The NY Giants and Jason Pierre-Paul are not close on a long term contract heading into the Wednesday deadline for franchise tag players and it comes after JPP injured his thumb and had a finger amputated following a fireworks accident over July 4 weekend and that puts his future in New York in question, as he may want a guaranteed deal before signing his one-year tender.
Pierre-Paul was hit with the franchise tag this offseason and that means the Giants and JPP have until Wednesday to reach a deal on a long term contract. Even before JPP injured his hand in a fireworks accident it did not look like the two sides would agree to a deal. Now that Pierre-Paul has nine fingers and is healing in the hospital for various injuries, it's almost a guarantee that a long term deal will not get done. JPP has the chance to sign the one-year tender for the Giants and that will pay him just under $15 million this season.
According to NJ.com, the Giants have "no plans" to move on from JPP, as some reports had the Giants considering pulling back the franchise tag tender. That would make JPP a free agent and that is not what the Giants want to do at this time. PFT reports that former Jaguars head athletic trainer Mike Ryan said that Pierre-Paul likely will be able to get back on the field once his thumb heals and that his amputated finger should not be a main issue. It looks like the thumb is the most serious injury even more than the finger, as Ed Werder of ESPN reports that Pierre-Paul suffered "numerous" fractures in his thumb.
The one year deal is looking like the most likely route for the two sides, as the Giants are still not even sure when Pierre-Paul will be able to return to the field. According to Pro Football Talk, Pierre-Paul wants his one year salary to be guaranteed be the Giants and he reportedly "will not sign his tender" if the deal is not guaranteed. If Pierre-Paul signs his tender, he can be placed on the non-football injury list, he can be out for the first six games and the Giants don't have to pay him, but JPP is not inclined to do that yet.
According to Florio, Pierre-Paul will miss out on $870,000 per game if he is placed on the non-football injury list and that could be the route the Giants try and go. JPP and the Giants are in a bit of a dance right now, as Florio writes that the team wants Pierre-Paul back as soon as possible, but he likely will not do that unless he has a guaranteed contract. The Giants may now have to decide whether to have back JPP under those circumstances or they can try and push things if they feel that he won't be back in time for the start of the season. JPP bounce back from two bad seasons and had 12.5 sacks last year and now a long term deal is looking unlikely.
Check here for more on the Giants and the issues with Jason Pierre-Paul, his long term contract options, the franchise tag and the amputated finger for JPP.