Jason Pierre-Paul believes he still has something to prove with the only NFL franchise he's ever known.
The edge-rusher wants to show the doubters he's still capable of playing at an elite level despite suffering considerable damage to his right hand in a July Fourth fireworks accident.
"If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. ... I felt like I had unfinished business to do," said Pierre-Paul, who signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants during free agency after spending the first six years of his career with the club.
The 27-year-old said he'll no longer need to wear a protective club on his hand - which he required to play last season - and that offseason surgery on his hand was successful.
"I'm capable of lifting weights and closing and gripping," Pierre-Paul said. "It turned out pretty well."
The Giants' defense will look significantly different in 2016, with the free-agent signings of Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, and Janoris Jenkins.
The addition of three standout defensive players means Pierre-Paul will have Pro Bowl-level talent around him for the first time in several seasons.
"He (Vernon) asked me about the organization and I said if you come here, you're coming to a great organization," Pierre-Paul said, adding: "With the new guys that we got I'm happy that we got them. And now it's time to do work."