New York Giants

Photos surfaced today of Jason Pierre-Paul’s right hand. We now all know what the New York Giants have known since he reported last week.

By Robby Sabo

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of Jason Pierre-Paul’s stock coming tumbling down.

If anybody believes the New York Giants defensive end will suit up in 2015 after recent photos surfaced of his right hand, they could be aggressively described as the most optimistic people int he history of mankind.

As per Bernie Augustine of the New York Daily News, these photos were published today:

To say the photo made a splash around the NFL today would be a very accurate statement.

Not only is his index finger completely gone, but the tip of his middle finger (already reported) is missing as well as what looks to be part of his thumb. (Although it’s unclear whether that’s just the angle of the photo making it appear as such.)

This is a catastrophic problem for not just the Giants, but Pierre-Paul as well.

Pass rushers need their hands. Oftentimes the hands are where explosiveness comes from along the edge. The point of the edge rusher is to couple his speed and quickness along with those hands to create moves offensive tackles cannot guard against. A defender’s hands is how they setup different moves. Without them the pass rusher becomes a one-trick pony.

The photo comes just one day after Pierre-Paul posted a video of him working out on his personal Instagram account:

After more than two months of hiding, it seems JPP is now back in the spotlight.

The Giants and JPP haven’t yet officially come together in getting him on the field, however. New York still has the $14.813 million franchise tag offer on the table. But JPP still hasn’t signed on the dotted line.

For each game that goes by without JPP taking part in, he loses $871,000.

There’s at least one guy who thinks JPP can still play in teammate Robert Ayers.

“Actually, I don’t need to see it to know he can play with it,” Ayers said. “You know, I think you can play with no fingers at all in my personal opinion. You’ve seen guys play with big casts on their hands, literally, so it’s proven.

“Is it a bonus (to have all your fingers)? Yes it is. But is it impossible to play with no hands?

“So the picture that you guys choose to paint is far from reality just because you guys have a job to do,” Ayers continued. “But I think the heart that he has is what’s going to get him to be able to fight through this. Physically it’s just one thing, but it’s his heart and determination that’ going to get him by.”

Hogwash.

The days of Jason Pierre-Paul prancing around the football field a bonafide stud on a defensive unit are long gone. And it’s not only due to missing fingers.

There were already question marks about JPP’s heart. His breakout season of 2011 in which he compiled 16.5 sacks and was named first-team All-Pro hasn’t been duplicated since. 2014 was solid (12.5 sacks), but he truly wasn’t dominating.

Couple his strange lack of desire at times with this injury and Jerry Reese has a disaster on his hands (no pun intended).

Farewell superstar JPP, we hardly knew you.

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Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. Washed up strong safety and 400M runner. SEO: XL Media. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). SEO: XL Media. Email: robby.sabo[at]jetsxfactor.com