Jason Pierre-Paul heard the talk about how his 2013 performance wasn't good enough as he played through back pain that eventually ended his season early.
JPP wants to make sure people know he heard the chatter about his two-sack season and has designs of zipping lids in 2014.
"I've got something to prove this year, and I want to shut them up," Pierre-Paul said Wednesday, per The New York Times. "A lot of people are doubting me. I know what people have been saying. But it's O.K.; I'll get them back this year."
Pierre-Paul underwent back surgery in early June of last year and was never the same in 2013.
"I couldn't explode off the line, and I couldn't get around the edge," he said. "I lost all that. But I've got all that back now. And I'm a greedy guy. I want to get to the quarterback and stop the run. I want to show a lot of people what I can still do."
Entering the final season of his rookie contract, JPP said his back sometimes still bothers.
"I still feel a little something," he said, per Newsday, "but at the end of the day, it's nothing that is going to bother me while I'm playing. Now, I'm flying to the ball."
The Giants overhauled the back end of their defense this offseason but need a healthy, menacing JPP if they are going to slow down and catch the defending NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the guys make the case that multiple teams have closed the gap on the Seahawks and 49ers in the NFC.
