Giants' Pierce gets second opinion; it's same as first
The second opinion on the bulging disc in Antonio Pierce's neck came back the same as the first.
Pierce visited Dr. Robert Watkins in California earlier this week to see if there is any other course of action or treatment that can be taken, but the diagnosis did not change. Pierce will remain sidelined "indefinitely," the Giants announced yesterday, while they wait to see if the disc shrinks on its own.
A source said the team's time frame of six weeks' rest is in line with Watkins', although it could be even longer. The six weeks includes this past week; the bulging disc originally showed up in an MRI taken a week ago today.
If the disc does not shrink on its own, surgery could be an option. If Pierce were to have surgery now, it would be season-ending. Last week Tom Coughlin said he hopes Pierce will be back on the field "quicker than anybody expects."
Pierce already was listed as out for last night's game, but he also was not on the sideline. Coughlin and the Giants' players had noted the impact that Pierce had from the sideline during last Sunday's Falcons game, providing help with defensive adjustments. There had been discussions that Pierce could join the team in Denver even though injured players do not typically travel.
Kehl reaches new heights
The altitude at last night's game was a concern for most Giants, but not Bryan Kehl, who grew up in Utah and played at BYU. With the Cougars, Kehl said teams regularly would travel from sea level and have difficulty gasping the mountain air.
"They would be struggling big time," Kehl said. "I always make fun of Clint [Sintim], he played at Virginia and they went to Wyoming and lost. I'm like, 'You lost to Wyoming? We beat on them every year!' And he's like, 'Man, I couldn't breathe.' It makes a difference."
Giants steps
DE Osi Umenyiora on his Thanksgiving memories when he was growing up: "I was in Africa, man. Not a lot of thanks going on in Africa." . . . As expected, the Giants activated RB Gartrell Johnson to take the place of Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles/foot). Other inactives for the Giants were WR Ramses Barden, CB D.J. Johnson, CB Kevin Dockery, C Adam Koets, T Guy Whimper and WR Sinorice Moss . . . Former Jets RB LaMont Jordan was inactive for the Broncos, as was starting T Ryan Harris . . . RB Danny Ware, who moved up to be the backup running back after Bradshaw's injury, has said he'd like to be called D.J. Ware from now on. The D.J. stands for Danny Jr.; his family calls him D.J.
