DE Jason Pierre-Paul
August 2, 2017
Q: Is there anything wrong medically or did you just need a day?
A: Coach (McAdoo) just pulled me out and said we are just doing what is best for the team and what is best for me.
Q: What do you think about the whole sitting out and rest approach?
A: I like to go, but he pulled me out and he is doing what is best for the team.
Q: But nothing is wrong with you? It is just a day?
A: Nothing is wrong with me.
Q: Do you think this could have a benefit later in the year?
A: Yeah, for as much as I want to be out here, they take precautions and stuff and I understand it, but I will be out there tomorrow.
Q: What are you trying to accomplish during camp?
A: I’m just working on the fundamentals, the details of the game. That’s why we have training camp and that’s why we are here. Learn the fundamentals, learn the playbook, switch a couple things around and we just got to learn it.
Q: Avery Moss got a couple more snaps today in your absence, how do you think he responded?
A: I wasn’t out there for most of the time, I was inside, but I’ve been looking at him, he is learning. He is going to be a good player.
Q: You and Spags had a conversation out here, what was that all about?
A: Just learning the game, going over calls, even though I know the calls, sometimes a call is called and I am just thinking about a whole bunch of stuff so I was just shooting back the calls to him, that’s something I do on a regular basis, but I just do it better with Spags.
Q: Do you like what you have seen from the defense?
A: I love it. We can only get better.
Q: What are your personal goals for this year?
A: I got a lot of personal goals for this year. My first goal this year is to just stay healthy.
Q: What do you think about the three defensive tackles that are competing to replace [Jonathan] Hankins?
A: Like I said, that’s a big void. It’s a big spot we got to fill in. The three d-tackles are competing, that’s why we are here. Everybody is competing for a job.
Q: Are they interchangeable?
A: Every player has a significant play in them. So, whatever they can bring to the table, put it all on the field and put it on film and coaches evaluate that and then they will know who to put out there.
Q: It’s been a while since you’ve played 16 games, is that a goal for you?
A: It’s been a while, but leading up to it I have been playing well, but the main thing for me is to stay healthy and I feel like what coach did today was a big help as much as I wanted to be out there with my teammates. Just sitting on the sidelines and seeing things, I know exactly what is going to happen. And if that person doesn’t do it, it just makes me know that I know the game mentally and I can just sit back and watch and focus on what I need to do right.
Q: How far ahead did coach tell you, you weren’t going to work today?
A: Right before practice.
Q: How would you describe the potential of the defense knowing that most of the guys from last year are back?
A: We all still have to gain that chemistry with each other. We are doing a great job as a team, bonding with each other. It all starts with knowing the name of the player that you don’t know. We are doing a good job of that and we are bringing it on the field. The offense is going to have their competition against the defense, but every time we come out here and work so that’s a good thing.
Q: Do you still have to do things with your right hand to keep strengthening it?
A: Not really. I adapt to it. I am out here playing football, so every day life I have to do something different so I am good.
Q: Does the “core” injury bother you anymore?
A: I am still rehabbing the core injury, but with me it is all about rehab, rehab, rehab. I am just trying to keep healthy this year and get through 16 games.
Q: Would you benefit from more in-game rest?
A: You never know how a game is going to go. You might need me for every snap or you might not need me for every snap. We are trying to bring those young boys along. This is training camp so we are going to see what they got. This was only the second day of pads so we are just focusing on the young boys and ourselves right now and I am going to try to bring them along the best way I can.
Q: When you guys are practicing every day, how much is that Week 1 game on your mind?
A: Not at all. Every year is a different year. Like I said, I am just trying to stay healthy and try to be out here with my teammates the best way I can. Every year is a different year. You can’t go by the past years and what I did. This year is going to be a totally different year. I know when I step on that field I will be ready.
Q: Is rehabbing the core injury something that you normally do?
A: Once I get an injury, I always rehab it just because there is caution in your mind that it was injured.
Q: How much does it impact you on the field?
A: When I am on the field, I am just going.
Q: Do you feel like your old self in that area?
A: Yeah I feel like my old self, but I feel like I can get much better. Like I said, I will be ready by game one.
Q: What does the commitment the Giants made to you mean to you?
A: It means a lot. Being here for eight years, there have been ups and downs in my career, but at the end of the day I have managed. It just means a lot. The organization loves me, the fans love me, I love the fans, I love the organization and all I know is Giants football.
