Antonio Pierce and the Rams
The New York Giants made a notable roster cut today that merits some talk for St. Louis Rams fans and armchair GMs. Giants MLB Antonio Pierce was released today; would Pierce make a good addition for the Rams?
First of all, he wouldn't be a starter for the Rams. Second round pick James Laurinaitis has the middle linebacker job nailed down, firmly, in St. Louis. Hell, everyone should have the kind of job security that Laurinaitis does, but most people aren't as good at their jobs as Animal Jr. Pierce would have to settle for a backup role, which is what he's most suited to since father time has slowed him down. He turns 32 in October, and was placed on IR last November with a bulging disc in his neck, no small injury. The guy wants to start (don't they all), but it'll be tough to find a team willing to commit to that given Pierce's age and injury history.
There's the obvious connection to Spagnuolo, though Pierce wasn't a Spagnuolo guy, per se, having been signed by the Giants as a free agent in 2005, when Spags was still working for the Eagles. However, Pierce is the kind of cerebral, defensive quarterback that Spagnuolo likes in a MLB. His age and ability might make him an acceptable addition as a backup for Laurinaitis, should the unthinkable happen and Animal Jr. have to miss some time with injury. He's too slow and not good enough in coverage to be anything more than a backup. It wouldn't be smart to pay him anything like the $4 million plus the Giants would have been on the hook for in 2010.
Of course, there's also that whole Plaxico Burress situation that might be enough to sour the Rams and plenty of other teams.
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Ummm...
Why are we even talking about this? There is ZERO chance this guy gets an offer from the Rams. He is good enough to start for half the teams in the NFL, why would he even think about a backup role on the Rams???
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
And....
Why even bring up the Plaxico situation?!?! He was cleared of any wrong doing and that should have NO effect on what team signs him. He was in no way involved with Plaxico, so if he was stupid enough to consider signing as a backup for the Rams, the Plaxico situation would NEVER come up in conversation. He was not part of it, so don’t go there…
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
I think Van means
the fact that they were together when it happened. Obviously, Pierce did nothing wrong, but the fact that he was with his friend and probably knew about the illegal gun yet didn’t give a crap will turn some people off.
But here I am just assuming.
The House of Spears reigns supreme
Personally I like the fact that he found a way to not shoot himself
Intangibles, my friends….intangibles
by CoachConnors on Feb 11, 2010 6:48 PM CST up reply actions
i know he was cleared, i was mostly just being facetious
there was that air horn in the locker room incident too and he’s been bellyaching in the press for two years that he shoud be a pro bowler
Turf Show Times
when Spags was with the Giants
i believed that it was Spag’s system that really mattered, and not the individual talent of the defensive players, because I didn’t think anyone on that roster was amazing, not even Justin Tuck or Osi. They’re good, not great. (how I feel about Pierce as well)
starter?
I don’t know that he has enough left to be a starter at this point. When he injured his neck there were questions as to whether he’d ever play again
Turf Show Times
Switching player's positions
especially from college to pros is a reason why the Rams have trouble with talent!!!
Paris Lenon was brought in as a stop-gap.
The best he will be able to do is be a back-up, maybe. He was on a losing team last year-but the new season starts and we are UNDEFEATED!!!! We need and should accept only the Few-The Proud-and however the rest of that goes. It’s late and I forgot—
The weakside LB has to be quick.
Pierce has slowed down quite a bit. I just don’t see him being able to handle an outside linebacker spot this late in his career.

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