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Jason Pierre-Paul

NFC East Notes: Bryant, JPP, Schofield

July 20th, 2015 at 1:27pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s check in on a few Monday items from around the NFC East….

  • After all the talk about Dez Bryant potentially signing a contract that would make him a “Cowboy for life,” the wideout’s new deal will only run through 2019, and Bryant will be 31 when it expires. As Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com writes, the Cowboys are certainly hoping this contract isn’t Bryant’s last one — his next deal is more likely to be the one that makes him a “Cowboy for life.”
  • Appearing at a charity golf event on Monday, Justin Tuck confirmed that he has been in touch with his former Giants teammate, Jason Pierre-Paul. Despite his injury, JPP is in good spirits, according to Tuck. “He’ll be the first one to tell you he made a mistake,” Tuck said, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. “He’s fine. He’s going to have a great year.”
  • In 2014, O’Brien Schofield and the Giants agreed to a two-year, $8MM contract. However, that deal never became official, as New York pulled its contract offer due to concerns with Schofield’s left knee. As he tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, Schofield – who signed earlier this offseason with the Falcons – continues to use that rescinded offer as motivation as the 2015 season approaches.

East Notes: Brady, Coughlin, Brooks

July 19th, 2015 at 11:01am CST by Rory Parks

We still do not know what will come of the Tom Brady saga, but as we await Roger Goodell‘s final decision on Brady’s suspension, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe provides something of a different perspective on the story. Although it has been widely assumed that Brady would file a lawsuit against the NFL and seek an injunction to stay his suspension unless it is completely wiped out, that decision could be harder than it appears.

After all, although a lawsuit carries little legal risk for Brady–he would not have to share any evidence like text messages or emails, and any sworn statements he makes would likely replicate what he has already said–the on-field ramifications could be a different matter. On the one hand, a lawsuit could delay the process so long that Brady ends up playing the entire 2015 season, but he could also lose in court and be forced to serve the suspension later in the 2015 campaign when the Patriots are fighting for playoff positioning. A loss, of course, would also lend a great deal of validation to Brady’s critics and would cast a pall over his career. Plus, even if he were able to get the suspension lifted, the NFL could appeal and potentially have the suspension restored later in the season.

Brady will have a lot to mull over when Goodell finally hands down his decision, and out of everyone who Brady may consult as he decides how to proceed, it is difficult to find a truly impartial adviser. As Volin writes, “Realistically, only one person can truly decide what’s best for Tom Brady — the man himself. Hopefully, he understands that.”

Now let’s take a look at some more links from the team’s east divisions:

Extra Points: JPP, Kromer, Jets

July 14th, 2015 at 9:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL hasn’t had a developmental league since NFL Europa ended in 2007, but that could all change soon. Former Giants coach Jim Fassel told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter), “Don’t be surprised if there was a very good spring league opening next year in the NFL,” Fassel said. Plenty of “minor league” football organizations have come and gone over the years, but it stands to reason that a domestic NFL developmental league could find a way to support itself. Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has been discharged from the South Florida hospital where he had his right index finger amputated, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes. There has still been no formal contact between Pierre-Paul and the Giants regarding the next steps in his rehab, but the team hopes to communicate with him as soon as possible about what he and they can expect. JPP has yet to sign his $14.813MM franchise player tender, but the Giants have no plan to rescind it.
  • The AFC East staff writers at ESPN.com all weighed in on who they think is the No. 1 rising star in the division. James Walker cast his vote for Jets rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The USC star was the best player available at No. 6 and even though the Jets didn’t need another stud defensive lineman they pounced anyway. Things are a bit crowded on the line, but Walker believes that new Jets head coach Todd Bowles is a smart enough defensive mind to find ways to get Williams on the field.
  • The Walton County Sheriff’s office says it’s now also pursuing charges against Zachary Kromer, the son of Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Zachary Kromer allegedly put his hands around the throat of one of the friends of the boy who claimed to be assaulted by Aaron Kromer.

