Antonio Pierce replaces Urlacher in pro bowl

[THUNDERDOME]

Just saw it on ESPN.....

[chrisavery72]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/chrisavery72/Simon.jpg

[Slateman]

:doh: Way to go, Redskins' front office :(

[rm8899]

What happened to Urlacher?

[Kevin101]

What happened to Urlacher?
hes still crying

[THUNDERDOME]

Would he really pull himself just because they lost the super bowl......if he plays he could get another crack at manning :)

[Tom [Giants fan]]

Urlacker injured his foot or toe.

[ArmchairRedskin]

Pierce deserves it, even though he's the world's biggest jackass.

[Warhead36]

AP is still bitter as hell over our FO situation, but I can sort of see what he's talking about now. I don't think so lowly of him now as I did. Props to you Antonio.

[MondayNightCowboyKilla89]

I do say, I like Pierce. He's a great middle linebacker, wish we had him. OH WAIT!!....

[Skinsinparadise]

Topic that has been covered a lot. But with Pierce heading to the pro-bowl it bugs me again today. IMO the Skins letting him go was insane on two levels. 1. He was the heart of our defensive according to some of the players the year that we were ranked #3. I recall Griffin saying that it was his best year largerly because Pierce would successfully anticipate what play was coming up by the opponent. 2. The Skins knew that he was headed to the Giants and they let him do just that -- play for a division rival. And Strahan has said that Pierce is the key player on THEIR defense now. We in effect lost our most important defensive player and gave the Giants theirs. brillaint!



Pierce headed
to Pro Bowl






http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/428-Urlacher.JPGBrian Urlacher pulls out of Pro Bowl, opening spot for Antonio Pierce

Antonio Pierce finally is going to the Pro Bowl.

The Giants' middle linebacker, who believes he has played at a Pro Bowl level in each of the last three seasons, is on his way to Hawaii for the first time after Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher pulled out of Saturday's game. Pierce, the first alternate, will be a reserve on the NFC squad. Seattle's Lofa Tatupu will start. Pierce, a six-year veteran, had a career-high 137 tackles this season with one sack and one interception. He'll join retiring running back Tiki Barber as the only Giants in the game. Tight end Jeremy Shockey was selected, but decided not to play due to an ankle injury. Urlacher, whose Bears lost, 29-17, to the Colts in the Super Bowl on Sunday, apparently pulled out of the game in part because of a left toe injury that has nagged him since November.

[Brandon Lloyd Christmas]

can we get over antonio pierce? our defense was still a top 10 unit without him. geez.

[Buford]

The guy is a baller, and it was a mistake letting him go.

But, what can you do now besides whine about it?

He was called a Core Skin, then allowed to leave. That was a bad stretch for the F.O.

[Skinsinparadise]

we were top 10 the following year but we slid. This year we collapsed. The middle linebacker was part of the problem. I hear ya -- Pierce has now been gone for 2 years. But as I said, sorry its tough for it not to bug me again -- reading that he's headed to the pro-bowl. I doubt we will be talking about Lemar Marshall someday headed to the pro-bowl.

[SHYSTER411]

can we get over antonio pierce? our defense was still a top 10 unit without him. geez.

I agree. As upset as I am that he left I think it may be time to move on.

[Skinsinparadise]

Agree, whining is indeed what I am doing. But in terms of it being out of our control, well yeah but isn't everything? We aren't going to determine who the Skins pick in the draft, pick in FA, what players they do or don't sign, etc. Unless Cerrato and Gibbs are checking out the board for our feedback before they make their moves -- which would be great but I highly doubt. Sorry for bringing up old wounds but the Pierce move really on my end is the only bad move that continues to bug me. I've gotten over the others. The pro-bowl selection aggravated the wound. Therapy!

[Chump Bailey]

I would be in most cases but I am indifferent in Antonio's case on account of the cheap shots he took at the organization from afar. Yeah, I likely would have been bitter if the team allowed me to leave also, but he should also take into consideration that the Redskins were the only team out of 32 that gave him a chance to play and progress.

Screw him.

I would like us to pick up a DE and DT in FA - not sure if that is feasible however and then trade down for Pat Willis and plug him in @ MLB. Best case scenario IMO. The guy's a playmaker and I personally salivate at the notion of having a LB corps. made up of Marcus, Rocky and Patrick - good speed with a definite punch.

