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New York Giants: Impact of Jason Pierre-Paul’s injury

By Ryan Disdier

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Numerous reporters and outlets on Sunday, including Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk, reported New York Giants All-Pro defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul suffered a hand injury in a fireworks accident over the 4th of July weekend.

While it’s still unclear exactly what Pierre-Paul’s injuries are, the Giants can ill-afford to have their premiere pass-rusher miss time.

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Pierre-Paul skipped the team’s mandatory minicamp, which would indicate he’s not pleased with being assigned the franchise tag. He has yet to sign the tender.

It’s entirely possible the injury Pierre-Paul sustained was minor, and he’ll miss no time. If that’s the case, then all that will come out of this strange incident is JPP once again showcasing his immaturity.

Pierre-Paul has yet to be nominated team captain by his teammates, and his inability to be a strong leader is certainly one of those reasons. His neighbors claimed they were lighting fireworks with him, and that he was transporting those fireworks in a rented truck.

This peculiar incident could only result in a loss of trust from his coaches and teammates.

Obviously, that’s best-case scenario, as there’s a legitimate chance Pierre-Paul suffered serious injuries. If that’s the case, then the proverbial waters get a lot more murky.

TMZ Sports reported Pierre-Paul suffered ‘bad injuries to some of his fingers and his thumb,’ while an unconfirmed rumor said amputation might be an option.

The most noteworthy thing that could come from this situation is the fact that JPP has yet to sign his franchise tender.

The tag Pierre-Paul was slapped with earlier in the offseason is worth $14.8 million, and if they feel Pierre-Paul’s injury is significant enough, they have the opportunity to rescind their offer.

JPP’s injury would obviously have to be relatively severe for that to happen, but with unconfirmed rumors speculating he lost fingers in the accident, it’s not an impossible situation.

If the Giants do in fact lost Pierre-Paul, their defense will take an enormous hit.

Say what you will about Pierre-Paul’s consistency, but there’s no denying the fact that he’s the best pass-rusher on the defense. Pierre-Paul recorded 12.5 sacks a year ago, and he’s totaled 42 in five years in the league.

Without Pierre-Paul, New York’s defense would be a whole lot less lethal. Robert Ayers Jr. — who was injured during training camp in a non-firework related incident — and Damontre Moore would likely be the two starting ends, but neither of those players are on the same level as JPP.

The loss of the pass-rushing specialist also affects the secondary. A good, consistent pass rush makes the job of the secondary a lot easier. Considering the Giants less-than-ideal safety position, they need all the help they can get.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has had success with the Giants before, but losing Pierre-Paul could possibly prove to be too much for the blitz-heavy coordinator to overcome.

If Pierre-Paul is indeed gone for the foreseeable future, it’s hard to imagine New York’s defense will be able to easily rebound.

Even if Pierre-Paul is — hopefully — okay, would his poor decision making be enough for the Giants to rescind their offer?

The good news is ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the injuries are likely not career-threatening.

Next: New York Giants: How good can the passing attack be?

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