According to Cole, Pierre-Paul is being evaluated by team physician Robert Hotchkiss, who is responsible for determining whether the player can perform with a glove over his injured hand. Finally, following the Giants Week 7 win against the Dallas Cowboys, we have an answer. Graziano reports that Pierre-Paul felt he could play right away in September, but the Giants shot him down.
Advertisement
Cole says the whole deal is pending a physical, which would still seem dicey considering the whole loss of fingers thing. As for the Giants, there is no way for them to predict what the level of Pierre-Paul’s effectiveness will be, but it is evident that if medically cleared, they really have no choice but to get him on the field and hope for the best.
The original plan was for Pierre-Paul to fly into New Jersey last week to meet with the Giants, but with the team playing on the road on Monday night, nothing could be worked out. But if he does sign, New York could place Pierre-Paul on the non-football injury list, which would cost Pierre-Paul big bucks. This is Pierre-Paul’s second visit as a free agent, the last allowed by National Football League bylaws.
Both sides know there’s a deadline looming. The Giants have had internal discussions about what they can and can’t offer Pierre-Paul in terms of a contract, and Pierre-Paul’s representatives have been in touch with the NFLPA about what’s legal for them to accept under the CBA. That was not something Pierre-Paul was interested in at the time, but maybe he has come around. If he wants to make anything of this season earnings wise, and prove that he is healthy enough to play, that may be his only option.
The Giants aren’t just waiting on JPP’s return to the team this season. However, the source also indicated that the team wouldn’t get an accurate assessment until Pierre-Paul was examined.
Advertisement
The Giants have only 10 sacks in their first seven games.
