Saturday December 8, 2012

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants seemingly are getting a break this week.

Instead of spending a week worrying about Robert Griffin III running left, pitching right, throwing screens and slants and making life miserable, all the Giants have to deal with Sunday is Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

At least that's the way Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul sees it in what might end up as bulletin board material in New Orleans.

Pierre-Paul's logic was simple: Brees is a magnificent pocket passer with a highly-talented offense. He can be hit, though, while RG3 is just too elusive.

"I hate playing it," defensive end Pierre-Paul said of facing Griffin and Redskins' option attack. "So now going up to like a traditional offense, we know what we're going to probably get, and it's much easier.

"Having an option quarterback, coming from college, and the kid's fast, man. I'm getting old, you know? It should be much easier this weekend."

Easier was a poor choice of words for the Giants (7-5) when it comes to Brees. He has thrown eight touchdown pass and no interceptions in leading the Saints to a pair of lopsided wins over New York in 2009 and last season in games at the Superdome. The quarterback has never lost to New York.

Pierre-Paul's comments Wednesday drew an immediate clarification from coach Tom Coughlin and teammates Thursday.

Coughlin maintained that Pierre-Paul did not mean to say

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that playing the Saints (5-7) and Brees was either easy or easier than facing Griffin. He felt his player was saying that preparing for Washington's option attack forces defenses do more than for a standard offense.

"It's not in any way that Drew Brees isn't an excellent player, because he wouldn't do that," Coughlin said.