Hotchkiss presumably examined Pierre-Paul to determine if the injuries he suffered in his Fourth of July fireworks accident, including multiple thumb fractures, an amputated index finger and a damaged middle finger, have healed to the point the Giants feel Pierre-Paul is ready to play. Finally, following the Giants Week 7 win against the Dallas Cowboys, we have an answer.
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The New York Giants are certainly missing Jason Pierre-Paul. But even if Pierre-Paul passed the physical – and there is no indication or update yet – other significant hurdles would remain.
Pierre-Paul has just over three weeks to sign his franchise tender with the Giants before a November. 17 deadline. That option is more likely to happen than the Giants giving Pierre-Paul the prorated amount of the franchise tag, which was $14.813 million for the full season. If Pierre-Paul signs the tag anyway, the club could still place him on the non-football injury list, ending his season without pay. Kim Jones of NFL Network said earlier that is the scenario the Giants are hoping for. It would seem highly unlikely the Giants would guarantee Pierre-Paul even that much.
Since Pierre-Paul is technically a free agent, the Giants and his camp would have to negotiate any change in compensation, which could drag out the process further.
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A source told Newsday late Monday afternoon that the team would likely have a better idea late Tuesday when and if Pierre-Paul might be able to play. If all checks out and he passes, the tender will be signed at a renegotiated number and he’ll return to practice. That was not something Pierre-Paul was interested in at the time, but maybe he has come around. If Pierre-Paul isn’t willing to haggle and give in a few to the Giants, he runs a very serious risk of not playing a down this season and putting his future not only with the Giants but as an National Football League player in serious doubt.
