EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The trash talking that was started six weeks ago by Giants receiver Plaxico Burress and moved forward two weeks ago by tight end Jeremy Shockey continued Sunday.
Add a few extra hits, and there was a little more of an edge to the Giants-Cowboys divisional game at Giants Stadium.
New York was called for four personal foul penalties.
"It was crazy out there," safety Keith Davis said. "They were taking their shots, and we were too."
It started in pregame when Giants players talked smack to the Cowboys.
Several Cowboys said Bill Parcells had warned the team about this.
During the game, Burress was flagged for a late-hit personal foul after hitting Davis in the back at the end of a Tiki Barber run in the second quarter.
"It was a cheap shot," Davis said. "He tried to cut me earlier in the game. It was bubbling out there, but it's part of the game."
Burress said he thought Barber was still running and was just trying to block Davis.
"Of course Keith is going to say that," Burress said of Davis' comments. "We've been banging him around all night, and he was out there running his mouth, and we were just out there feeding it to him."
Davis also exchanged words with Shockey.
With about nine minutes left in the third quarter, defensive end Jason Hatcher was head-butted by left tackle Bob Whitfield and was flagged for a personal foul.
"They were taking a lot of cheap shots," defensive end Chris Canty said of the Giants. "And we knew they were going to come out here with that attitude. They got a tight end that likes to run his mouth all the time, so we were anticipating that."
After New York beat Dallas on Oct. 23, Burress called Terrell Owens a coward. Owens had slipped on a pass route, but Burress said the receiver was trying to avoid a hit.
"Whatever he said didn't matter," Owens said of Burress.
After Burress' comments, Shockey blasted the Cowboys following a 26-10 loss to Jacksonville on Nov. 20.
"There is no way they have a chance in hell to beat us when we play our football," Shockey said. "And that is the truth. No other team in this league."
Dallas was reminded of the comments by reporters and coaches. But come game time, the Cowboys played under control.
"When guys start talking, that's how they want to motivate themselves," linebacker Al Singleton said. "And we have to play under control and just keep going and leave it in the hands of the officials."
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
