Giants LB Antonio Pierce Out Indefinitely With Bulging Disk

Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his neck this afternoon and will be sidelined indefinitely, according to the team's medical staff. Pierce underwent an MRI today at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan and was examined by team physician Dr. Russell Warren and Dr. Frank Camissa, Chief of the Spinal Surgical Services at HSS. Pierce originally suffered a burner in the Arizona game on October 25 and experienced very little discomfort until practice this week, at which point the team's medical staff scheduled this afternoon's MRI. "I'm shocked with what I heard from the doctors this afternoon," said Pierce. "I had no idea that what happened a few weeks ago could keep me off the field. I didn't think it was that serious. I'm going to do everything the doctors tell me to do so I can get back out on the field as soon as possible."

Source: New York Giants

 

Ouch...

That's a nasty injury...

 

That sucks

 

First, I hope for his sake it's not a long term issue (in life, not football). Get well AP.

As for the Giants I've read he'll be out 6 weeks to the rest of the year and that's best case...

They'll miss his leadership and field command more than anything. So much for getting healthy on the bye. Time to step up Chase Blackburn.

 

he's done for the year and could be done for good. Imfine with that, I dont think Ap was anything mroe than decent anyway. Chase Blackburn is just as good

 

Let's wait till the end of the season before making that call.

 

Whether he's out for 6 weeks or the rest of the year doesn't really matter at this point. The defense was struggling as it was over the last 4 weeks - the Giants are hecked now - unless this injury to their defensive leader somehow, miraculously, makes the team step up

 

You are so wrong it's almost comical.

Blackburn is an all effort solid player who can make plays (and won't let you down in the short term) but he lacks Pierces knowledge of the game which means that the defence as a whole will be set up worse, and that is something that the players have been having problems with (even when Pierce was on the field).

If Goff was an athletic MLB ready to step in, then there might be a positive, but Blackburn might be a shade better in certain areas physically, but the loss in instinct and intelligence on the field is significant.

 

We aren't anymore hecked now than before (except for depth). If we lose going forward it's it's not because AP got hurt, no excuses. I've never had anything bad to say about AP, but he has visibly lost a step the last 2 years... this year he's missed tackles, been out of position and has been overall slow. Chase Blackburn doesn't have AP's natural skills, and is still slow, but he can make up for some of that in hustle. It's also time to see what Goff can do.

 

you must be talking about the intelligent AP, that had every one crash right against the eagles on a play and then all they did was run left and go untouched. You must be talking about AP, the guy that gets burned playing man or coverage, You must be talking about AP the guy that misses constant Gap assignments this year. The Giants are no worse with Blackburn/Goff playing MLB.

The whole Pierce is intelligent thing has little weight for as many good audibles he calls, when it comes to making plays he's crap the bed this year. Id he a good leader ont he field yeah, so now it's time for someone else to step up.

 

Here was classic AP fighting through blocks to make a huge tackle in the 07 NFC Championship game. Huge play.