THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce has missed practice for personal reasons.

A Giants spokesman says Pierce was allowed to skip the short workout Monday because he had to handle an undisclosed issue.

Coach Tom Coughlin was not immediately available for comment.

The Giants open the regular season Sunday at home against Washington. Pierce played for the Redskins before signing with New York in 2005, and he said on Twitter over the weekend that he considered playing them like an annual Super Bowl.