The New York Football Giants are bad.
Their 3-6 record says so. Their third place standing in the NFC East says so. Their dead-last in the league ranking against the run says so.
And now, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who's playing out the final year of his rookie contract, doesn't seem the least bit concerned about the team's shortcomings or his potential future on the roster.
In comments to Dan Graziano of ESPN that were, ostensibly, meant to show his focus only on the task at hand - ie; stopping the Giants' current four-game losing streak by finding a way to victory over the San Francisco 49ers this weekend - Pierre-Paul, instead, betrayed a tone that belied a disinterest in making New York, the team that drafted and developed him, his permanent NFL home.
"To be honest with you, I'm not worried about my contract situation," Pierre-Paul said after practice Friday. "It's going to take care of itself. If I'm here, I'm here. If I'm not, I'm not. I don't think about it. I go home and sleep good at night."
The 25-year-old Pierre-Paul, known by many as JPP, was a first-round pick of Big Blue in the 2010 draft. His second season, JPP absolutely went off, recording 16.5 sacks, utilizing immense athleticism coupled with his freakish length to beat opponents seemingly at will. His monster season coincided with the Giants' most recent Super Bowl title.
Since then though, injuries have limited his play and his production. He entered this season determined to prove his worth, but he has only managed 3.5 sacks through nine games.
"My job is to make big plays," Pierre-Paul said. "That's what people watch for, and that's what the game is all about."
The Giants are "not averse to the idea of signing him long-term," according to Graziano. But JPP, and the Giants' poor defense in general - they're ranked 30th in the league, according to ESPN - has got to have the Mara family questioning whether or not keeping and paying JPP is the smart move.
But whatever happens, Pierre-Paul sounds like the kind of player happy to make his bed...and sleep mighty well in it, pretty much anywhere.
