JPP wants to remain a Giant for life
Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants looks on during conditioning drills at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on July 21, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Mike Stobe
Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, whose five-year rookie contract expires at the end of this season, isn't sure where he'll wind up playing next season. His preference is clear, though. He doesn't want to go anywhere else.
"If I could stay here, I'd love to be a Giant for life,'' said Pierre-Paul, who discussed his uncertain contract situation in his most expansive comments Wednesday afternoon. "Who knows how it's going to fall out? I don't know what the future has. [I'll do] whatever I can do now to control my own destiny, and that's going out and finishing these games and stay healthy.''
Pierre Paul, a first-round draft pick in 2010, signed a five-year, $20.05-million deal that included $11.6 million in guaranteed money. His 2014 salary is $2.11 million, a bargain for a strong pass-rushing defensive end.
Pierre-Paul's sack totals have diminished since he recorded a career-high 16.5 in 2011, when the Giants won the Super Bowl. He had a combined 8.5 sacks over his next two years, and now has seven for the 2014 season. He has a combined 3.5 sacks over his last two games.
"I don't know what's going to happen,'' he said about his contract situation. "I don't worry about it. All that stuff, my agent and the Giants will handle it whenever the time comes.
"I think everything is going to fall in place. It is what it is. I'm playing great. We'll see what happens.''
Pierre-Paul said the Giants, who are 3-9 heading into Sunday's game against Washington, "have been through some tough times this season and last year. We fight through it. The thing now is to come out these last three games and do it all.''
Regardless of his contract situation, Pierre-Paul plans to spend the offseason doing a fair amount of introspection about his game.
"The only thing I'm thinking about is going through the offseason and getting better, finding out what mistakes I did this year, what can I correct, how much faster can I get to the quarterback, how I can play the run better, just look at my film work and see what I can do better for next year,'' he said. "That's my main goal. I'm not worried about my contract.''
Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”
