The Giants' defensive line trio of Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck will do whatever it takes to get to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in Indianapolis. Because, according to Pierre-Paul, the competition doesn’t stop with just trying to win a Super Bowl: it’s against each other, as well.
New York’s sack leader opened up to reporters Thursday about the competitiveness and enjoyment he and his teammates have with their roles, admitting that they joke around quite a bit in the locker room. But when the time comes, they’re all business.
“We compete amongst each other and if Justin gets a sack, I want two. If I want two, then Osi wants three," Pierre-Paul said. "Basically you can say that we are greedy but in a good way, to help our team out. If you look around, especially in the D-Line room, we clown around but when it is time to work, we work. That is a good thing, we know when to shut it off and turn it on.”
The trio combined for 30.5 sacks in the regular season, led by Pierre-Paul’s 16.5, and finished with a combined five forced fumbles, including a safety. They haven’t let up in the postseason either, amassing 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble in three games.
Against Brady earlier in the season, Pierre-Paul got the best of that battle against his linemates, notching a sack while the other two goose-egged. And though he may have rubbed that in their face a bit, when it’s all said and done, it’s about having fun and winning the game.
“... We just try to get after the quarterback and have fun," Pierre-Paul said. "That is the most important thing, is to have fun on the field and while you are doing it you just see a great group of guys having fun and it makes you want to have more fun. We just have to get to him (Brady) fast enough and at the same time we have to play the run game and stay positive and focus on what is in front of us.”
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