AP

The 10-sack drop-off by Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul might have had something to do with the extra pounds he was carrying.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin admitted Pierre-Paul’s performance was disappointing, and that it was the second half of the season before he was back to his playing weight of 275 pounds.

“He didn’t play as well as the year before,” Coughlin said, via Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.

Pierre-Paul said the extra weight was muscle, not fat, but Coughlin didn’t seem moved by that argument, as he watched his pass-rusher fall from 16.5 sacks to 6.5.

“He was big when he came to camp,” Coughlin said. “There’s not a lot of body fat [with Pierre-Paul], yes, but still …”

Pierre-Paul also had to deal with back problems last year, which could reasonably be connected to the extra weight. Either way, the Giants need him back to form this year, with Osi Umenyiora out the door.