JPP aims to tackle own season-high sack mark

Jason Pierre-Paul almost single-handedly destroyed the Jets offense early in the Giants’ 32-21 Snoopy Bowl win Saturday night, and afterward, JPP said he believes he can beat his career-high 16.5 sacks in a season this fall.

“I think I can,” Pierre-Paul said after recording a safety, a sack, a batted-down pass, and three tackles. “Why, do you want me to? I’m just getting warmed up, honestly.”

Pierre-Paul, 28, has practiced and played this preseason like he has something to prove despite securing $40 million guaranteed on his new fouryear contract extension signed in March. He said it’s because he wants to resume the destruction he caused in Weeks 11 and 12 last season against the Bears and Browns, before a Week 13 injury in Pittsburgh required sports hernia surgery and sidelined him for the Giants’ playoff loss.

“I feel like I have to pick up where I left off,” Pierre-Paul said. “So that’s why I’m doing all the extra things to help me get better: rehabbing, fundamentals, studying more.”

Pierre-Paul, who had intercepted a pass Monday in Cleveland, highlighted Saturday’s win with a monstrous chase-down of Jets back Matt Forte for a safety. Then later, he tossed Jets left tackle Brandon Shell to the turf for a pressure, with the same right hand that JPP mangled in his Fourth of July 2015 fireworks accident.

“Ever since I got here, JPP’s always been just hungry,” second-year starting middle linebacker B.J. Goodson said. “He’s the type of guy that always wants more, wants to do better for the team. He understands the best JPP is better for our unit and it’s better for the team.”

Pierre-Paul’s two best sack seasons were 16.5 in 2011, his second year in the league, and 12.5 in 2014. He had 5.5 of his seven sacks last season in the two wins over the Bears and Browns, plus a 43-yard fumble return for a TD and 12 total tackles. This might not be a new JPP, but it could be an even more complete version.

“It’s me and there’s another person in front of me. You listening?” Pierre-Paul said. “I’m just gonna beat the person in front of me. That’s the game of football. At the same time do your assignment, but nine out of 10 times if you beat the person in front of you, you’re gonna be OK.”