Franchise Tag Updates: Houston, WRs, JPP

July 13th, 2015 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Of the five recipients of franchise tags around the NFL this year, only Stephen Gostkowski immediately signed his one-year tender. He’ll have until Wednesday to negotiate a longer-term deal with the Patriots, but the focus this week is on the other four franchised players, who are still technically free agents, albeit not unrestricted ones. With the July 15 deadline for a multiyear contract looming, let’s check in on those four stars….

  • Negotiations between Justin Houston and the Chiefs are expected to resume on Tuesday, one day before the deadline, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio suggests that guaranteed money will be the major factor in those talks, with Houston likely seeking a sizable signing bonus.
  • Houston may have the best chance of the four unsigned franchise players to actually land a long-term extension this week, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Per La Canfora, the two sides have made “significant progress” since they first started negotiating, and Kansas City would like to avoid having to franchise the star pass rusher two years in a row. La Canfora expects it to cost at least $15MM per year for the Chiefs to get something done.
  • Within the same piece, La Canfora addresses Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, noting that the two wideouts are stuck in similar situations. Although a deal for either player could be reached if one decides to settle for something in the range of $13-14MM annually, the Cowboys and Broncos are both in a good position to wait until after the season to get something done, if need be. We passed along more extensive updates on both Bryant and Thomas earlier today.
  • The fourth unsigned franchise player, Jason Pierre-Paul, has virtually no chance of getting a multiyear contract this week, as we’ve heard repeatedly since his July 4th fireworks accident. However, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com suggests that if JPP is able to contribute to the Giants this season and land a decent contract elsewhere in 2016, he could eventually net New York a draft pick.

Jason Pierre-Paul Notes: Sunday

July 12th, 2015 at 9:48am CST by Luke Adams

It has now been more than a week since Jason Pierre-Paul‘s Fourth of July fireworks accident, which ultimately cost him a finger on his right hand, and there’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the defensive end’s recovery and his contract. Here are the latest items on JPP:

  • There’s “no chance” Pierre-Paul will sign a long-term deal by Wednesday’s deadline, but there are still plenty of ways for his contract situation to play out. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News examines five possibilities, suggesting that the most likely scenario will see JPP negotiating new terms to his franchise tender.
  • With the help of sports medicine analyst Mike Ryan, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why the multiple fractures in Pierre-Paul’s right thumb figure to wreak the most havoc during his recovery and rehab.
  • A prosthetic finger to replace the one he lost won’t be an option for JPP, according to Zach Braziller and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. Such a procedure would only make sense aesthetically, since a prosthetic wouldn’t be functional for playing football.
  • Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News criticizes Pierre-Paul’s decision not to bring the Giants into the loop on his health status. While Lupica might be right when he says that the lack of communication could create some ill will between the two sides, I certainly understand JPP’s perspective — the Giants appear to have no intent of withdrawing the franchise tag, even as they remain in the dark on the details of the 26-year-old’s injury.

Extra Points: Pierre-Paul, Wilson, Los Angeles

July 11th, 2015 at 12:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott knows a thing or two about losing a finger. That’s why it was notable when the 49ers legend said Giants defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul would be fine after having a figure amputated earlier this week:

“He’ll be able to play with it and he’ll learn how to deal with it,” Lott said during an appearance on the “The Rich Eisen Show” (via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News). “But the moment of not seeing it, the moment of looking at your hand and looking down and realizing you have that phantom (finger), where you use your finger but you don’t see it, there’s a lot of things emotionally that he’ll have to deal with. He’ll have to learn how to understand that it’s not there and that there are things that will play tricks on his mind.”

Let’s take a look at some more assorted notes from around the NFL…

  • If the Giants agree to pay Pierre-Paul, even if he lands on the non-football injury list, the defensive end will be with the team prior to Week One, reports Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
  • Former Raiders draft pick Tyler Wilson is giving it one last shot at making an NFL roster. A fourth-round selection in the 2013 draft, the quarterback has yet to make an NFL appearance. “At this point, I’ll give this thing until August,” Wilson told Leland Barclay of the Times Record. “If I’ve with a team, I’ll continue to play and work into camp. I’m ready to go another direction. There’s life after football.”
  • The decision by the Rose Bowl to not put their name in the hat as a temporary Los Angeles home leaves the NFL with few options, writes Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com. These options include the Coliseum (although they only want to host one team, not two), the Dodgers and Angels baseball stadiums, and the 27,000-seat StubHub Center. Despite the low number of seats at that latter suggestion, Gantt believes the NFL would still consider the venue.

