The New York Giants withdrew a reported $60 million contract they offered Jason Pierre-Paul after the star defensive end severely injured his hand during a fireworks accident on Independence Day in 2015. JPP agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with Big Blue to prove himself; now he feels he’s done that and is ready for a major contract.
“I’m not playing on no one-year deal,” Pierre-Paul said Monday, one day after the Giants’ season-ending loss to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. “I’ve proved it. I’ve showed it. There is not really another guy like me out here doing it with 7½ fingers still.”
Pierre-Paul had seven sacks in 12 games before undergoing a season-ending sports hernia surgery. Had the Giants made it through the Wild Card round, JPP says he would’ve returned for the Divisional Round.
“I definitely would have been out there this week,” he said. “No if ands or buts about it.”
Prior to the core-muscle injury, Pierre-Paul was performing quite well, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors while drawing consideration for the Comeback Player of the Year award. He will be a free agent this offseason.
“My future is bright,” he said. “[I] Just turned 28 years old.”
The Giants infamously picked up a $200 million defense this past offseason, signing defensive end Olivier Vernon (five year, $85 million, $52.5 million guaranteed), cornerback Janoris Jenkins (five years, $62.5 million, $28.8 million guaranteed) and defensive tackle Damon Harrison (five years, $46 million, $24 million guaranteed).
Along with Pierre-Paul, defensive tackle Johnathan Hanskins and linebackers Kelvin Sheppard and Keenan Robinson are all set to become free agents, leaving the Giants with several decisions to make.
