“I didn’t get that training camp energy that I like from when I played and from being around training camps,” Pierce said. “I’m talking about the energy of ‘let’s go out and do this.’ Coach Coughlin talked about the steely-eyed focus. I didn’t feel that. There was just something missing.”

“The first day in pads, there should have been some screaming, guys getting after it. You’ve been away from the team for nine months, your season ended in December, you’ve been sitting around, no OTAs, no minicamps. Guys are fresh. I know it’s only one practice, but still . . . “

Pierce had a message for his former team.

“You should be [angry] that the Eagles are proclaiming themselves to be the Super Bowl champions. The Jets are now the baddest team in New York. If I was on that [Giants] team, I would be [angry]. Our hair would be on fire. It would be a different atmosphere. I thought I’d see more smoke coming out of their ears and off the top of their heads.”

“I don’t think it’s the most talented team that’s been there the last six or seven years, but they have to make up their minds that this is going to be a successful season. It starts with the top guys and the head [coach]. He has to make those guys believe and feel like they’re going to be winners, because right now, for the first time in a long time, nobody’s talking about the Giants. They’re not talking about them because they don’t think they’re going to have an impact on the season. That’s why I expected to feel a certain buzz in the air. I didn’t really get that.”

“I don’t see it getting any prettier,” Pierce said per ESPN New York’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “Obviously this is a situation where Osi, he’s had enough of the New York Giants and everything that has been going on with these contracts and trades. I think it is just time for Osi to get a fresh start. You could sense yesterday that there was some frustration amongst a lot of people in that organization.

“This thing hasn’t been resolved yet,” Pierce added. “Osi wants to play ball and he wants to be paid to play ball at a very high price. I don’t think the Giants are going to give him that deal that he wants. And to me it would be in the best interest of everybody, you got an unhappy player in that organization in this time, in that Giants franchise, that they need to move forward with that and maybe let Osi go.”

Pierce said the situation will only get worse if the Giants don’t trade Umenyiora.

“Because you know why?” he said. “It’s in New York. The media is going to pound on these guys every day. Coach Coughlin is going to have to answer these questions every day. Justin Tuck, Eli Manning, Osi himself, they are going to answer this question every day until it is resolved.”

Let’s talk football…why?   Because we can.

Did you ever see a player….who just had “IT”?

It might be a player that at one time you didn’t know his name, his college stats, his bench press, or his hometown.   But when he stepped on the field he made everything more exciting?   The more you watched, the more you marveled at his speed, his power, his ability to make other great players look…human.

Once in a while…a special player you expected to have “IT”…actually lives up to or surpasses your expectations.

Casey Matthews seems to be that guy.

And the New York Giants need him.

The Matthews name does stick out in NFL history, but not everyone is familiar with the baby brother of Clay Matthews III.  With every fiber in me I fight against the brother saga.   No more Barber or Manning  drama; however, Casey Matthews feels like a special player.  Look at his blood line.   The Matthews family has spawned a legacy of 1st round draft picks that have gone on to be dominate NFL pro bowl players.  Uncle Bruce is even a prestigious member of the Hall of Fame.

Watch Casey’s highlights.   He plays faster than his 4.78, 40 time and he is around the ball constantly.  He has great closing speed from his inside linebacker position and his instincts on the defensive side of the ball are earning him late 1st round discussions.  At his recent Pro Day, it was reported that he worked out just “okay”, but Casey Matthews makes a living on the field.  Again…read the reviews, watch the highlights!

Casey Matthews is a football player, with good lateral movement and great down hill ability.    He has been an over achiever his whole life and has a huge upside.   The New York Giants will make him bigger, stronger and faster, overcoming the size issue, just as the Bears did with Urlacher, the Texans did with DeMeco Ryans and the Rams are doing with James Laurinaitis.

He will mostly likely make one NFL team very happy picking between 25 & 32.   If the Giants miss out of Matthews…and there is football in 2011 the Giants will potentially be faced with a depleted and weakened core.   How?

If Barry Cofield is not signed and Jonathan Goff is our only source for plugging up the middle..it’s going to be a long year.   Casey Matthews might be worth trading spots for.   His impact will be felt immediately as he makes huge plays on special teams.  And for you Antonio Pierce fans…AP was real good.

Casey Mathews will be much, much better.

“What if the players stood up right now and walked out during the playoffs?” Pierce wrote. “The Owners have all the leverage right now.”

“Players/NFLPA need to make a Strong stance soon,” he continued. “All players make the same amount in the playoff per Rd. A walkout now would TV/Owners panic if players made a stand right now during the playoffs. Which the NFL / Teams make a lot of money during the playoffs.”

more

Listen below

Antonio Pierce

READ

He and former Patriots’ MLB Tedy Bruschi share their thoughts about last night’s 31-16 win over the Jets.

2007

1) Aaron Ross, DB, Texas – Ross was a lockdown corner for a little while there and contributed steadily until he got debacled by some injuries. Reese could have gotten all hot and bothered and threw away a whole bunch of picks to get Darelle Revis but he showed great restraint in taking Ross: A

2) Steve Smith, WR, USC – Money in the bank baby: A+

3) Jay Alford, DT, Penn State – Alford committed arguably the most spectacular sack in Super Bowl history against Tom Brady and the Pats during Super Bowl 2007. Then he summarily disappeared of the face of the earth. In Reese’s defense, Alford did not have an injury history in college: C+

4) Zak DeOssie, LB/LS, Brown – I don’t want to underestimate the quality of a good long snapper. But draft your long snapper in the 7^th round or draft an offensive lineman that can snap: D

5) Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon – Boss continues to be a solid contributor, nothing spectacular, but a good pick: B

6) Adam Koets, OL, Oregon State – The only real non-contributor in 2007. We’re still waiting for some good stuff from Koets. If 2010 isn’t his year he doesn’t have a year: C-

7) Micheal Johnson, DB, Arizona – Another disappearing 2007 contributor. At least he was 7^th rounder: C

7) Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Marshall – Bradshaw’s got it all.  I don’t know why he actually fell to the 7^th round. He had good numbers and Marshall has some descent visibility. At any rate, Bradshaw has to be in the top five change of pace backs in the league and you got him very late in the draft, a Jerry Reese home run: A+

Off-season Moves – Quiet Off-season. It has to be said that Reese ignored the fact that Antonio Pierce’s skills were deteriorating and he was the only starting MLB in the NFL with a beer gut. I think this is the season that the Giants signed Gibril Wilson to a one-year deal instead of a long term contract. In 2008 he got an offer too expensive for the Giants to match: C- (For a lack of foresight)

-Season GPA: 2.6

I’m just saying…

WR Steve Smith wants a raise. And doesn’t he deserve one? Has any Giant ever deserved one more?

Godspeed to AP in his career as a broadcaster for ESPN. Hopefully he shows a little more restraint than Tiki-bear did. And hopefully, he especially shows more restraint than his old club-spelunking days with Plaxico Burress.