The New York Giants and Jason Pierre-Paul could be close to getting a contract signed, which would end the standoff between JPP and the team following his fireworks accident and hand injury. Fantasy football owners should check the waiver wire, as Orleans Darkwa could be a sleeper free agent option for the G-Men moving into Week 8 after playing well on Sunday.
The Giants have been waiting for JPP to come back and get checked out by their medical staff and a meeting was reportedly supposed to go down last week, but did not happen. Pro Football Talk reports that Pierre-Paul has met with the team, including coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese about the situation. Dan Graziano at ESPN reported on Tuesday that there is "optimism" that a deal can get done this week to bring Pierre-Paul back in the fold.
Graziano writes that the sides are talking about a "1-yr, incentive-heavy deal" and while there is "no guarantee" a deal is completed, there is "optimism" about the situation. Pierre-Paul likely will still need to rehab more before he can get back onto the field and even if a deal gets done, there is no guarantee that Pierre-Paul will be healthy enough to play. JPP has been recovering since early July when he injured his hand in a fireworks accident.
The Giants are coming into the game against the Saints next week after winning against the Cowboys and Orleans Darkwa played a role in the victory. Darkwa had eight rushes for 48 yards and he out snapped Rashad Jennings in the game and that could make Darkwa a fantasy football sleeper moving forward. The Giants like how Darkwa runs the ball and after having some success against Dallas, expect him to steal some carries from Andre Williams, Jennings and Shane Vereen.
The Giants have a bye week coming up in Week 11 after playing the Saints and the Buccaneers on the road and the Patriots at home and that could give Pierre-Paul enough time to recover and get back onto the field. The Giants would love to have Pierre-Paul back, as the team is now 4-3 and leading the slumping NFC East division. The Cowboys are banged up, the Eagles are 3-4 and the Redskins are a bit inconsistent and that gives the Giants an opening in the division if they can keep things going in the right direction.
Graziano writes that courses said that "possibly playing by Week 10 or Week 12" is a possibility for JPP if the Giants and the defensive end can get a deal done. Graziano reports that Pierre-Paul was examined by team doctors on Monday and that after meeting with Coughlin, Reese and defensive line coach Robert Nunn, Pierre-Paul was told the team wants "him back."
The Giants and JPP met seven weeks ago for an initial look at Pierre-Paul's injury and the team wanted him back for another exam to see how much progress has been made. That meeting happened this week and now the main sticking point is getting a deal done and the compensation for Pierre-Paul. The Giants likely want to protect themselves and that could be with a deal that has incentives to meet.
