–Bucs defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said he had the game against his former Giants team circled on his calendar for some time.
“It’s been checked off since I left there, and I’m pretty sure they know I’m bringing the house down,” Pierre-Paul said. “So at the end of the day, it is what it is. I know once I get there, I’m just going to be going 100 percent, man.”
The Giants traded Pierre-Paul, who was a part of a Super Bowl winning team in 2011 and became a fan favorite and overcame a horrific fireworks injury to his right hand after he signed a four-year, $62 million deal one year earlier that guaranteed him $40 million.
But moving Pierre-Paul was one of the first moves new Giants general manager Dave Gettleman made to unload cap space, especially since Pierre-Paul might have had a reduced role in the Giants’ new 3-4 defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator James Bettcher.
On Wednesday, Pierre-Paul didn’t deny he was displeased with how the Giants parted ways with him, but said he knew it was a business decision.
“I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily angry,” Pierre-Paul said. “I only got a phone call, but at the end of the day, it’s business. You’ve got to keep it moving, and that’s what it is.”
–The Bucs have until next Tuesday to make a decision on the status of linebacker Kendell Beckwith, who has been on non-football injury list following an accident in April. Beckwith had surgery on his ankle and is trying to come back in his third week of practice.
“I think he’s progressing,” head coach Dirk Koetter said. “I think it’s looking up. I think the hardest thing right now is just full-speed in his own mind. He hasn’t played football for a while and it’s not like we’re really tackling to the ground or anything out there. He had increased reps today from last week and we’re hopeful. A lot more hopeful than we were two weeks ago.”
–The Bucs believe part of their good defensive effort against the Redskins was the byproduct of improved tackling.
“Much better than last week,” Koetter said. “It’s going to have to be good this week because obviously the big challenge with Adrian Peterson last week minus a couple plays – did a pretty good job tackling. All you’ve got to do is put on any game with Barkley in there and he’s kind of that hold-your-breath-type player when he touches it because he’s going to take the ball anywhere – not just to where it’s designed.”
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m coming, Eli.” – Bucs DE Jason Pierre-Paul.
BY THE NUMBERS: Minus-19 – Bucs turnover ratio, last in the NFL.