JPP Won’t Sign Franchise Tender Until Healthy

July 10th, 2015 at 9:07am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of Jason Pierre-Paul‘s fireworks accident, the Giants had been expected to place their standout defensive end on the non-football injury list until he gets healthy. However, the team can’t make that move until JPP is under contract, and that isn’t the case for now. According to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Pierre-Paul doesn’t intend to sign his franchise tender until he’s confident that he can pass a physical, which would prevent the team from placing him on the NFI list.

The move isn’t a surprising one, since it gives Pierre-Paul and his camp some control over the process, rather than handing the reins over to the Giants. In his examination of the situation yesterday, Jason Fitzgerald of The Sporting News observed that JPP would likely hold out until the last possible moment. After all, if he were to sign his franchise tender tomorrow, the Giants would be able to place him on the non-football injury list for the start of the season, ensuring he’d miss at least six weeks and wouldn’t be paid during his absence.

On the other hand, if he waits until after the regular season gets underway to sign the tender, JPP will miss out on game checks, but he’d have the opportunity to return prior to that six-week mark. Franchised players have until after Week 10 to sign their tenders — if they haven’t signed by then, they’re not eligible to play in the NFL for that season.

Of course, this game of tug-of-war between Pierre-Paul and the Giants depends significantly on what the 26-year-old’s recovery timetable will look like. If it turns out he’ll have a chance to be ready by the time the regular season begins, New York may not even need or want to place him on the NFI list. On the other hand, if his recovery extends well into the regular season, the Giants could ultimately decide to rescind the franchise tender, recognizing that JPP won’t contribute much this year and likely won’t be re-signed.

In other words, we’re still in wait-and-see mode when it comes to Pierre-Paul’s health and his contract. However, both sides have certain cards they can play to gain leverage in the situation. As Fitzgerald noted in his piece linked above, a prolonged holdout could fracture the relationship between JPP and the Giants, but for now it seems like the best possible approach for the defensive end.

Giants Will Keep JPP Despite Amputated Finger

July 9th, 2015 at 6:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants fully intend to have Jason Pierre-Paul on their roster for the 2015 season, a person with knowledge of the situation told Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. Pierre-Paul currently has a one-year, $14.8MM offer on the table as the Giants’ franchise player and the report seems to infer that the team will honor that offer.

Barring some unforeseen medical issues moving forward, the Giants are still committed to their 2010 first-round pick. However, one NFL executive that spoke with Raanan believes that the Giants are making a mistake.

“Send a message. Save the money,” the exec said of what he would do in this situation. “But it’s a typical case of long-term interest of team versus short-term interest of [general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin], who need to win games now.”

One salary cap expert echoed that sentiment, saying that he would pull the franchise tag from JPP and either replace him with someone else or use that cash to re-sign core players. Giants quarterback Eli Manning and cornerback Prince Amukamara are both entering their walk years and stand as extension candidates, particularly Manning.

Will the Giants rescind Pierre-Paul’s franchise tender? Joel Corry of CBSSports.com sees that as a very unlikely outcome if the defensive end is able to play most of the season. There is some precedent as franchise tenders have been revoked on three occasions, but JPP is the team’s only impact defensive player and they can’t really afford to be without him. If JPP’s tender is pulled off the table and he is deemed to be healthy, he could sign a lucrative deal elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent.

Jason Pierre-Paul Updates: Thursday

July 9th, 2015 at 3:10pm CST by Luke Adams

After initial reports suggested that Jason Pierre-Paul‘s injury wasn’t serious, word broke last night that the standout pass rusher was having his right index finger amputated. The shocking development not only complicates JPP’s expected recovery and his contract situation, but has also resulted in speculation about how confidential medical information was leaked – possibly violating HIPAA laws – to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who then published that info on Twitter.

