Tampa Bay Buccaaneers: JPP closer to McCoy than Sapp

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans are pumped to have a legitimate edge threat in JPP, but he isn’t going to be the vocal leader or have that “nasty” in him that fans have been calling for.

Jason Pierre-Paul is still a top tier talent in the NFL. That’s why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be paying him $12.5 million in 2018, $14.5 million in 2019, and $12.5 million in 2020. But what are they getting from JPP behind the scenes?

The answer may upset some people.

For years we’ve heard the Gerald McCoy haters scream about how he’s “too nice” and he’s not “close enough to Warren Sapp” as far as his attitude is concerned. To be honest, that’s not really a bad thing. If you look at what that attitude has brought Sapp since his career ended, it’s not a stretch to think he’d be better off if he was more like McCoy rather than the other way around.

In his introductory press conference, JPP eluded to this, saying he likes to lead by example;

"Me being here, you’re going to see my work ethic. My work ethic says a lot. I’m not really a vocal guy like that. When you see me, see me on the field, you see me running, always practicing. Game time, you see the energy, you see the excitement."

Curt Macysyn of GMENHQ wrote about JPP’s career with the Giants and pointed out the same thing – and noted that many held his quiet nature against him;

"In addition, many folks desired more leadership from JPP. Going in front of the cameras was never JPP’s strong suit. From personal experience I know some writers held that against him. Quite simply, he was a guy who did his job, and sometimes very effectively."

In the end, Jason Pierre-Paul is going to do what he does – dominate the line of scrimmage, get after the quarterback, and make big plays. It doesn’t matter if he’s on the sidelines screaming at people. It doesn’t matter if he’s in the locker room getting in guys faces when they aren’t playing up to the level they should. He’s going to do his job. And he does one heck of a job at it.

Next: Buccaneers Draft Profile - Guard Braden Smith

All we can hope is that Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans don’t turn on him the way they have Gerald McCoy. With these two playing together, greatness can happen – no matter what their demeanor is.

I mean, aren’t some of the ones complaining about McCoy being too nice the same ones saying to speak softly?

Check out our conversation with Macysyn below as we talk JPP and the New York Giants’ draft strategy as Macysyn makes the second overall pick in our Locked on Bucs progressive mock draft.