Antonio Pierce has politicked all season for a Pro Bowl selection. Now he can start packing his bags for Honolulu.

The Giants linebacker was named a first alternate to the league's star-studded exhibition game after Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher pulled out with an injured toe. Urlacher's decision came just hours after Chicago's 29-17 loss to the Colts in Super Bowl XLI in Miami. Pierce received notice early yesterday morning at home in California and will board a flight for Hawaii today.

The Pro Bowl takes place Saturday at 6 p.m.

Pierce is one of three Giants making the trip. He'll join running back Tiki Barber and tight end Jeremy Shockey -- who will not play due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Saints on Dec. 24.

Pierce was named an alternate in 2005, but did not play because of a severe ankle injury that caused him to miss the final four games of the regular season.

The 6-1, 238 pound linebacker finished the 2006 season with a career-high 137 tackles, along with a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. Despite the statistics, Pierce was never in contention for the Pro Bowl because of the other established middle linebackers in the NFC.

Pierce was an outspoken critic of the selections of Urlacher and Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter in December. He essentially called Trotter a one-trick pony because he's called on to defend only the "A" gap -- the gap between the center and both guards -- in the Eagles' schemes.

"That's what he does," Pierce said in December. "That's their system. It's a good system for him and what he does well."

His criticism of Urlacher was based on the linebacker's role in his team's Cover 2 schemes, where he's rarely called upon to cover receivers, a role the Bears' safeties assume. Urlacher led all NFC linebackers with 141 tackles.