Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/ New York Post
Sometimes athletes do really dumb things during the offseason. This couldn’t be more true than the case of New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul was franchise tagged by the team and set to make over $14 million for the 2014-15 season with the possibility of the two sides working out a long term deal. Everything seemed to be going well for him, until July 4th.
News broke pretty quickly that day on social media that Pierre-Paul was involved in some accident involving fireworks and could possibly be missing his entire hand. The official story came out hours later after Pierre-Paul underwent surgery.
While at his home in South Florida, the former Pro Bowl defensive end was setting off fireworks for family and neighbors. Unfortunately something went terribly wrong and he needed to be taken to the hospital. After multiple surgeries, Pierre-Paul refused to even speak with Giants officials who had flown down to Florida to check on him. He remained under the radar as his injury healed and had no contact with the team.
It was not until the end of October that the finally spoke about the accident that left him without his right index finger and severely damaged right thumb and middle finger. “Things happen, mistakes happen, incidents happen,” he said. Pierre-Paul remained active on social media, posting videos showing him lifting weights and staying in football shape.
Pierre-Paul did eventually return to New Jersey to meet with the team and finally let them get a look at the injury. The team decided to still place the franchise tag on him, at a much lower price as he did not make his season debut until November. He was forced to play with an “oven mitt” and appears a little rusty, but that team needed his presence back in the worst way. He may be without a sack thus far, but he looks like he is getting more comfortable as weeks go on.
