He may have entered the season as an anonymous special teamer, but Antonio Pierce has had such a stellar season that not getting picked for a starting spot for the Pro Bowl was ?disappointing?.

The 26-year-old, who leads the NFL?s Washington Redskins in tackles and ran home a 78-yard interception last week, was named as second alternate middle linebacker for the end of season spectacular in Honolulu, something that he knew he had in him even after three years of relative obscurity in the tough world of pro football.

?You don?t know how good a guy is if he never gets a chance,? said Pierce, whose confidence levels have increased with his performances.

?I haven?t done anything different, I have just had the opportunity to show what I can do.

?I have always said that I knew I could do it if they gave me a shirt and that is what I have been doing this season.

?I?m lovin? it at the moment. I enjoy making the big plays and being in the team ? it is just a shame the team isn?t doing better.

?I?ve got to be pleased that I have got some recognition but I am disappointed that I didn?t get picked outright.

?You look at our defence and there are a few of our guys who should have got the nod. It is what happens when you play for a losing team.?

His 73 tackles, the fourth highest in the NFL, have played no small part in turning the 5-9 Washington outfit into a defensive powerhouse.

The team might need a mathematical miracle to make the post-season but the defence is the second-best in the country and Pierce, playing at middle linebacker ? the quarterback of the defence ? has certainly done his fair share of the work.

?He is the team MVP,? said a colleague on the feared defensive unit. ?He is a super-smart player,? said the assistant coach. ?I am just doing my bit,? says Pierce.

But ?doing his bit? is going to earn Pierce a big contract, and talks are getting intense ahead of the March 1 deadline after which the Bermudian becomes a free agent.

?It is not something I want to talk too much about,? said Pierce, whose club have taken a similarly tight-lipped stance.

?There are still two games left and I want to be thinking about them and making sure that is my focus. But, yes, talks are going on and I am hoping it can be sorted out so I can stay with this club.

?I want to be here in the future but I need to make sure I get my true value. There are a few things going on, we are talking and I?m sure it is going to be sorted out.

?If they come up with the numbers then I am going to be a Redskin.?

And once they have done that, Pierce can concentrate on his goal of starting every week again and making sure that his Pro Bowl selection for 2006 is guaranteed.

?It can be a bit of a popularity contest and sometimes your numbers don?t count for everything,? continued Pierce, sounding more and more like a classic, charismatic American sportsman with every passing word.

? But I want to be a household name next year. I want to be doing so much that they can?t pass me over again.?

Short term, Pierce is concentrating on finishing the season on a high and helping his team get the two final wins that could earn the Redskins more football this season ? but he doesn?t want to be running 78 yards again.

?Man, it was a long way,? said Pierce, in reference to his first-half interception and touchdown which elevated the Redskins to a 26-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

?There was just a quarterback block to deal with so it was a case of just running and making sure I made it all the way.

?I don?t think I have run that far with the ball since I was ten years old. It was nice to notch up my first official score. I have had a couple of interceptions but that was the most satisfying ? and it helped the team to win.?

Pierce?s father, Cleo Burrows from Southampton, was over last month to watch his son but is unlikely to make the short hop to Washington again this season ? unless a play-off spot can be secured.

?He?d come over for post-season football,? added Pierce.

?And certainly for the Pro Bowl if I did make it down there. But I?ll be heading back to Bermuda in February or March for some time.

?No training though, this is the off-season. It will be all about vacation for me ? and there are not many better places for that than Bermuda.?