Does JPP have a gripe with New York Giants?

When asked about playing the New York Giants, former Big Blue defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul voiced pretty strong rhetoric.

In a normally not-so-interesting intra-conference battle, JPP drew the line in the sand against the New York Giants. In a strange bit of irony, however, Jason Pierre-Paul won’t be be in a grudge match against Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg or Ereck Flowers.

That’s correct, New York has installed five brand new offensive linemen at this point in the season, with only one who was on the club last season. The sole survivors of the o-line purge, John Greco and Chad Wheeler, were spare parts on the 2017 roster. Wheeler starts at right tackle, but he and JPP were literally ships passing in the night.

Thankfully, the offensive line played its most effective game of the season in the 27-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. This week, they definitely face a challenge from the motivated ex-Giants defensive end. To be sure, JPP has been productive for the Bucs, as he has garnered eight sacks in nine games, according to Pro Football Reference.

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That’s almost the same amount (8.5 sacks) that he had with Big Blue last season in 16 games. And if Pierre-Paul has his way, he’ll add two or three to his total on Sunday.

According to Newsday, JPP is pumped to face his former teammates:

"“I’ve had this game checked off since I left there, so emotions are running big. I’m coming, man. I’m bringing the house down.”"

These words aren’t uncommon when it comes to a football player, who feels discarded by his former team. We can only imagine what Le’Veon Bell will say about the Pittsburgh Steelers when he faces them with his new team.

Like this situation, the rhetoric won’t be pretty, and also Bell may have choice words for ownership, players and coaches.

Bitter with front office

Unlike the Le’Veon Bell situation, the entirety of JPP’s ill-will sits with the team’s front office. And whether or not the New York Giants franchise did anything out of the ordinary is certainly up for interpretation.

According to the Newsday report, general manager Dave Gettleman called Pierre-Paul to inform him of the trade to Tampa Bay. That’s pretty much professional sports standard operating procedure. He also apparently received a text message from co-owner John Mara to which he never responded.

From the standpoint of New York, the trade was more about effectuating a rebuild than it was getting rid of a player. But JPP doesn’t see it that way.

"“Numbers speak for themselves. I’m playing great ball, obviously… New York felt like I couldn’t get the job done. I don’t know who makes those decisions, but that’s the decision they made and I got traded.”"

Ironically on a podcast right after the trade went down, I was asked if Pierre-Paul could still be productive. I mentioned that he definitely had something left in the tank, but fans should accept him for what he is, a good football player.

At times, JPP can make great athletic plays, but his engine doesn’t burn constantly. And he’s not a vocal locker room leader. I think that those traits worked against him in New York. He usually had to be coerced into talking to the media, and quite honestly, at times, he avoided interviews.

I remember one time at training camp, JPP was supposed to be at the podium, and a beat-writer quipped, “I’ll be surprised if he shows”. He did show up, right after Victor Cruz and the contrast was like night and day.

But I repeat, he’s a good football player, who the franchise stood by after his awful fireworks accident on July 4, 2015. JPP claims he wasn’t hurt by the trade, but surely he was. Sometimes emotions can get the better of players, so Sunday will be interesting.

Perhaps, he pulls out one his athletic manuevers in MetLife Stadium one more time. I’m sure the fanbase will greet him kindly, and maybe he should remember that the team sent two representatives to see him in the hospital in July 2015.

According to a Sports Illustrated report, it was JPP’s inner circle that refused the team reps access to the player. There was the franchise tags with then general manager Jerry Reese and finally the shotgun wedding between Reese and Pierre-Paul. It was almost as-if, couldn’t allow another draft pick to walk away for nothing.

The point is that like all relationships, there was probably plenty of water over the dam for both sides. Some players get the good fortune to play with one franchise for their entire career. Others don’t. For every Lawrence Taylor or Michael Strahan, there’s five players like Justin Tuck, Victor Cruz, Carl Banks or Ahmad Bradshaw. It’s simply the circle of life in the NFL.