Jason Pierre-Paul has signed a one-year contract through the end of the season with the New York Giants. The team made the agreement official Tuesday evening. After Pierre-Paul underwent a physical Monday, the Giants deemed him ready to return to practice and negotiations between the two sides resumed.
Jason Pierre-Paul signs 1-year deal with Giants
The Giants finally have their star pass rusher back. Whether he can produce after suffering a severe hand injury remains to be seen.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants are likely targeting a return to the field for Pierre-Paul either in Week 10 against the New England Patriots or two weeks later following their bye. The Giants receive a two-week roster exemption for the defensive end so that he can practice without counting against the 53-man roster limit.
Pierre-Paul expressed excitement for his return in an Instagram post.
General manager Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin also released statements, via the team’s official site:
“We all are excited to see Jason,” said general manager Jerry Reese. “He has worked very hard to get himself back into position to join the team and work toward getting on the playing field on Sundays.”
“It is just good to have Jason back in our building,” said coach Tom Coughlin. “You can feel his energy and his desire to overcome what he has had to endure since July. His spirit is undeniable, and he is anxious to get to work with (defensive line coach) Robert Nunn and Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo), as well as our medical and strength and conditioning people.”
On Wednesday, Coughlin addressed the media about Pierre-Paul and said that it’s possible the team will bring him to be on the sideline for a Week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints so he can be “in the environment of competitiveness.“
“JPP has been working and we’ll see how fast he comes along,” Coughlin said. “We’re all rooting for him. He’s done an outstanding job of preparing himself.”
Pierre-Paul returned to practice Wednesday, but only worked out on the sidelines. On Thursday, he began participating in team drills again:
JPP in action. pic.twitter.com/otMiSXq2MY
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) October 29, 2015 Pierre-Paul majorly damaged his right hand and had to have a finger amputated due to a Fourth of July fireworks accident in the offseason. He did not meet with the Giants until September, the first time the team had examined him. The Giants determined he wasn’t physically ready to play football at that point, but they planned to re-examine him in October.
Pierre-Paul was handed the team’s franchise tag in the offseason, but had refused to sign the $14.8 million offer in hopes of working out a long-term deal. Pierre-Paul reportedly had a long-term, $60 million contract offer on the table in July, but the Giants rescinded it after the accident. Because he did not sign his franchise tender, the Giants couldn’t sign him to more than a one-year deal.
He can still earn $8.7 million on his new, incentive-laden deal, which includes bonuses for playing time and sacks, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. He will earn $1.5 million in guaranteed money and has another $1.5 million on the table for the number of games he’s on the active roster.
Pierre-Paul is still scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016. How he performs over the Giants’ remaining games could determine his long-term future. It’s still unclear if Pierre-Paul’s disfigured hand will affect his play.
Pierre-Paul has 42 careers sacks across five seasons. He had 12.5 sacks in 2014 after combining for 8.5 sacks in 2012 and 2013. He was named to the 2011 and 2012 Pro Bowls.
The Giants’ pass rush has struggled this season. Through seven games they have just nine sacks on the season, the second-lowest number in the NFL. They’re currently in first place in the NFC East at 4-3.
See More:
