Pierre-Paul’s status has been up in the air ever since he suffered severe injuries to his right hand, including an eventual amputation of his index finger, during a fireworks accident at his south Florida home on the Fourth of July.
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New York Daily News Giants defensive line coach Robert Nunn says he has been texting with Jason Pierre-Paul (90).
“We talk more about where he is from a mental standpoint, texting back and forth, just let him know that we’re here for him”, Nunn said.
“His response has been: “Coach, I’m good, and I want to get myself right and I’ll be back”. “I don’t know any more than that”. For now, though, Nunn said the Giants are hoping for the best and ready to get Pierre-Paul back on the field.
What Nunn does know is that his current group of defensive linemen are more than capable of shouldering the load until Pierre-Paul returns.
And while Nunn said he and Pierre-Paul do not talk much about football, Pierre-Paul has told him he will return to the team.
If there’s one member of the New York Giants organization who’s up-to-date on the condition of Jason Pierre-Paul, it’s his position coach. Reese wouldn’t go into detail about their talk, but said it was a “good conversation”.
For now, Nunn is preparing the defensive line to play without Pierre-Paul, who led the team with 12 ½ sacks last season.
“If he does reach out, I’ll tell him the same things I went through and that is, ‘You can do it, ‘ ” Lott said. He has not signed his $14.81 million franchise tender, primarily as a result of he does not need the staff to put him on the non-football damage listing after which determine to not pay him for video games missed. He said he’d keep information confidential (even from the Giants) if Pierre-Paul asked him to, but that their conversations haven’t gone down those roads. Team owner John Mara, meanwhile, said last week that he still doesn’t know how many fingers Pierre-Paul still has.
Coughlin has not spoken with Pierre-Paul because the fireworks accident, however appears to have one thing scheduled, as he kidded that he had a “premonition” when requested why he thought they’d speak quickly. I told him we’ll just tie one hand behind his back because he’s that kind of player. Everybody has their beliefs on what happened, what should have happened, and will make of it what they want to.
“We are all pulling for him to be back”, Nunn said, “but right now, we’ve got a job to do”.
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“I simply need to know the place he’s from an emotional and psychological standpoint”, Nunn stated. “We’re going on and he’ll be here when he’ll be here, and those other guys have a great opportunity”. Whatever he needs, we’re here for him.
