Pierre-Paul Is Seeking His Old Form After Being Slowed by Back Surgery EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Jason Pierre-Paul, widely considered the Giants" best defensive player, knows what has been said about his play in the first two games. "People are saying they haven't seen the old J. P. P," Pierre-Paul said after practice Wednesday. I look at the tape of the games. I haven't seen the old J. P. P. either. Pierre-Paul had back surgery in June, sat out the preseason and did not resume practicing with the team until a week before the opening game at Dallas. "I'm fine, my back does not hurt at all," he said. That's a good thing. But that doesn't mean everything is back from a football-playing standpoint. I'm not playing like I used to, because my brain is thinking what to do, but my body isn't responding yet. I'm getting healthier, and it's getting better, but it isn't there yet. Pierre-Paul described his play against Dallas as "terrible." He said he thought he was average in the loss to Denver on Sunday. "So I am improving, and that includes improving in practice," said Pierre-Paul, a defensive end with six tackles. I'm doing some good things; I'm just getting to the quarterback a second late. Hopefully, on Sunday I'll get there in time. It's only been two games, but I watch on tape, and I see myself stopping a lot. I look at the screen, and I'm like, "That's not me." I don't know what the heck I'm doing. I looked at the film from the Cowboys game a year ago, and it was totally different. You can see it. But there's no excuses. I just have to get my body right, and I'll get back to the old me. Pierre-Paul leads the team with one sack, which says a lot about the pass rush heading into Sunday's game on the road against the Carolina Panthers. COUGHLIN'S BROTHER DIES Coach Tom Coughlin's younger brother, John, died Monday at Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey, the team announced. John Coughlin, 63, was a horse trainer who owned and operated Coughlin's Stables in East Rutherford. "Our family is thankful for the expressions of sympathy and prayers for our brother John's passing," Coughlin said in a statement released by the team. We all appreciate them. John was a friend to all. He loved life, and he will be greatly missed. He left us way too soon. Services for John Coughlin will be Monday and Tuesday near Waterloo, N.Y., the small town where the Coughlins - John, Tom and five sisters - were raised. "I'm sure that's a tough thing, losing your only brother," Eli Manning said. He talked to us about that. Victor Cruz added: "When he addressed us, it was an emotional thing for me. I think the team understands what he's going through, and we'll respond. Coughlin has been present for the team's usual schedule of practices, meetings and film study this week. "He's focusing on us," Manning said. I'm sure he will do what he has to do for his family. Maybe the best thing we can do for him is to have a great week of practice and get a win on Sunday. THE GOOD AND BAD OF 0-2 Much has been made this week of the Giants 0-2 start, especially since the 2007 Giants also lost their first two games and ended up winning the Super Bowl. The 2007 team was not the first Giants team to turn an 0-2 record into a championship. The 1934 Giants were 0-2, losing badly to Detroit and Green Bay, and then won 9 of their next 12 games to claim the N.F.L. championship. But an 0-2 start by a Giants team does not ordinarily establish a good final outcome for the season. It has happened 16 times besides 1934 and 2007. Twelve times it led to a losing season, and often it foreshadowed spectacularly miserable records: 3-11 in 1976; 2-12 in 1974; 2-10-2 in 1964; and 5-11 in 1995. The overall record of the 18 Giants teams that started 0-2, including the squad that played the first season in franchise history in 1925, is 101-140-6. Of the 18 teams that started 0-2, 11 were soon 0-3.