Jason Pierre-Paul: Giants can be Super Bowl contenders

Jason Pierre-Paul: Giants can be Super Bowl contenders

By Paul Schwartz

July 21, 2017 | 2:35am

Jason Pierre-Paul

Charles Wenzelberg

Jason Pierre-Paul has been around long enough to know the difference between real buzz and fake buzz. What he hears heading into this year’s training camp is legit buzz.

“I think the key is we added a lot of guys and people are like ‘Wow, this year has to be a team that goes to a Super Bowl this year,’ ’’ Pierre-Paul said Thursday night at a charity gala in Brooklyn. “But it’s all about the hard work.’’

Just like that, Pierre-Paul, 28, is entering his eighth season with the Giants and is the longest-tenured defensive player, around the team longer than any player other than Eli

Manning and Zak DeOssie. It does not seem as if he just recently arrived, but the thought of JPP as an elder statesman is, well, a bit unnerving.

“That’s crazy,’’ he said. “Nobody on that defense has been here longer than me, I’ve been there the longest, I know what it takes to get to the Super Bowl, to bring a Giants pride in our heart. That’s what defense is really about.’’

Pierre-Paul has been an integral part of Giants defenses that were so dominant they caused a certain uneasy feeling in opposing offenses.

“When other teams fear you, that’s a big difference,’’ he said.

Only the Patriots allowed fewer points last season than the Giants, with a rebuilt defense sparked by JPP’s comeback from his fireworks accident and bolstered by highpriced free-agent signings. He said the 2016 defense was feared “somewhat’’ but this version should be vastly improved.

“I think we can be a lot better than last year,’’ Pierre-Paul said. “We can be as great as we want to be. We got to put in the work. I’m all about work and effort.’’

Clearly, Pierre-Paul is more comfortable as a face of the Giants. He mixed easily with fans and patrons Thursday, first serving as honorary bailiff for the Philip R. Shawe Scholarship Award competition at Brooklyn Borough Hall and later a charity gala. In March, he signed a four-year contract worth $62 million and says, “I got a lot more football left in me.’’

Pierre-Paul had seven sacks in 12 games last season before an abdominal injury ended his season and necessitated surgery to repair a sports hernia. His long arms and passrush pursuit allowed him to bat down eight passes, giving him a share of the NFL lead.

But he was not around down the stretch and missed the playoff loss in Green Bay. “It probably would have made a big, big difference,’’ he said. “Not to be cocky, but if I was there it would have been a totally different ballgame. Everybody knows that.’’

As far as this year’s defense, he does not see a weakness.

“I feel with the players we have, as long as we work together we’ll be undefeated,’’ he said. “Nobody can defeat you when you’re all working together as one.’’

Quarterback Dak Prescott already has stated his Cowboys are the team to beat in the NFC East, which did not cause JPP to do a double-take.

“I don’t condone stuff like that, but he should think like that,’’ Pierre-Paul said. “They won the division, they had a great season. If I was him I’d think like that. He’s confident, I hope his team is confident behind him.’’

The Giants report to camp July 27 and Pierre-Paul said he is excited as ever to get out on the field. This summer, he is looking forward to seeing his 2 ¹/₂-year old son, Josiah, running around on the grass, chasing after his father.

“He’s going to legit be running out there this year, you best believe it,’’ JPP said.