Here are Thursday’s updates on JPP’s situation:

  • It’s not clear why Pierre-Paul’s camp has kept the Giants in the dark about his health status, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Vacchiano hears from a team source that the club never discussed the possibility of withdrawing JPP’s franchise tag, and simply wanted to assist with his recovery. “We really don’t understand why they won’t let us help him,” one club source said. “What are they trying to do?”
  • Referring to Pierre-Paul’s decision to have his finger amputated, a person close to the defensive end tells Jordan Raanan of NJ.com that “it has nothing to do against the Giants.” As that source points out, JPP isn’t under contract with the team at this point, since he hasn’t signed his franchise tender. Still, it appears likely that the 26-year-old will rejoin the Giants at some point, and Raanan wonder how the relationship between the player and team will be affected going forward.
  • In a separate piece at NJ.com, Raanan passes along word that Jackson Memorial Hospital has begun an “aggressive” investigation into the release of Pierre-Paul’s medical chart. “If we confirm Jackson employees or physicians violated a patient’s legal right to privacy, they will be held accountable, up to and including possible termination,” said Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System. “We do not tolerate violations of this kind.”
  • As Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) points out, the Giants will want Pierre-Paul to attend the team’s training camp to monitor his recovery progress, whereas JPP likely won’t want to sign his tender and report to camp until he’s fully healthy. According to Cole, if New York wants to get its top pass rusher to camp, the club may have to agree not to place him on the non-football injury list.

Pierre-Paul To Have Right Finger Amputated  

July 8th, 2015 at 9:46pm CST by Zachary Links

9:46pm: In addition to his amputation/skin graft, JPP had surgery to repair a broken right thumb, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. Echoing earlier reports, Cole also hears that JPP had the finger amputated in order to facilitate a quicker return to football.

“He was told that he could repair the finger, but it was probably going to take multiple procedures and even after all of that the finger was probably going to be disfigured and not very functional, if at all,” a source said. “Look, it’s not easy to say, ‘OK, cut it off.’ But for what he’s trying to do, play football, it makes sense.”

Two doctors also told Cole that losing the finger won’t keep him from playing effectively. However, one doctor said that extensive damage to the thumb would be even more problematic. Pierre-Paul might be able to begin exercising with the hand in as little as two weeks, although three or four may be more likely, Cole hears.

7:24pm: The current belief is that Pierre-Paul won’t require any further amputations, Garafolo tweets.

6:48pm: Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter) hears that there were a few options discussed to attempt to save JPP’s finger. However, amputation was deemed to have the fewest complications. A lawsuit is indeed possible for the leaking of the medical records, Mike Florio of PFT tweets.

The Giants were unaware of the amputation until reading Schefter’s report, according to Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. As of this writing, JPP is still in surgery.

6:45pm: Jason Pierre-Paul had his right finger amputated today, according to documents obtained by ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Still, JPP is expected to play this season and a medical source tells Schefter that he’ll be back on the field “sooner than people think.”

The thinking behind JPP’s decision is that cutting off his finger simplifies and accelerates his recovery, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Now, the defensive end could be back in fewer than two months. The situation is reminiscent of famed NFL safety Ronnie Lott, who had his finger amputated in order to prevent missing time in action. Rapoport (link) believes says that JPP was refusing to see people, including Giants officials, because he was having critical surgeries done on his hand.

Pierre-Paul had a strong 2014 campaign with 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles and was the league’s seventh-best 4-3 defensive end according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). Since the end of the season, JPP has been entangled in a contract dispute with the Giants. The Giants slapped the defensive end with a one-year, $14.813MM franchise tender to keep him, but Pierre-Paul has been fighting for a lucrative long-term deal. Big Blue came to the table with a reported ~$60MM offer, but Pierre-Paul turned it down.

In addition to turning away Giants staff members who tried to visit him in the hospital the past few days, the injured defensive end also refused the team’s offer to set him up with hand specialists in Manhattan, sources told Garafolo. Today’s new information might shed some light on JPP’s decision.

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