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Wednesday Media Transcript: DE Jason Pierre-Paul

Eric from BBI : Admin : 11/4/2015 3:33 pm
DE Jason Pierre-Paul

November 4, 2015

Q: What was it like to be out there again today with the guys and what kind of progress are you making?

A: It feels great being out there. I was out there last week, but it felt even better this week, actually getting into a rotation, knowing the plays and executing my plays.

Q: Do you want to play on Sunday?

A: Depends.

Q: What do you mean it depends?

A: I am going to play on Sunday.

Q: You are?

A: Yeah. Maybe.

Q: You’ve got to convince the coach?

A: Yeah, I got to convince him. It’s up to the medical staff, they’re taking me slowly. As of right now, I’m continuing to do the reps out there and getting the play calling.

Q: You’ve always seemed like the type of guy who was excited about playing football. Now with everything that has happened, how much more do you feel like you want to get out there and not take things for granted?

A: Just like you said, you can’t take things for granted, they can be taken away from you just like that. But I’m very excited going out there because I got a second chance to do what I love, you know? It could have been taken away, but God spared me. Each moment that I’m out there, I’m giving it my all.

Q: We see pictures of your baby.

A: Yeah, cute baby.

Q: Is that why you do what you do?

A: I’ve got a family to take care of and my son depends on me. I’m out here struggling for him and grinding.

Q: Is there anything you can’t do that you could do before?

A: It’s going to be a big adjustment. This is something that I’ve got to get over, which I did get over the bad part, but playing football, there’s going to be things I’ve got to adjust to, just like my everyday living. But there’s nothing that I can’t do.

Q: On the football field, the football things that you have to do to succeed—what of those things have come back quickly to you?

A: During the time that I was not here, at Florida, I’ve been doing anything that I had to do that I was going to be out here doing. It’s not as big of a challenge as things that I’ve just got to do, like make sure I shoot my hands without having to worry or whatever. I’ve been doing that all day today and it felt great. It felt great being out there with my teammates, they’re happy I’m out there and I’m just trying to produce for them.

Q: How tough was it for you sitting on the couch back down in Florida, the team is struggling defensively, you need to be out there to help them but you had your own issues that you’re dealing with. Talk about that struggle that you had.

A: It was hard just watching the team lose a couple of games and winning without you, but at the same time I knew what I had to do to get back on the field. But it was frustrating, but I’m here now.

Q: A lot of people look at the pass rush, only nine sacks so far, and they think you coming back could be the thing that fixes everything.

A: Maybe, who knows? You’ve just got to wait and see. At the end of the day, I’m here to help my team win. I can’t say I’m going to go out there and get sacks, I don’t know. All I know is I can try my hardest and promise I’ll fight for it.

Q: You definitely think you’re going to play Sunday?

A: I don’t know, it’s up to the medical staff.

Q: Do you want to play?

A: Yeah, I want to play, yeah. But it’s up to the medical staff; like I said, they’re taking my slowly.

Q: Part of when a guy comes off injury, no matter what the injury is, they say they want to make sure he’s safe on the field, they don’t want him to be in harm’s way. Do you feel like at this point you’re safe enough to play a game?

A: I think I’m okay. You never know until you’re out there, that’s why there’s practices. I’ve been doing good in practice. Coming off any injury, you’ve just got to go out there and have that confidence. I feel confident in myself shooting my hand and doing what I do best—playing the run and getting back there pass rushing. So that’s what’s going to be bring me back.

Q: Are there going to be changes in your stance or where you line up?

A: Of course, there’s going to be changes in my stance, I’m right handed. It’s something you’ve got to adjust to and I think I’m doing a pretty good job at it. Had a great coach out there coaching me how to put my left hand and rush off that, so it is what it is.

Q: So much of what you have to do is grabbing or grasping, is that going to be difficult? Has it been difficult?

A: Just adjustments, that’s it. Basically just adjustments. I think I’m doing a great job at it because I’ve been able to grab and shed tackles. It’s just a big adjustment but I’m okay, I’m doing pretty good. Skillset hasn’t lost it, I haven’t lost it. I’m out there doing what I can. Hopefully I’ll be out there Sunday.

Q: Are you going to have to come from the left side now exclusively?

A: I play both sides. I play both sides, nothing has changed.

Q: What about this whole thing about you being a savior for this defense, is that fair? Is that a lot of extra pressure on you?

A: Put it all on me, huh? Like I said, I’m going to do whatever I can to help this team win. I’m starting off slow, I’m a little bit rusty—that’s going to happen, no training camp, no nothing. But when I’m out there, I’m giving it my all. I have no, “I could work on this tomorrow,” that’s not my mindset no more. It’s do it now or do it never.

Q: How hard would it to be to play on the right side with your left hand on the ground now?

A: I still play on the right side, it’s not hard at all.

Q: It doesn’t affect what you can do at all?

A: No, nope.

Q: Do you have that confidence that you can be that monster, that beast?

A: I know for a fact that I’m still the same JPP--getting to the ball, screen pass, running and chasing down, getting to the quarterback, playing the run. It’s just that confidence I’ve got to get back, “Hey, my hand is okay.” You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.

Q: When you talk to some players about returning to the team, it’s about the comradery. What has it been like being around the guys, not just on the field but in the locker room?

A: All the guys supported me throughout my whole process. The fans supported me. There was a lot of say-so but the guys kept me doing what I had to do. Since I came back, they’ve supported me. I’ve just gone out there and given it my all.

