Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul reported to the team facility on Monday for the second time in the last two months, and the first time since the regular season began. Depending on the outcome of his all-important physical exam, a contract agreement between the two sides looms as a possibility. Here’s the latest on JPP and the Giants:
- A Giants source believes that JPP could be ready right after the team’s bye week, which would mean a Week 12 comeback against Washington, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. There was some thought that JPP could be ready for the Patriots on November 15th, but the source said that a post-bye week return was more realistic.
Earlier updates:
- There are still details to work out, but the Giants and Pierre-Paul are working through contract negotiations with the hopes of getting something done today, says Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. If that happens, the hope inside the building is that JPP can get back in shape in time to debut in Week 10 against the Patriots.
- The Giants are comfortable with where Pierre-Paul is physically, and have entered contract negotiations, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). If the two sides can work out the terms of that contract and reach an incentive-laden, one-year deal, the Giants will sign JPP as soon as today, and get a roster exemption for him to return to practice, according to Rapoport.
- According to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter links), the physical exam went “way better” this time than it did back in September, when Pierre-Paul was fresh out of surgery. Raanan is hearing that there’s more optimism now that JPP may be able to play this season.
- The Giants and Pierre-Paul’s representatives have talked about working out a one-year, incentive-laden deal, which would lock up JPP through the end of the 2015 campaign, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (Twitter links). While there’s no guarantee such an agreement gets done, the two sides are hopeful. According to Graziano, the club’s goal would be to get JPP into the building to rehab and practice, getting him ready to perhaps return to the field by Week 10 or 12.