The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added another major piece to their defensive line
Saints Elite Jerseys , trading for New York Giants two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl 46 champion Jason Pierre Paul.ESPN's Adam Schefter first broke the news:Another blockbuster trade: Giants trading DE Jason Pierre-Paul and a 2018 fourth-round pick to Buccaneers for a 2018 third-round pick and a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 22, 2018Pierre-Paul, 29, has been one of the NFL's most dominant pass-rushers since breaking into the NFL eight years ago. He's registered 58.5 sacks, 42 passes defended and 11 forced fumbles.His best season was 2011, when JPP had 16.5 sacks and helped the Giants win Super Bowl 46 over the New England Patriots, 24-20. Pierre-Paul hasn't been the same dominant force since 2014, however.That's because he suffered a gruesome hand injury from a fireworks accident in the summer of 2015. Pierre-Paul's right index finger had to be amputated, and injuries have slowed down some of his production.But Pierre-Paul will get a fresh start with a talented young Buccaneers team that is filled with talented pass-rushers. This includes recently-signed defensive end Vinny Curry, who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles after winning Super Bowl 52.Tampa Bay also features another trio in steady pass-rushers that include Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy and Noah Spence. Should Curry and JPP reach their full skill levels in Tampa, this team could make some major noise in a tough NFC South Division.For the Giants, some roster overhauls were necessary after winning just three games in 2017. They own the second-overall pick in this year's draft
Saquon Barkley Color Rush Jersey , and many expect them to draft one of the top quarterback prospects to eventually succeed Eli Manning.But as Schefter noted, trading Pierre-Paul could mean the Giants are thinking otherwise with the second pick:Now that the Giants have traded Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers, maybe they consider Bradley Chubb at No. 2.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 22, 2018The Giants certainly have to rebuild a defense that went from elite in 2016 (second-best in points allowd per game), to terrible in 2017. With Pierre-Paul gone, New York will most definitely draft a pass-rusher in one of the early rounds.As for the Buccaneers, it's safe to assume they'll own one of the NFL's best pass-rushing units next season - should all the players fit the system properly. The scars still visible on Zay Jones' right knee are a reminder of what could have happened in March, when the Buffalo Bills receiver was caught on tape, bloodied and naked, while arguing with his brother in a downtown Los Angeles apartment hallway.
"I could've lost my life, so I'm grateful to just be here and be on this field, and to be with my teammates," Jones said Sunday, in speaking to reporters for the first time this offseason. "I don't think there's any other word that describes it
Authentic Customized Cardinals Jerseys , but just thankful and grateful."
Though the second-year player declined to explain what happened, Jones said he's now focused solely on securing his spot on the roster, rather than reflect back after practicing for the first time this year.
"I think I would be doing myself a very big disservice if I went back to there," Jones said. "That moment was very traumatic for me and my family. And to rehash that now, at this point in time, it wouldn't be doing me any good."
Jones was activated off Buffalo's non-football injury list 10 days into training camp and practiced on a limited basis.
The former second-round draft pick missed the team's spring practices after coach Sean McDermott in mid-May announced Jones had knee surgery. McDermott wouldn't reveal how or when Jones was hurt.
Jones wouldn't shed much light on how the injury occurred.
"It happened a while ago, man," said Jones, who also had shoulder surgery in January to repair an injury that nagged him for much of last season. "I'm just trying to move forward in the right direction."
The 23-year-old Jones said he's at peace, and grateful for the support from his coaches and teammates.
He was arrested after officers were called to a disturbance, where Jones was found "breaking glass doors and windows." Prosecutors declined to file felony vandalism charges against him because of insufficient evidence.
Jones is coming off a disappointing rookie season in which he failed to play to the expectations he established at East Carolina, where Jones set an NCAA FBS record with 399 career catches at East Carolina.
He finished fifth on the Bills with 316 yards receiving and scored twice in 15 games.
Jones' return overshadowed Bills starting receiver Kelvin Benjamin landing in hot water for questioning why the Carolina Panthers drafted him, and criticizing former teammate Cam Newton's accuracy in an interview published in The Athletic on Friday.
"There's a time and place for things like that. This was not one of them," McDermott said. "I've spoken with Kelvin. And that's now how I want us to handle things like that. So we'll move forward as a team
Kenta Maeda Jersey , and I'm hoping he's already done that."
Benjamin said he understood his coach's concerns. In saying he doesn't want to be a distraction to the team, Benjamin didn't distance himself from what was published.
"It was just the heat of the moment," he said. "I just got kind of frustrated but, like I said, I'm moving on from it."
In the interview, Benjamin described being selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2014 draft as being "a bad fit from the get-go."
Without mentioning Newton specifically, Benjamin said he could have been more productive with "any other quarterback." He then pinpointed several star quarterbacks, including Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, in saying they had the knowledge and accuracy of placing a pass to a spot that makes it easier for a receiver to catch the ball.
Newton was not available for interviews following practice in South Carolina. Carolina coach Ron Rivera declined to discuss Benjamin's comments because he's a member of another team.
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said he partially understood why Benjamin might be frustrated because things didn't work out for him in Carolina.
"Things didn't work out for him here, I get it," Olsen said.
"You would like to see him move forward to his new team and embrace his new opportunity, rather than go personal on it," he added. "But I have been shipped off from another team, too
Customized New York Giants Jerseys , so I get it."
Benjamin's past with the Panthers has been a touchy subject. In June, Benjamin told The Associated Press he was the one who asked the Panthers to trade him in a deal that eventually landed him in Buffalo in October.
He set team records for rookies with 73 catches, 1,008 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. He missed the entire 2015 season with a left knee injury, and totaled 95 catches for 1,416 yards and nine touchdowns in his next 24 games before being traded .
McDermott said one issue he had with Benjamin's comments is that the Bills open their preseason Thursday hosting Carolina.
What makes Benjamin's comments more awkward is McDermott and Bills general manager Brandon Beane previously worked together for the Panthers. McDermott spent six seasons as Carolina's defensive coordinator before being hired by Buffalo in 2017.
Beane was the Panthers' assistant general manager, and had a hand in drafting Benjamin.
AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Spartanburg, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
.
