Super Bowl player Antonio Pierce - who has Bermudian parentage - is being portrayed in the US media as a linchpin in the New York Giants' team chances of lifting the coveted trophy in Arizona tomorrow night.

He has been labeled "the undisputed leader of New York's defence" by the Worchester Telegram newspaper, and described by the Hartford Courant newspaper as being "at the heart" of Giants squad and being likely ranked number one in importance with the defensive line.

The glowing terms in which Pierce is portrayed follow on from views expressed during the past week that the six-foot-one linebacker has fulfilled a crucial role as vocal leader in the team and has displayed an uncanny knack for working out what plays an opposing team is about to try and marshalling his Giants colleagues in anticipation.

Pierce's fellow defence player Michael Strahan told the Hartford Courant: "When I see him on the field, I feel very comfortable.

"Now, when I see him off the field, I'm very uncomfortable because it always looks like he's up to something. But on the field, he makes you feel very comfortable because he's so smart. He sees things. He makes adjustments, which is amazing at the speed the game moves. He sees something and he goes over and tells the coaches so they can make adjustments. He is truly a coach on the field."

New England Patriots are looking to complete the season unbeaten by winning the Super Bowl. Patriots' coach Bill Belichick has noted the special talent Pierce has in anticipating opposing play tactics.

"He anticipates plays very well. A lot of times he almost looks like he heard the play in the huddle. He is able to get a jump on it and beat the blocking scheme or beat the players that are responsible for him and make the play," Belichick told the Worchester Telegram.

Patriots guard Logan Mankins added: "We always see him communicating out there. He's always talking. He understands offences and what's going on. The only way to take advantage of that is to do a lot of different things from a lot of different sets."

A whole new attitude displayed by Giants' coach Tom Couglin last March in the off-season has also been cited as a key turning point in the fortunes of the New York side.

The 60-year old, strict disciplinarian appeared a transformed man.

Pierce is quoted on MSNBC.com: "He was smiling, joking, personable. I was waiting for him to take the mask off. Before it was a dictatorship."

Coach Couglin had become a fun guy, willing to listen to members of the team, and even arrange for activities such as a players' casino night and team bowling.

Other members of the Giants team said if Couglin had not changed they would probably have departed the Meadowlands set-up by now.

The website report said: "Couglin didn't drop any of his rules. but he did resolve to inject fun into the games. He also let the players establish what he calls a leadership council - a committee of team leaders who are authorised to represent the team to him.

"Through the council, whose members include Michael Strahan and Pierce, the team can take its concerns to the coach."