Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants at odds over DE’s readiness to play

Jason Pierre-Paul plans to meet with the New York Giants and take a physical on Monday, according to a report by the NFL Network.

The Giants might prefer to slide Pierre-Paul to the Non Football Injury List (NFI), which affords the team the ability to withhold pay for the first six games before the player is eligible to return.

Pierre-Paul’s side reportedly believes he is ready to play right now, but he has been away from the team since the 2014 season ended, save for a handful of phone conversations with coaches and teammates.

Pierre-Paul has not signed the franchise tag offer, which is a one-year deal worth $14.8 million. “He’s a guy that would add to our team, provided that he’s healthy and can play to the level that he has played at”.

Pierre-Paul was described to be in good spirits and eager to resume playing but no timetable had been established for his return.

Pierre-Paul has not practiced in the new defensive system, and team doctors will be getting their first look at his hand. Given the bulk of injuries that the Giants have suffered in their secondary this preseason, they will need all the pressure they can get from their front seven. “Again, that’s what he is”.

Before the fireworks accident, Pierre-Paul was in a hold out looking for a new contract which obviously hasn’t come since this situation started.

Graziano wrote that “the team will examine his hand and make a determination about when he might be available to play”. Flexibility and range-of-motion are improving.

Detroit Lions Pro Bowl linebacker DeAndre Levy did not participate during the portion of practice open to reporters, and coach Jim Caldwell said it’s not certain if he’ll play in Sunday’s season opener at San Diego….

“Probably not going to happen in the near future”, a source involved in the discussions between the player and the team said in a text.