Antonio Pierce, the 32-year-old linebacker who played the past five seasons for the New York Giants and is currently unsigned, says Giants' coach Tom Coughlin needs to have a good season if he wants to keep his job.
"He's on the hot seat," Pierce said of his former head coach during an interview with NFL Network. "I think everybody in the organization is on the hot seat. You are talking about a team three years removed from the Super Bowl. There are some fires lit underneath people's butts now in that locker room and in that organization. Everybody is on high alert. It is going to be a very interesting 2010 season."
Coughlin has coached the Giants since 2004, leading the team to playoffs in four of his six seasons including the Super Bowl XLII victory. He hasn't had a losing season for the past five seasons but did go a disappointing 8-8 last year, which led to the Giants missing the playoffs and finishing third in the NFC East.
Coughlin is currently signed with the Giants for the next two seasons after re-upping with a four-year deal in 2008.
As for Pierce, he seems to be on the path to retirement and into broadcasting after suffering a herniated disc in Week 9 that forced him to miss the remainder of this past season.
"It is healing but I am going to need surgery to continue playing," said Pierce, who played nine seasons for the Giants and Redskins. "That's not an option I am looking forward to. It is looking like it is going down that [retirement] path. First offseason I am having away from football and I am enjoying it."
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