Q: Have you thought at all about how emotional it would be for you to walk out of that tunnel?

A: I already know it’s going to be crazy. They’ve been waiting on me, I’m here, I’ve arrived. They say I can’t, but I did. It’s on me.

Q: Is it special for you at all if it would be in Tampa?

A: I have some roots there, USF. I’m pretty sure people will be out there, too, but my main thing is here, walking out of that tunnel. And my son will be there, so I’ll be playing for him.

Q: Have you had to work with Joe Skiba with any special equipment for your hand?

A: Not really, just a glove, that’s it. Those guys will take care of that, they just need to put me on the football field and do what I’ve got to do, do what’s best for the team.

Q: Is that the glove you’ll wear on the field or a weight lifting glove?

A: That’s just a glove. It’s a glove.

Q: Looks like it’s got some padding on the middle finger.

A: No, just a regular glove.

Q: It’s not a regular glove.

A: Well, it’s not a regular glove.

Q: Was there a point where you thought, “I may not be able to get back.”

A: Nope, never. Even when it happened, nope. Never thought that I won’t be back playing football. That time off, thinking about my family, that was it. When the doctors said I can play football, “Okay, let’s go.”

Q: You’ve embraced challenges throughout your career, so a new challenge. The idea that an opposing offense will try and come at you and challenge you, how much do you welcome that?

A: Let ‘em come. Like I said, I’m going to do what I do best and I know how to play football. They can come at me—play the run, play the ball, I’ll be okay.

Q: Could you see them doing that, maybe running directly at you?

A: I’m out there, they’re running at me now, it’s nothing changed. If I couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t be here right now.
if the glove don't fit...no glove no love  
Les in TO : 11/4/2015 3:43 pm : link
Q: Is that the glove you’ll wear on the field or a weight lifting glove?

A: That’s just a glove. It’s a glove.

Q: Looks like it’s got some padding on the middle finger.

A: No, just a regular glove.

Q: It’s not a regular glove.

A: Well, it’s not a regular glove.
So he will only be wearing a glove?  
ron mexico : 11/4/2015 3:45 pm : link
no club or anything like that?

BTW, was he on the sideline this past sunday?
I don't think..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 11/4/2015 3:49 pm : link
he'll be allowed to wear a club. There has to be certain criteria that exists, like a broken bone or something that can't take jarring. I don't believe missing digits can be a reason.

I'm being serious.
He talked about stopping the run  
Mike in Long Beach : 11/4/2015 3:50 pm : link
just as much as getting to the quarterback. I love that. Given the incentives in his contract and how much our pass rush has struggled, he could talk about getting to the QB till he's blue in the face and everyone would eat it up.

But he didn't do that. Encouraging stuff.
RE: He talked about stopping the run  
ron mexico : 11/4/2015 3:55 pm : link
In comment 12601801 Mike in Long Beach said:
Quote:
just as much as getting to the quarterback. I love that. Given the incentives in his contract and how much our pass rush has struggled, he could talk about getting to the QB till he's blue in the face and everyone would eat it up.

But he didn't do that. Encouraging stuff.


I think he knows he is much better against the run than he is rushing the passer
I wonder if TFL are incorporated  
Randy in CT : 11/4/2015 3:56 pm : link
into his incentives?

Love the JPP. Interview cringes aside.
RE: I wonder if TFL are incorporated  
ron mexico : 11/4/2015 3:59 pm : link
In comment 12601816 Randy in CT said:
Quote:
into his incentives?

Love the JPP. Interview cringes aside.


they are not
I find it extremely hard to believe that that  
Big Blue '56 : 11/4/2015 4:07 pm : link
sausage hand we saw last week is ready to absorb the inevitable pounding it will take..You know that opponents will be swiping at it..
First missed tackle  
Scyber : 11/4/2015 4:10 pm : link
There will be a shitstorm on the BBI game thread about it. I might participate in the thread just to see that.
RE: I find it extremely hard to believe that that  
ron mexico : 11/4/2015 4:11 pm : link
In comment 12601838 Big Blue '56 said:
Quote:
sausage hand we saw last week is ready to absorb the inevitable pounding it will take..You know that opponents will be swiping at it..


It sounds like it is, he has been using it extensively in practice.

Maybe he doesn't have much feeling left in it.
That reads like a crappy Onion article  
AP in Halfmoon : 11/4/2015 4:12 pm : link
.
RE: RE: I find it extremely hard to believe that that  
Big Blue '56 : 11/4/2015 4:51 pm : link
In comment 12601851 ron mexico said:
Quote:
In comment 12601838 Big Blue '56 said:


Quote:


sausage hand we saw last week is ready to absorb the inevitable pounding it will take..You know that opponents will be swiping at it..



It sounds like it is, he has been using it extensively in practice.

Maybe he doesn't have much feeling left in it.


Could be..But the grafts..I'm certain the Giants Docs know what they're doing..Just hard to fathom
Sounds like he's playing  
armstead98 : 11/4/2015 5:55 pm : link
At least he thinks he is.
RE: I don't think..  
giantgiantfan : 11/4/2015 5:58 pm : link
In comment 12601799 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
he'll be allowed to wear a club. There has to be certain criteria that exists, like a broken bone or something that can't take jarring. I don't believe missing digits can be a reason.

I'm being serious.


How about skin grafts?
Alright, JPP said God spared him  
reesesux : 11/4/2015 10:34 pm : link
like how God pre-ordained Tyrees miracle helmet catch. Time for another Super Bowl folks?
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