Super Bowl-winning linebacker Antonio Pierce has been forced to retire after nine seasons in the NFL because of injury.
Linebacker retires, safety recovering and wideout wants new deal in NYC
Super Bowl-winning linebacker Antonio Pierce has been forced to retire after nine seasons in the NFL because of injury.
The former New York Giants man missed the closing seven games of last season due to a neck injury, and that has now proved enough for him to call it a day.
Pierce spent the last five seasons with the Giants, and led Big Blue to a surprising Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in 2008.
The former Washington Redskin spent four seasons in the capital before moving to the Big Apple. In all he played 137 games and made 687 tackles with nine sacks and seven interceptions.
Pierce had previously said that he would need neck surgery to continue playing, and instead opted to retire having been released by the Giants in February.
Phillips boost
The Giants may have lost a defensive leader, but they hope to have another one back for the start of the season as safety Kenny Phillips makes good progress in his recovery from knee surgery.
Phillips also had some doubts about whether he could continue playing after surgery on his left knee, but he is now hoping to prove the doubters wrong and be back for the start of the new season.
"To me, everything is realistic," Phillips said. "As far as being a starter, I don't know if they'll throw me out there the first game. I'm not sure. I do feel like I'll get some type of playing time in that first game.
"I think you'll see me as soon as camp opens. I don't know if I'll practice (fully) immediately, but for sure in the first couple of weeks. It will probably happen that I ease into it, start off slow, and then work my way in.
"I look at myself as the starter, and have the mindset they're just working me back slowly. With Deon Grant, we know our roles. I feel that even if I'm not the starter, he can get the job done. And he feels that when I'm ready to come back, he'll let me shine. We'll work something out."
Smith deal
While Phillips is desperate to get back into a Giants uniform, wide receiver Steve Smith is not so happy about the lack of a new contract offer coming his way.
Smith is in the final year of his rookie contract and will net £550,000 this season, but believes he should be paid a lot more after his improved performances last season saw him make it into the Pro Bowl.
The Giants are reluctant to hand out a huge signing-on bonus due to an uncapped season, but Smith had targeted a deal to rival Green Bay's Greg Jennings, who signed a four-year extension worth $26.5 million.
"I understand it's making it tough on both sides," Smith told
The New York Post. "It's bad timing for me to be doing well in the National Football League."
"I deserve to at least be getting what these other players in the NFL are getting, like a Greg Jennings, at least."
