FAB 3. An Open Letter To Jason Pierre-Paul

Congrats on your two-year, $25 million contract extension, Jason. It was incredible to see you come back from your offseason neck injury and record 8.5 sacks in 10 games after missing training camp and the first six weeks of the season. You ended the season with a flurry, recording five sacks in the last two games of the year against Houston and Atlanta.

Bucs OLB Jason Pierre-Paul – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I know you’re coming off a minor knee procedure recently, but given your track record of recovering from injuries so quickly and completely, I have no doubt that you’ll be back and ready to go in August. I’m excited to see what you can do opposite pass rusher Shaquil Barrett for an entire season. You two combined for 28 sacks last year with you missing the first six games. I say you’ll hit that number again with you leading the way with 15.

Speaking of leading the way, Jason, I think this is the year you wind up with a “C” on your chest. And by that I mean you’ll be elected as a team captain on defense alongside long-time captain Lavonte David in 2020. You deserve that distinction, Jason.

It’s a shame that your leadership won’t be felt in Tampa Bay for a third straight offseason – this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has kept you and your teammates sequestered away from each other as the league had to cancel all mini-camps and OTAs this spring due to the virus. You missed a good deal of your first offseason in Tampa Bay in 2018 while moving your family back down to Florida, and of course had to miss last offseason while you recovered from your car crash.

I’m certainly not faulting you at all, as the events of the last two offseasons were certainly beyond your control. Just get ready to lead the way once training camp starts later this month (fingers crossed).

Jason, one of the things that I admire about you aside from your tremendous athleticism, heart, determination and your ability to get to the quarterback, is your own brand of leadership. You are truly a throwback player and I can tell you were raised right in Tom Coughlin’s Giants old school organization from warriors like Osi Unmenyiora and Justin Tuck among others.

Bucs OLB Jason Pierre-Paul – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

You may not remember this, but last year in the hallway at the AdventHealth Training Center, you and I bumped into each other and had a brief 30-second conversation in passing. I told you that I’ve covered this team going back to the days of Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, and that the Bucs haven’t had that caliber of accountable leadership until you showed up.

You thanked me, and said it’s been tough and that you were outnumbered. I knew what you meant. There were too many young guys on the team that haven’t quite taken football as seriously as they need to in Tampa Bay.

I replied and told you to keep at it, and you said, “I’ve got to. It’s the only way I know how.”

Jason, the good news is that your reinforcements have arrived. Six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and three-time Super Bowl champ Rob Gronkowski are here. Yours isn’t the only throwback voice in the building now. Now you have an echo chamber – guys that can stand alongside you as you show the young Bucs the way towards winning.

It must be cool and perhaps a little weird to have Brady as a teammate. You have the rare distinction of beating him twice in one season, which came back in 2011. You recorded your 14th career sack against Brady in a 24-20 win at New England during the regular season, and then you helped beat him and the Patriots again in Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17.

What I love about you is that despite not having the “C” on your chest you have been an outspoken leader on this team. Time has robbed you of some of the moments where you could have said more and led by example and also led with your words.

The offseason is a precious time in the NFL calendar. There is no game coming up in a matter of days during OTAs. There is no opponent to prepare for in mini-camps. The pace is a little slower, and a little more relaxed. There is more time for conversations between players and to share tips and techniques.

Bucs OLB Jason Pierre-Paul – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s time where I feel you could have reached more players in a one-on-one basis, Jason. But time is a thief.

With training camp approaching, now is time for you to make up for lost time. Players like Barrett, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, inside linebacker Devin White and defensive backs Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Mike Edwards have only heard from you and felt your leadership for three months.

Think about that. Over half of the Bucs’ starting defense has only played in 10 games with you. You’re 31 and time is ticking.

You have a unique leadership style, Jason. You aren’t afraid to speak your mind about anything to anybody at any time. You are a throwback and you remind me so much of Sapp (a friendlier version of Sapp) in the way you hold yourself and others accountable.

You already have the respect of your teammates, especially those on defense. Speak up, speak out, speak early, and speak often, Jason. Preach accountability, and tell your young Bucs that they haven’t arrived yet on defense just because their Madden ratings may have improved.

Tell them to ignore the hype, to ignore the media and that Tampa Bay has officially won zero games so far in 2020. Tell your huddle that the Bucs won’t win because of Brady and Gronk, or Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, or anyone else on offense. Games will be won by the Bucs defense.

Bucs OLB Jason Pierre-Paul – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tell them that no fourth quarter leads will be surrendered by your unit, and Tampa Bay’s game-winning touchdowns will be scored by scoop-and-scores and pick-sixes rather than Brady’s heroics.

Jason, Carl Nassib filled the void created by your absence last year during the OTAs and training camp and was named a team captain. Now it’s time for you to go claim the “C” on your chest. You deserve it.

Can’t wait to see it happen. Stay safe, Jason.

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