired in 2005 as a free agent from Washington, plays the all-important middle linebacker position. Not only does he call the plays, but he sets the tone.

"He's a tough, hard-nosed guy," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He plays from the heart. The game is important to him. His teammates are important to him. He likes the competitive aspect, and he likes being in the middle and directing traffic. And he's a very inspirational guy, a rally-type guy throughout the game."

Pierce led the Giants with 116 tackles, 20 more than safety Gibril Wilson. Last season, Pierce became the first Giants linebacker to play in the Pro Bowl since Jessie Armstead in 2001.

Comfortable in front of a camera or microphone, Pierce admits he did a bit too much talking at the end of last season. He has purposely toned down his comments in 2006, in keeping with the Giants' preseason theme: talk is cheap, play the game.

New York lost in the wild-card round the past two years.

"This is a different mentality and different character on this team," Pierce told reporters recently. "It's nowhere near what '06 was like, and it hasn't just started ... now that we're in the playoffs. We've had this mentality for a while. ... Last year we mouthed off about it too much, and I have to take some of the blame for it because I was one of them. But this year we are just going about our business and going in there with a me-against-the-world attitude."

[Last modified January 3, 2008, 21:44:08]