John Mara Comments on Jason Pierre-Paul

John Mara comments on Jason Pierre-Paul – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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In an interview with The New York Post on Tuesday, New York Giants President and CEO John Mara spoke about Jason Pierre-Paul for the first time since the defensive end severely injured his right hand and arm in a July 4th fireworks accident. There is still no concrete information on the true extent of Pierre-Paul’s injuries which are believed to include a right index finger amputation (including knuckle), fractured right thumb (requiring pins), skin grafts to his lower right arm, and possibly additional finger and hand fractures.

“I think I may have used some language that I wouldn’t like my grandchildren to hear me use,’’ Mara said of his reaction to hearing the news about the accident. “I could not believe, that here we haven’t even gone to training camp yet and we’ve lost two starters — (offensive tackle Will Beatty) in the weight room and one to a fireworks accident. So it was more of a state of disbelief that I was in. I’ve been around a long time, seen a lot of things…but this one was a shock.”

Mara told The Post that he has “no idea” when Pierre-Paul will report to training camp. Players under contract are required to report to camp on Thursday, but Pierre-Paul has yet to sign his 1-year Franchise tender.

Pierre-Paul and his representatives did not allow team officials to visit with Pierre-Paul immediately after the accident when Pierre-Paul was in the hospital. And the Giants remain in the dark about his true condition.

“I don’t think JPP is receiving very good advice right now,’’ said Mara. “The fact that (team officials) went down (to the hospital in Miami) and hung around for two days and were not allowed to see him was very disappointing to me…He has told people that he’s fine and he’s going to be ready to play, but until we see the hand, we’re just not sure.”

“He texted me back right away (when I texted him after the accident), said he was going to be fine, that it’s just a little bump in the road and that he’ll be back as good as ever,’’ Mara said. “I know (General Manager) Jerry (Reese) has texted him and I know he’s had some communication with Robert Nunn, his defensive line coach, and I think (Senior Vice President of Medical Services) Ronnie (Barnes) spoke to him recently.”

The deadline for Pierre-Paul to sign a long-term deal with the team this year has passed. He still has a 1-year, $14.813 million tender offer on the table from the Giants.

“We obviously are going to have to see him first and determine whether or not he’s capable of playing this year before we take one step further,’’ said Mara. “We’d like him to come in and report, and at the very least, learn the new defense that Steve Spagnuolo is putting in. And to have some of the best doctors in the world, who are located within a few miles of this place, take a look at him and see if there’s anything further that can be done to help him.”