EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants signed free agent middle linebacker Antonio Pierce to a six-year, $26 million contract yesterday, and also said goodbye to veteran receiver and former first-round draft pick Ike Hilliard.

“Our defensive football team just got a lot better today,” General Manager Ernie Accorsi said after the Giants lured Pierce away from Washington. “Antonio Pierce is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker. We are not only pleased that we have him, but we are equally pleased that we don’t have to play against him anymore.”

The signing, which includes a $6.5 million signing bonus, came just two days into the free agency period, and it gives New York a run stopper in the middle of a defense that allowed opponents to gain an average of 134.8 yards in 2004.

Pierce led the Redskins with 160 tackles last season, including 109 solo. The 26-year-old, four-year veteran also intercepted two passes, recovered two fumbles and forced one in helping Washington’s defense improve from no. 25 to no. 3 in the NFL in 2003.

The release of Hilliard came after the eight-year veteran refused to take a big pay cut, agent Neal Schwartz said. The seventh pick overall in the 1997 draft, Hilliard was scheduled to make $1.5 million next season along with a $750,000 roster bonus to be paid on March 15.

The Giants will save $750,000 on their salary cap by releasing Hilliard, who leaves New York as the team’s fourth all-time leading receiver with 368 career catches and 27 touchdowns.

Schwartz said three teams have expressed an interest in signing the 28-year-old Hilliard, who 4,630 receiving yards are seventh in club history.

In other news yesterday, Dallas added defensive tackle Jason Ferguson from the Jets and guard Marco Rivera from Green Bay after signing cornerback Anthony Henry on Wednesday. Dallas owner Jerry Jones called it “the most expensive day in Cowboys history.” The tab: $28 million in signing bonuses alone.

Carolina, the 2003 NFC champion, plunged into free agency like never before, signing guard Mike Wahle, cut by Green Bay for cap reasons, and former Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas.

The Redskins added free agent receiver David Patten, who caught 44 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns last season for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

The Patriots got some help at cornerback, acquiring Duane Starks in a trade with Arizona. New England gave the Cardinals a third-round pick in April’s draft. The Eagles, meanwhile, agreed to a one-year deal with veteran defensive end Hugh Douglas.

The Rams added their second linebacker in two days, signing Chris Claiborne away from the Vikings to go along with Dexter Coakley, signed away from Dallas. Claiborne got a three-year, $10.5 million contract a day after Coakley signed a five-year, $14.5 million deal. The Vikings agreed to terms with veteran defensive tackle Pat Williams on a three-year deal worth $13 million, with a $6 million signing bonus.

Houston signed linebacker Morlon Greenwood, who started for Miami, to a five year, $22.5 million deal, and resigned defensive tackle Seth Payne.