Linebacker Antonio Pierce Released by Giants

Antonio Pierce's 2009 season with the New York Giants did not end as he had hoped. As it turns out, it was just the beginning of the end.

The Giants have released the veteran linebacker, according to NJ.com. The New York Daily News also reported the move.

The 31-year-old Pierce played four seasons for the Redskins before spending the next five seasons in New York, serving as a defensive leader as the Giants upset the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. He suffered a herniated disk in his neck last season, forcing him to miss the team's final seven games.

"I'm doing great, feeling great," Pierce wrote in an e-mail to NJ.com. "Looking forward to endless possibilities. Loved every moment as a NY Giant."