[Skinsinparadise]

Agree with the screw Pierce drill -- he's a bitter guy who himself hasn't gotten over being let go by the Skins. I dislike him for that reason. The Pierce thing on my end isn't so much about him but the lack of good judgment on the Redskins part while Gibbs continues to say that their front office arrangment is good and that they have made good moves. He seems to defend all of it. And instead throws himself under the bus for coaching.

[Chump Bailey]

Agree with the screw Pierce drill -- he's a bitter guy who himself hasn't gotten over being let go by the Skins. I dislike him for that reason. The Pierce thing on my end isn't so much about him but the lack of good judgment on the Redskins part while Gibbs continues to say that their front office arrangment is good and that they have made good moves. He seems to defend all of it. And instead throws himself under the bus for coaching.

I'm not sure what lead to such a decision either - was it strictly business or personal - combination of both. I can't see Gibbs superceding GW's decision on Pierce. Maybe he should have but you have to think that would have caused some animosity. The defense is his baby and I personally would not like my decisions second guessed other than an initial - 'are you sure about this?' based upon my/GW's previous two seasons.

[da#1skinsfan]

Agreed....we were a BETTER defense after he left. End of story.

Not only that, the guy has shown he is a cheap shot artist, he has a serious ego, he runs his mouth to the press...he is not the type of character guy we want here anyway.

[authentic]

its funny because even Vinny admitted that it was a mistake letting him go. But what else can you do. Actually i'm happy for him. It will be interesting seeing him and ST on the same side again.

[The Full Monty]

Agreed....we were a BETTER defense after he left. End of story.
Really? What rankings are you looking at? We were #3 in 2004, and #9 in 2005, and we are #31 for 2006...how is that the end of story?
Not only that, the guy has shown he is a cheap shot artist, he has a serious ego, he runs his mouth to the press...he is not the type of character guy we want here anyway.
Yeah I know we need guys like Brandon Lloyd to throw their helmets around and yell at coaches and alienate players.

We also need guys like Archuletta to air out all our dirty laundry to the press and call out the Coach who helped get him the largest contract ever for a safety.

[ntotoro]

we were top 10 the following year but we slid. This year we collapsed.

Two years with Antonio, the Giants D has been ranked 24th and 25th respectively. Good player and probably both he and our D can be better with each other, but I think people romanticize a little too much sometimes and think every player who chooses to leave is Mike Singletary or something.

[Skinsinparadise]

Two years with Antonio, the Giants D has been ranked 24th and 25th respectively. Good player and probably both he and our D can be better with each other, but I think people romanticize a little too much sometimes and think every player who chooses to leave is Mike Singletary or something.

Maybe I can see your point when you are talking about Smoot who didn't do that hot with the Vikings and Ryan Clark who was more of a chemistry player (that's important too) then an elite safety but I don't think Antonio Pierce is some marginal player that we are galmorizing. As noted he made the pro-bowl. Did any of our linebackers make the pro bowl?


Looked on line couldn't find the Griffin quote about Pierce but found this:


“He’s probably the biggest reason why we’re a top defense,” three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington said.

“Every time we talk about a highlight film or doing a bunch of great things, he is one of the guys,” Washington coach Joe Gibbs said last season. “He will play great on special teams if he gets an opportunity. He is super smart. Our defense thinks he can play linebacker at any position. He has been outstanding for us.”

Giants blog: Anytime you can add an impact player, AND take one away from a close enemy, that's huge

Antonio Pierce: 'If Briggs Visits, He Will Sign'</SPAN>

Posted Feb 3rd 2007 7:44PM by Dan Benton (http://ny-giants.aolsportsblog.com/bloggers/dan-benton)
Filed under: NY Giants (http://ny-giants.aolsportsblog.com/), NFC East (http://nfc-east.aolsportsblog.com/)

Earlier this week there were reports that Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce had begun recruiting (http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/02/01/peirce-to-briggs-join-me-in-new-york/) and his sights were set on Lance Briggs. Briggs did confirm the talks but didn't really comment any further. That didn't slow down Antonio Pierce however, who said that if Briggs comes to New York for an interview he will not leave unsigned.