Giants JPP still not down with replacement refs missing holding calls

The New York Giants have had 11 straight days — since their opening night loss to the Dallas Cowboys — to make adjustments for improvement.  One thing that hasn't changed during that layoff is the fact that replacement referees will still be calling this Sunday's game.  So Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is preparing to play the game without the benefit of getting holding calls he feels he deserves.

"If they're not going to call holding, you got to find another way to get there," Pierre-Paul said.

JPP might be making a valid claim or it might be just a major case of sour grapes.

The vaunted trio of Giants defensive ends — Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora — were blanked in the sack department during the disappointing loss to Dallas.  The three-headed monster didn't even record a single quarterback hit on Tony Romo.

While the three All-Pros didn't come out and blame the refs for their lackluster performances, they did mention that the novice NFL officials weren't making many holding calls.

"The replacement refs, you never know what calls you're going to get, so you just go out there and handle your job," Pierre-Paul said.  "Even if they are replacement refs, they are referees, otherwise they wouldn't be on the football field."

Maybe JPP thinks the rookie refs need a dunk into a tub of ice water in order to alert them to the overlooked holding calls.  But the second year star is aware that the replacements are just going through growing pains.

"They're not going to call every single thing, they're looking for the most particular thing," he reasoned.  "That's probably what they've been taught.  You can't blame them."

Will we see any holding calls go JPP's way against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?  Don't hold your breath.