Wednesday Media Transcript: DE Jason Pierre-Paul

Buccaneers DE Jason Pierre-Paul Conference Call -- November 14, 2018

Q: What are your emotions, how does it feel to be coming back here to play against a franchise where you built your career? I know you probably saw this on the schedule when it first came out, but what are your emotions now that this game is finally here?
A: Honestly, I had this game checked off since I left there, so emotions running big. I’m coming, man. I’m bringing the house down.

Q: Can you take us back to the day that you were traded and just walk us through where were you, how shocked were you?
A: The day of the trade, I was home, I was just getting up, getting ready to start my day and I got a phone call from Dave Gettleman. I just got a phone call basically saying I have been traded. That’s the way they went about it with a phone call, and that was it. Never heard from anyone else but Dave, and Eli (Manning) called me, as well, but other than that, that was it. Just went about my business. At the end of the day, it’s business and I have a job to do.

Q: How has the transition been? You’ve only known the Giants in your NFL career, how has it been playing for the Bucs, playing in Florida, playing for another team?
A: The transition’s been good. I came here and I’m doing what I have to do, I’m doing what I do best, which is playing football. That’s basically been it. The transition’s been easy and smooth.

Q: Given the circumstances, do you feel like you have more of a chip on your shoulder because you’ve been sent to a different team?
A: Not necessarily. I don’t have a chip on my shoulder. 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. I always tell myself, no matter where I go, even if it wasn’t New York, no matter where I would end up that I would still be the same player. I always say that, and I stuck by it. No matter where I go or end up, I’ll always play great football and I’m proving that. But to answer your question, there’s no chip on my shoulder.

Q: Is it fair to say you were hurt when you got traded?
A: Not necessarily, I won’t say hurt. Just the fact that the only thing I got was a phone call, you know what I’m saying? I didn’t speak to no owners or nothing. Obviously I gave a hard eight years at the New York Giants and won a Super Bowl there, and the only thing I got was a phone call? I won’t say I was hurt, but it was just shocking. But at the end of the day, like I said, this is a business league and at the end of the day, we have to do our jobs no matter what team we play for. You’re a football player, you’re a pro, so you’ve got to do your job to the best of your ability. That’s what I’ve been doing.

Q: You had a lot of highs obviously with the Giants and the last couple years have been very difficult, very challenging. Sunday when you walk in that stadium, will your mind go to the good or to the struggles as a team the last couple years?
A: When you say struggles, I don’t know what struggles you’re talking about.

Q: The team last year.
A: As a team, I thought you were talking about me. The team last year was struggling. I can’t really say much, but the same situation last year I see is happening this year. But at the end of the day, that’s not my problem. This is the NFL, National Football League, and like I said, we all have a job to do and I’m going to do my job at my very best come Sunday, and emotions, yeah, to be in the building, but at the same time, I want to be that great football player I know that I can be this Sunday.

Q: You didn’t have an opportunity last year to same goodbye to that building, the fans always loved you as a player for what you were able to do to win the Super Bowl and everything else. Do you walk in that stadium Sunday feeling the emotions of all the good you were able to accomplish with the team both individually and as a team?
A: Of course. I won a Super Bowl there, so no matter what, that’s home for me because that’s where everything started at. But at the end of the day, the fans are going to cheer for me, the fans in New York were a great fan base. I’m pretty sure I’ll be expecting a lot of things, but there’s a football game going on.

Q: What do you think you’ve shown this year with the eight sacks already?
A: What have I shown this year? I’m playing great ball, obviously.

Q: The Giants have allowed a lot of sacks this year, are you licking your chops looking at these offensive linemen?
A: I wouldn’t say licking my chops, but I know it’s a problem. But like I said, that’s not my problem. I’m on the Bucs and I’m doing a great job here and I’m loving it.

Q: The Giants only have 10 sacks as a team and you have eight yourself. Do you feel like that proves that they thought you couldn’t get it done, that maybe they needed what you bring?
A: Numbers speak for themselves. I can’t really say much, but I’m not even worried about the sacks and how much the Giants have on their team. Like I said, I’m just playing some great football and I’m just blessed to be getting the opportunity to keep on playing this game that I love. I’m going to walk away from it when I walk away from it, but until then, I’m just going to keep on being a great player that I am and obviously come Sunday, I’m going to go out there and do what I normally do, go one hundred and ten percent and just fly to the ball.

Q: What did it mean to you to have Eli Manning call you and was he the only teammate to call you? Also, what would it be like to try to and possibly sack him on Sunday?
A: Eli called me and also Zak DeOssie had texted me. Landon Collins wrote me, a couple guys I was very close to, but with Eli, it’s different because I’ve been there and knowing what he has done, I had the opportunity to actually win a Super Bowl with him and that’s awesome to say that you did that. It meant a lot to me, because Eli is a stand-up, world class guy and no matter what, he’s all about football and he always wants to win. Eli is Eli.

Q: How about trying to sack him on Sunday?
A: If I sack him, I sack him. I’m just trying to get a W, a win this week, that’s most important. Any way we can get the win, that would be perfect. Obviously you guys know that.