Many have been wondering the extent of Jason Pierre-Paul’s hand injury following a fireworks mishap on July 4th weekend, including most notably the New York Giants. Pierre-Paul intended to sign the one-year, .8 million franchise tender, but reportedly now won’t do so until he’s healthy enough to pass the team physical. Many would believe a grown adult that is also a starting high-profile player on a team in the NFL would have shown better judgement to even be involved in such an incident, but now, things are just getting even worse between Pierre-Paul and the Giants.
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Mara is not taking the matter lightly and said, “He has told people that he’s fine and that he’s going to be ready to play, but until we see the hand, we’re just not sure”.
“I am dissatisfied he is not right here”, Giants proprietor John Mara stated Thursday, when the remainder of the staff reported for the beginning of coaching camp.
Mara added that he wanted Pierre-Paul to “come home”.
“I would doubt that that would happen in that quick a time frame (this week)”, Mara told the New York Post. “And I think the organization kind of knows that, too”.
Before the accident, Pierre-Paul and the Giants were negotiating a long-term deal, but that’s been tabled, as has the decision about whether or not to rescind Pierre-Paul’s franchise tag. Victor Cruz raved about the support the Giants gave him while he recovered from the knee injury that cut short his 2014 season.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Pierre-Paul has recorded 286 tackles, 42 sacks and eight forced fumbles over his five seasons.
“That’s the problem”, Mara said. “It’s hard to believe that he couldn’t get here and take care of an terrible lot of issues rather than what they’re doing”.
Yeah, he basically looks like he has a club on his hand.
Pierre-Paul included a smiley face in the text message, Mara said. If you really study the game and you see JPP, his best attribute is his ability to knock peoples’ hands down, his quickness, his first step, his stop-and-go. “It’s something he’ll have to adjust to it, but I don’t imagine it stopping him from being the JPP that we’ve grown to see”. I hope he will play great football in the future. “Hey, we’re all concerned about the young man, first and foremost, but it is hard to extend this concern when we feel like he should be here”.
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Mara’s only contact with Pierre-Paul was in a text message in which the player described the injury as a bump in the road and that he would be back as good as ever.
