Mike Remmers doesn’t really care what Jason Pierre-Paul has to say

Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul fired the first cannon on Monday when he remarked that he was awfully unfamiliar with Chiefs offensive lineman Mike Remmers.

Since Eric Fisher tore his Achilles during the AFC title game, Remmers is projected to start for the Kansas City Chiefs at left tackle when the two teams square off in Super Bowl LV on Sunday.

“I had someone send it to me and honestly, I don’t really care what his opinion is on anything,” said Remmers. “Every week I’ve played in this league, I’ve never gone to the game thinking, ‘Hey, I wonder what this guy thinks of me.’ I don’t care at all. It makes no difference to me. I’m just going out there to do my job.”

To Remmers’ point, the only guy whose opinion he needs to care about knows him well.

“He’s very tough, I joke, but he’s Redbeard,” smiled Chiefs head coach Andy Reid last week. “He breaks out his sword, and he’s ready to go. I appreciate him and his toughness, and he’s a smart kid. He’s really fit in well with the whole program here.”

Remmers has 97 career starts, including nine playoff games, playing nearly every position along the line for nine different organizations. His last start at left tackle came in 2016, when he blocked the blind side of Cam Netwon as a member of the Carolina Panthers.

Newton won the league MVP, the Panthers clinched the NFC title and went on to play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Remmers allowed seven pressures, including 2.0 sacks made by Von Miller in the 24-10 loss.

“It’s unfortunate we didn’t win the game,” said Remmers. “I’ll think of that year very fondly, though. I had a lot of great teammates. I had a great team. We didn’t finish the job there, and that’s unfortunate. It was five years ago. Just like all the wins and losses I have in my past, it’s in my past. I feel like I’ve learned from that game, learned from all these experiences I’ve had. It’s just helped me develop into the player I am today. I’m not the same player I was five years ago. It’s a different year. I’m a different player. It was unfortunate we didn’t win it. I’m just concentrating on what I can do right now. What can I do today to help me on Sunday? And that’s kind of been my focus this entire season.”

That attitude will prove useful Sunday, as the Chiefs' offensive line against the Buccaneers front could be the determining factor of the game. Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett have shown a knack in getting to the quarterback, as they combined for 5.0 sacks in the NFC title game.

“They’ve got a tremendous amount of skill on that line,” noted Remmers. “They’ve got a lot of stars. They’re very fast, physical, downhill players. Not even just the front guys — the linebackers fly around and make plays. It’s going to be a great challenge for us on Sunday.”