With reporters pressing him for details about his role in Plaxico Burress' accidental shooting at a New York nightclub early Saturday morning, Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce did what any hard-hitting middle linebacker would do: He delivered a direct shot - in this case, to the notebooks and cameras.

The Giants had just beaten the Redskins, 23-7, and a freshly showered Pierce went to the interview room to address reporters hungry for details about what happened when Burress shot himself in the right thigh. Pierce hit back as hard as he hit Clinton Portis earlier.

"I'm going to say this one time," he said. "I'm not answering any questions about the incident that happened. If you have anything to ask about the Washington Redskins , I'll answer it. Otherwise, I'm not answering it."

Pierce will save those answers for law enforcement officials and NFL security personnel who are investigating what went on at Manhattan's trendy Latin Quarter club. He was with Burress when the incident occurred, and some reports indicated Pierce may have taken Burress' gun and attempted to hide it or dispose of it in an effort to keep his friend and teammate from further trouble. Itwas reported last night that police have the gun in their possession.

Pierce declined to say exactly what happened, so it's anyone's guess how his situation will unfold in the coming days and weeks. Given the fact that he is part of an active investigation, it's in Pierce's best interest from a legal standpoint to say absolutely nothing about what may or may not have happened. No sense putting yourself in a vulnerable position when so much is riding on what happens once the investigation is complete.

Burress is scheduled to plead not guilty today to charges of criminal possession of a weapon, according to his attorney, Benjamin Brafman. He faces the possibility of being sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison; even if he does not go to prison, his NFL career is imperiled by potential discipline from commissioner Roger Goodell, who last year suspended former Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson for eight games on illegal weapons possession charges.

It's unwise to speculate on what might happen to Pierce, simply because we don't know the extent of his involvement. Did he chastise Burress for bringing a gun into the nightclub, as has been speculated? Did he take the gun in a moment of panic and, thinking it might help his friend, try to get rid of it? We don't know.

But this much is certain: If Pierce's actions result in a sanction that removes him from the lineup, this team will be in a whole lot more trouble.

We've already seen that the Giants can survive quite nicely without Burress. They have easily won the three games in which Burress has been missing: one when he was suspended for missing a team meeting, last week's game, when he played only one series because of a bad hamstring, and again yesterday.

But life without Pierce would be a far more troubling development. He is the unequivocal leader of the defense, its spiritual center and its surest tackler. He was in on six tackles against the Redskins, helping to limit Portis, the NFL's leading rusher, to 22 yards on 11 carries.

And he did it knowing in the back of his mind that he faces potential consequences as a result of the Burress incident.

"It just shows his professionalism," defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said. "He plays under stress - not to this caliber - but he plays under stress every week. People just don't understand the kind of player he is, the kind of focus he has and how much he is willing to take on his shoulders to lead this team."

Referring to his ability to focus on the game despite distractions, Pierce said: "I have a job to do, and my job is to focus on the game. Sunday at 1 p.m., when the whistle blows between those lines, the game is the only focus you got. That's what this team does is focus on our opponent and whatever challenge that there is."

If Pierce was distracted, it certainly didn't show. He played with the same intense emotions as always. The same fly-around-the-field style. On one play in the first half, for instance, he drifted back into coverage and nearly intercepted Jason Campbell's pass. When the ball fell incomplete, he repeatedly jumped up and down. He ran over to the bench, took off his helmet and playfully put a towel over his face.

"We're just trying to play a good game of Football," he said. "We had some tough conditions - rain, wind, slippery balls, field conditions, it was tough out there. Whatever is handed to you, you just have to deal with it, regardless."

And now Pierce must deal with conditions far more important than a rain-slickened field. No amount of athletic prowess or tackling ability can get him through this. Only one thing will get him through this mess: the truth.