Report: Jason Pierre-Paul Won’t Sign Tender Until Healthy

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Report – Jason Pierre-Paul Won’t Sign Tender Until Healthy: According to ESPN, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul will not sign his 1-year, $14.813 million Franchise tender until he is confidant that he can pass the team’s physical. Pierre-Paul suffered serious injuries to his right hand in a July 4th fireworks accident at his South Florida home on Saturday.

Source says JPP won't sign franchise tender until confident he can pass physical to prevent #Giants from putting on NFI, having full control

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) July 10, 2015

There are multiple problems for the Giants and Pierre-Paul given that scenario. Pierre-Paul is not likely to be able to pass a physical for weeks and perhaps months given the severe nature of the injuries (finger amputation, broken thumb and possible other broken bones, third-degree burns requiring skin grafts). Team officials, including medical experts, can be barred from seeing Pierre-Paul until he signs. The Giants will not be able to check on his overall mental state after the traumatic events.

Until signed, Pierre-Paul will not be able to attend team meetings in training camp to learn new Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Back in mid-June, Defensive Line Coach Robert Nunn was asked how difficult it would be for Pierre-Paul to catch up on the new defense since he did not attend any of the spring practices. “Yeah, there are wrinkles that you have got to be here to pick up and he has got to take it from the classroom to the field, but those things, we will begin in training camp and we will make it work,” said Nunn at the time.

So why would Pierre-Paul not sign the tender?

One reason could be that once Pierre-Paul signs the tender, if he can’t pass a team physical, the Giants could place him on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) List and not pay him. If Pierre-Paul is still not ready to play by the opener, he must remain on the NFI for the first six weeks of the season (and the Giants could choose not to pay his prorated salary of  almost $926,000 per week). Pierre-Paul’s camp may think there is a good chance that Pierre-Paul might be ready to pass a team physical after Week 1 and before Week 7 and therefore not lose a few weeks of substantial paychecks.

The problem for the Giants in that scenario is what type of player would they be paying for? Pierre-Paul is permanently-damaged goods. Even if he was eventually capable of playing a high level (unknown), he will not be in football shape and will not know the new defense. The Giants may be paying almost $1 million per game for a player who isn’t worth it.

In summary, the situation is a complete mess for all involved.

Articles on DE Jason Pierre-Paul:

• Agent’s Take: Answers relating to Pierre-Paul’s contract, future by Joel Corry of CBSSports.com
• Giants hold all the leverage in dealing with Jason Pierre-Paul by Jason Fitzgerald of SportingNews.com
• The biggest unknown JPP will face on his comeback trail by Zach Braziller of The New York Post
• Jason Pierre-Paul continues to make poor decisions and Giants should cut ties with him by Gary Myers of The New York Daily News