Boca Raton resident Jason Pierre-Paul happy to join Miami Dolphins
MIAMI GARDENS — Jason Pierre-Paul was born and raised in Deerfield Beach and has called Boca Raton home for the past 14 years.
"This is home for me," Pierre-Paul said Wednesday, his first day as a Miami Dolphin. "So, big things coming."
Pierre-Paul starred at USF in Tampa in 2009. That was a long time ago.
And while Pierre-Paul, 34, may not be quite the player he was when he averaged eight sacks over the first 11 years of his career, Miami thinks he has something to give.
"I’m pumped for the team to add a player of his experience, of his esteem," Miami coach Mike McDaniel said. "He’s a force on the edge and I’m just pumped for him to get in the mix with the entire team."
Pierre-Paul, who will wear jersey number 90, won Super Bowls with the Giants in 2011 and the Bucs in 2020.
"I've been on two good Super Bowl teams and what's in common is everybody was in sync when it really matters," Pierre-Paul said. "We locked in. Did our jobs and trusted each other. We played physical."
The Dolphins will hope Pierre-Paul can contribute in a rotation with Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah, taking up the snaps of injured Jaelan Phillips.
"It's an honor to be able to play with a guy who's lasted that long," Chubb said. " Who's made as many plays. And won Super Bowls. He consistently gets after the quarterback. I mean, he has a large frame so kind of you see how he manipulates off his steps and off his hands and stuff like that. Whatever I can soak up from him, I'm going to try."
Chubb thinks Pierre-Paul can jump in quickly.
"Especially the way coach (Vic) Fangio allows our edges to play," Chubb said. "Reckless abandonment within the call. Not easy to do. But a lot easier than other positions to make an impact."
Pierre-Paul had three sacks in 14 games with the Ravens in 2022.
He had two sacks in 12 games with the Bucs in 2021.
He was with the Saints practice squad before signing with Miami, playing 17 snaps following a New Orleans elevation on Sunday.
"People want to see if I can still do it or not," Pierre-Paul said. You know, there's only one way to find out."
Pierre-Paul said he's comfortable in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. With Miami he'll probably be asked to be a stand-up linebacker/edge rusher.
"I did one week with the Saints and so it does still feel like training camp to me right now," Pierre-Paul said. "But you know, once I get past that, you know takes a week or two, and then I'm back rolling."
Will he play Sunday at Washington?
"We'll see," he said. "That's a good question. We'll see. You know, I'm a quick learner. And whatever coaches they want me to do, I'm going to do."
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
Sunday's game
Dolphins (8-3) at Commanders (4-8)
1 p..m., FOX; NFL+ and YouTube Sunday Ticket outside South Florida
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jason Pierre-Paul happy to join Miami Dolphins as he seeks third Super Bowl ring
