Tom E. Curran • E-mail

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Over the door leading out of the New York Giants locker room, two white slogans hang conspicuously on both sides of a glowing red “EXIT” sign.

“TEAM FIRST,” they read.

Sunday, the Giants played under the knowledge that this was no longer a suggestion but an edict. Their best receiver, Plaxico Burress, didn’t pass through that door to play against Seattle. After missing a team meeting, Burress was banished from the team for two weeks.

How did the Giants respond to this little bit of upheaval? By hanging a resounding 44-6 beating on the Seattle Seahawks that improved New York’s record to 4-0.

These Giants know turmoil. They’ve seen enough controversy in the past few seasons to understand the ebb and flow of chaos. From Tiki Barber to Michael Strahan to Jeremy Shockey to Eli Manning to Tom Coughlin, the G-Men have built up mental endurance and an ability to compartmentalize.

They’ve gotten to the point now where you can lob a grenade into their locker room and they’ll just shake the ceiling dust out of their hair, yank on their helmets and play football.

“We all know (nobody’s bigger than the team),” Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “We know what (that philosophy) did for us a year ago.”

Last year at this time, the Giants were dealing with persistent speculation that coach Coughlin would be fired and the constant questioning of Manning’s ability to lead.

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In February, they won the Super Bowl. That should have been the best evidence that they’re able to deal with controversy. But Sunday, we still had to put our hands in the wounds to believe.

By halftime, Burress’ replacement, Domenik Hixon, had more than 100 receiving yards and the Giants were up 27-6.

“This team has been through it all,” said Pierce. “In the last four years, this team has had injuries, (the coach) was about to get fired, people have been fired during the season. Whatever you throw at us, whatever the situation is you gotta face it. We’re professionals, we go about our business. This 2008 team is coming with its own identity.”

And this identity allows them to ignore the big tents, clown cars and bearded ladies when the circus comes to town.

“Give this team distractions and we don’t focus on them,” offensive lineman Grey Ruegamer said. “We focus on the task at hand and that’s to play football. Coach Coughlin does a very good job of directing us towards what we need to do. Anything that happens outside is irrelevant. We’re here on Sundays and we play on Sundays with whoever’s here.”

Coughlin was predictably effervescent when asked about Burress.

“We are just talking about today and winning the game, a bunch of guys playing as a team and realizing the idea and the concept of team,” he barked.

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The Giants were able to get Manning out of the game before the third quarter ended. He threw for 267 yards while completing 19 of 26 with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Monster back Brandon Jacobs rumbled for 136 yards on 15 carries; Ahmad Bradshaw had 65 yards on 11 carries and the Giants defense allowed just 199 yards in combined rushing and passing.

“We put our foot down and just kept mashing,” Pierce said. "(The Seahawks) talked about being physical. At the end of the day, I think everybody witnessed what happened.”

The Giants are now one of two NFL unbeatens, along with Tennessee. That puts the hammer to the notion that New York wouldn’t be able to deal with its stunning success in 2007.

Part of that has to be attributable to the fact the Giants are able to ignore that which doesn’t directly impact what happens on Sundays. Ignore or turn it in their favor, according to Pierce.

“All the questions about a coach getting fired or a guy’s retirement, it’s not positive,” Pierce said, dredging up old storylines as evidence. And the more negatives you have, it just builds up. But with this team, what we’ve learned is, two negatives equal a positive. The Giants figured out that philosophy.”

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 9 games STEELERS 28, BRONCOS 10: Roethlisberger throws 3 TDs COWBOYS 20, EAGLES 16: Austin’s TD puts Dallas atop NFC East COLTS 20, TEXANS 17: Indy's 17th-straight regular season win  |    Video SAINTS 30, PANTHERS 20: N.O. now 8-0 for first time in its history CHARGERS 21, GIANTS 20: N.Y. loses 4th straight  |    Video BUCS 38, PACKERS 28: Rookie QB leads Tampa to first win  |    Video PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17: Brady-Moss connection thrives  |    Video CARDINALS 41, BEARS 21: Warner tosses 5 TDs  |    Video BENGALS 17, RAVENS 7: Cincy cements AFC North status  |    Video FALCONS 31, REDSKINS 17: Atlanta gets into scuffle, still wins TITANS 34, 49ERS 27: Young improves to 2-0 as a starter this year SEAHAWKS 32, LIONS 20: Seattle overcomes 17-0 hole JAGUARS 24, CHIEFS 21: Chargers cast-off Chambers can't save K.C. Byes: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Rams, Vikings, Jets

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