There really is no pleasing Antonio Pierce.

Having fully played his part in the Giants? 42-19 destruction of the Arizona Cardinals in the season-opener with a team-leading 11 tackles and a shared sack, you?d think the Bermudian NFL star would be happy.

But no, Pierce was stomping around his locker after Sunday?s victory like a man who had cost his new team the game or even a play-off spot.

?I don?t think you guys have any idea how determined I am,? said Pierce, punching his right hand into his left for visual emphasis.

?I should have had an interception, I didn?t do enough.?

When told by that he had actually notched up 11 tackles, seven solo, and half-a-sack with Giants defensive talisman Michael Strahan, he still wasn?t happy.

?That?s not enough,? he said, punching again.

?I don?t just want to lead the team, I want to lead the NFL. I need better numbers than that, and I still should have had that pick, I got my fingers to it, they?re the ones I need to be getting.

?I need more tackles, I need to do better.?

Pierce may well be in a minority of one with that view, given the coach was happy with the linebacker?s first performance since signing as a $33 million free agent from Washington over the summer, his team-mates were happy, as were the media ? who surrounded his locker with obtrusive cameras, tape recorders and microphones ? and the fans in general.

But Pierce is still convinced that he has a point to prove to everyone, the hangover from his undrafted status out of Arizona college and his three years as a back up at the Redskins.

?I am sick of this whole one-season wonder stuff,? said Pierce, possibly now the only person using that term in reference to his breakout season with the Redskins last year following an injury to starter Michael Barrow?s knee.

?I have a lot to prove to a lot of people. I know I am good enough, I have always known it.

?But I need a really good year, I need to go out there and be a leader and help this team get to the Super Bowl.

?We are a good team and we can do things.?

When Pierce had calmed down a little ? and the TV crews had fled the scene after the announcement that ?Tiki Barber is now on the podium? ? he finally talked about the specifics of the game in more measured terms.

?I don?t know the numbers yet but I think we kept their rushing yards down, that was one of our big aims,? he continued, unaware that the Cardinals had managed just 31 yards on 21 carries, surely enough to make even this 6ft 1ins, 240-lb perfectionist happy.

?The aim was to win the game, this was not one we were going to lose and the coach will be happy that we won three of the four quarters.

?We did our bit, the offence did their bit and the special teams were pretty special (scoring touchdowns on both punt and kick-off returns).

?I should have done more with that pick opportunity in the third quarter, I got fingertips to it but I need to be bringing them in.

?It was good to get a sack,? he added, before punching his hand again when told it was actually only half a sack.

?Really? Damn. Ok, but if you are going to share one at least share one with a Hall of Famer like Michael Strahan.?

Pierce suffered from cramps mid-play for a spell in the third quarter and was finally taken out of the game once victory was secured with just seven minutes left on the clock, but was fine after the game and is already getting psyched up for the visit of the New Orleans Saints next Monday in a fixture moved from Louisiana because of Hurricane Katrina.

The 26-year-old is already the team leader in tackles, following on from playing that role at the Redskins with 160, and stands ninth in the overall NFL standings ? something that he should be pleased with but instead will frustrate him and give the Saints? running backs something else to pray for.