Update, 9:30 p.m.: Well into Sunday night, reports were still mixed as to the severity of Pierre-Paul’s injury. It remains to be seen what effect, if any, this incident has on his contract talks with the Giants.
Can confirm #giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul was injured last night in fireworks accident. Extent of injury unknown.
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) July 5, 2015
Jason Pierre-Paul expected to meet with doctors, they will have their say, but early indications are, hand injury is not career threatening.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 5, 2015
Andy Slater of WINZ in Miami reported Sunday, via Twitter, that Pierre-Paul had “severely injured [his] hand in [a] fireworks accident.” People identifying themselves as neighbors on Saturday, had posted tweets, some of which were subsequently deleted, that they were setting off a huge amount of fireworks that the former University of South Florida had brought in a van.
Pierre-Paul posted video to his Instagram account Saturday, showing him standing next to a U-Haul van with a child in his arms, saying, “Talk about fireworks on the ground … tell ’em how you goin’ HAM.”
TMZ reported Sunday, citing “sources familiar with the situation,” that Pierre-Paul had “suffered bad injuries to some of his fingers and his thumb.”
So this Jason Pierre-Paul thing sounds pretty bad. pic.twitter.com/EVKrqPgzLU
— green man (@real_green_man) July 5, 2015
The Giants had offered Pierre-Paul had a one-year tender worth $14.8 million, but he had yet to sign it, hoping for a longer-term deal. The team may choose to rescind the offer, making the two-time Pro Bowler, who had 12.5 sacks last season, an unrestricted free agent.
(H/T Deadspin)