JPP WANTS BIG PIECE OF BLUE
Jason Pierre-Paul could always be counted on to provide a rousing comment about an upcoming game. It was usually concise and contained no hidden meaning.
Looking ahead to his first game against his former team, the player the Giants affectionately call JPP was on point.
“Honestly, I had this game checked out since I left there,’’ he said Wednesday, warning, “Emotions are running big and I’m coming man, I’m bringing the house down.’’
The house is MetLife Stadium, the date is this Sunday and the team Pierre-Paul arrives with is the Buccaneers. After eight years with the Giants, Pierre-Paul gets his shot to show the franchise he grew up in what it is missing.
Looking ahead to a return to where it all started, Pierre-Paul said, “I won a Super Bowl there, so no matter what, that’s home for me.’’
Pierre-Paul did not want to go anywhere, but the Giants brought in a new front office, and he was traded March 22 to the Buccaneers for a 2018 third-round draft pick and a swap of fourth-round picks in the 2019 draft. The trade came only one year into a four-year, $62 million contract extension, which the Giants were relieved to wipe off their books. Pierre-Paul found out via a phone call from new general manager Dave Gettleman, and the lack of any sort of personal touch still chafes at Pierre-Paul.
“That’s the way they went about it, with a phone call, that was it,’’ he said. “Didn’t hear from anyone else but Dave. Eli [Manning] called me too, as well.’’
Pierre-Paul, the Giants’ 2010 firstround pick, did receive texts from some of his closest friend on the team, mentioning Landon Collins and Zak DeOssie.
Asked if he was hurt by the trade, Pierre-Paul, 29, said “I won’t say hurt … the fact the only thing I got was a phone call, you know what I’m saying? Didn’t speak to no owner, no nothing. Obviously, I gave a hard eight years to the New York Giants and I won a Super Bowl there. ... It was just shocking, you know what I mean? At the end of the day this is a business league, and we got to do our jobs no matter what team you play for.’’
Co-owner John Mara did send PierrePaul a farewell text, according to a source, but did not hear back.
Pierre-Paul has started all nine games for the Buccaneers and has a team-high 8.5 sacks. An opportunity to increase that total awaits. The Giants have allowed 32 sacks this season but are coming off their most effective pass-protection game, giving up only one sack to the 49ers in a 27-23 victory. Still, advantage, JPP. “I wouldn’t say licking my chops, but I know it’s a problem,’’ Pierre-Paul said of the Giants’ pass protection. “But that’s not my problem.’’