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Jason Pierre-Paul signs contract to return to New York Giants

JPP back to work

By Ed Valentine
Jason Pierre-Paul
Jason Pierre-Paul
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Pierre-Paul is back with the New York Giants. The team announced Tuesday night Pierre-Paul had agreed to contract terms and will report to the team. The Giants will get a two-week roster exemption while Pierre-Paul begins to practice and to work with the team's medical staff.

"I'm very excited to be back," Pierre-Paul said in a statement released by the Giants. "I'm getting ready to do what I have to do. I've been training down in South Florida with my trainer. Every day, I got up at 7:30 and lifted weights, I've been doing what I have to do to stay in football shape."

"It is just good to have Jason back in our building," said coach Tom Coughlin. "You can feel his energy and his desire to overcome what he has had to endure since July. His spirit is undeniable, and he is anxious to get to work with (defensive line coach) Robert Nunn and Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo), as well as our medical and strength and conditioning people."

The Pierre-Paul saga began when the Giants placed the franchise tag on Pierre-Paul during the offseason, a value of $14.8 million for defensive ends. Pierre-Paul, of course, did not sign the tag and was unlikely to do so until training camp. The situation became ugly when Pierre-Paul damaged his right hand in a Fourth of July fireworks accident, ending up with his right index finger amputated and sustaining other damage to the hand.

Pierre-Paul chose to shut the Giants out of the treatment and rehabilitation process, neither signing the franchise tag nor allowing the Giants to examine his mangled hand until just prior to the season opener. When that meeting happened the Giants were not convinced Pierre-Paul's hand had healed enough to allow him to play, so they turned him away with the understanding the two sides would meet again in roughly six weeks.

That second meeting began on Monday and the two sides came to an agreement Tuesday.

"We all are excited to see Jason," said general manager Jerry Reese. "He has worked very hard to get himself back into position to join the team and work toward getting on the playing field on Sundays."

Now, the question will be how soon Pierre-Paul will actually be able to suit up and try to help the Giants in their quest to win the NFC East title.

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