New York Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul: 'My hand feels great'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- As far as defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is concerned, he has closed the door on last year, including questions about his permanently damaged right hand and how that might affect his play.

Instead, Pierre-Paul has proclaimed himself fit and determined to turn all his hard work that he documented through his social media channels into production.

"My hand feels great; no complaining, no nothing. Just getting after it," he said when the Giants reported to training camp.

"I'm just ready to play some football. My (right) hand feels just like my left hand."

The Giants are counting on Pierre-Paul, along with newcomer Olivier Vernon, to revitalize a pass rush that last year finished 30th in the NFL with 23 sacks.

While the acclimation process has been coming along for Vernon, whom Pierre-Paul said is now part of the Giants family, the real proof will start to show up once the team puts the pads on, which they are scheduled to do Aug. 2.

"That's the whole point of playing football and coming in and having training camp and having our players play," Pierre-Paul said.

"There's a certain type of way I play. You just have to have a feel for it as a football player. I do a great job of it. OV, Snacks (Damon Harrison) and 'Hank' (Johnathan Hankins); those guys are front guys including me and we're going to have chemistry together.

"They're going to do whatever it takes and I'll do whatever it takes on the football field on the defensive side," he added.

Now in his sixth season, Pierre-Paul is the longest-tenured member of the Giants' defense. While such a distinction would normally carry an expectation of leadership, Pierre-Paul has been somewhat reluctant to declare himself as such.

"I lead by example," he said. "Everybody sees it. I'm probably one of the hardest workers out here on the football team. I'm out here trying to get right, trying to get to the playoffs and help these guys get it right.

"I'm a vet now. I can look in the locker room and tell if the younger guys are looking up to me. They won't say it but you know. You can feel it so, whatever it takes."