Jason Pierre-Paul nowhere close to return six weeks after surgery: Report

It has been six weeks since Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul blew up his hand and had his right index finger amputated after a fireworks accident on July 4th.

And now, a month-and-a-half later, there is nothing to indicate that JPP is anywhere close to a return or if he is even training or rehabbing. 

There has been nothing but silence from his reps about his injuries, his healing, his plans or his training. And besides spotting a bandaged Pierre-Paul in South Florida several weeks ago, he hasn't spoken or been seen otherwise. 

According to the Giants, they still don't have any idea when he's going to return, or even if he realistically can. 

  

"Until we see him, we can't make that determination," co-owner John Mara said on WFAN earlier this week. "We've been led to believe all along by his people that he'll be able to play. But again, we'd like to have our doctors take a look at him."

Six weeks was reportedly an important milestone in Pierre-Paul's return. At six weeks the fractures in Pierre-Paul's right hand and thumb were supposed to be healed. Doctors said those parts needed the longest to heal. More so than the amputation, they were the primary complications to his return to the field.

Word was that Pierre-Paul would be returning "sooner than most people think," a person close to the Pro Bowl defensive end claimed at the time of the surgery. The player and his representatives seemed to think Week 1 was a realistic possibility.

But why haven't all of the details of the injuries been revealed by JPP's camp. There was believed to be serious damage to his hand and finger, burns and charred skin. Can't they give more specifics about some of the injuries? Was there a skin graft? And why wouldn't he let the Giants' doctors inspect them? 

It all piles up to one big question: With the Week 1 regular season opener only 25 days away, how can anyone know if Pierre-Paul could possibly return to play in an NFL game within months of such a serious injury?

Pierre-Paul has kept in touch with some teammates. He's communicated with some coaches and had conversations with general manager Jerry Reese and an annoyed Tom Coughlin.

But, as Mara has said on multiple occasions, the Giants still can't be sure how many fingers he even actually has right now.

So with the all important six weeks post-surgery timeline passing, it appears even more likely Pierre-Paul won't be suiting up.

Heavily-bandaged Jason-Pierre Paul seen for first time following fireworks accident (PHOTOS)

A day after Giants owner John Mara said that he didn't know the extent of Pierre-Paul's injuries, the New York Daily News has obtained exclusive photos of the injured defensive end and his bandaged hand — and it doesn't look good.

JPP was spotted with his arm in a sling supporting a heavily-bandaged right hand and forearm —making his hand look like a club.

This was the first public sighting of Pierre-Paul since he nearly blew off his hand in a Fourth of July fireworks incident gone wrong. He was dressed in a white shirt, black shorts and sandals as his classic car was loaded onto a flatbed truck in south Florida.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: First look at Jason Pierre-Paul after fireworks incident. http://t.co/GDZFp6XjKU pic.twitter.com/QqtccAqpEv

— NY Daily News Sports (@NYDNSports) July 31, 2015

After the horrific accident, Pierre-Paul spent 10 days in a Florida hospital, where he had his right index finger amputated. Pierre-Paul’s refusal to respond to the Giants organization's inquiries into his condition and offers of medical assistance lead to all kinds of conclusions.

"We don't even know how extensive the damage is, that's the problem," said Mara on Thursday. "I don't even know how many fingers he has."

And from looking at the photos, I'm guessing they still don't know.

Giants owner John Mara: 'I wanted to fire everybody': Report

When it comes down to loyalty, there is no organization more honorable than the New York Giants in the NFL but, at times, even that true blue devotion comes to a breaking point.

It happened when team president and CEO, John Mara, sat on the team bus after an embarrassing 25-24 loss to the Jaguars on Nov. 30 as he tried to repress what was an overwhelming urge to start from square one.

"When I'm sitting on that bus after the Jacksonville game, I wanted to fire everybody," he said Tuesday, "from the people in the equipment room to the people upstairs [in the front office]."

It was, he said, a "low point" and an "embarrassment." The Giants blew a 21-0 lead against one of the worst teams in the league, and maybe if the season had ended after that game, Mara would have followed through on his tortured instincts. 

Instead, after three straight playoff-less seasons, Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese are getting one more chance with the Giants — a make-it-or-break-it season.

“I don’t think that’s an unfair statement,” he said point blank.

Mara said he still has faith in his head coach and general manager and both will return for 2015. And, although he said he is "sick" about a seven-game losing streak and finishing 6-10 this past season, Mara added that there is "reason for optimism" based on how the team finished up the season.

"We need to have another [strong draft]," Mara said. "With that and with another year under this new offense, I think we have a chance to be a good team next year. Obviously, that's a tough sell right now when you go 7-9 and then 6-10, but I still have a very strong belief in this staff and this organization. I think we're going to be a good team next year."

Fair warning everyone.

Tom Coughlin has 99.9 percent chance of returning to Giants: Report

After 11 seasons, it's beginning to sound like Giants fans may be seeing Tom Coughlin at MetLife Stadium for at least one more. And, despite three consecutive playoff misses, Ol' Redface might get one more chance to get things right.

“99.9 percent he’s back,” a source familiar with the club’s thought process told The  N.Y. Post Sunday night.

Quite remarkable, since the odds of the 67-year-old Coughlin returning were at 50-50 only a few weeks ago.

Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have remained tightlipped on Coughlin's future, which they do after every year, but they have said they plan to meet with the coach after the season.

“I have no comment,” co-owner John Mara said Sunday following the Giants second straight victory — a 24-13 win over the Redskins.

“No comment,” co-owner Steve Tisch added.

This will be the fifth time in six years the Giants have missed the playoffs under Coughlin. Of course, the one year they did quality for the postseason, they won the Super Bowl for the second time during his tenure.

The reasons which have "weighed strongly" on ownership's support of Coughlin include injuries to the Giants this season, Coughlin's ability to remain respected in the locker room, the benefit of keeping offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo for another season.

And don't forget the stability he provides to quarterback Eli Manning — the only head coach he has ever played for.

Loyalty carries a lot of heft in the Giants' philosophy of making decisions but, those two Super Bowl rings sure carry a lot of weight too.

Tony Dungy: Time for Tom Coughlin to step down

As miserable as the Giants season has been, nothing could have prepared them for the downright embarrassing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

And while the finger-pointing has been directed at everyone and from everywhere — now it is even coming from where you'd least expect.

Tony Dungy said on NBC's "Football Night in America" that head coach Tom Coughlin shouldn't be fired, but needed to step down. 

The 3-and-9 Giants have dropped seven straight and seem destined to finish with their worst record since Coughlin's first season with the team.

Dungy was blunt with co-host Dan Patrick in this exchange:

Patrick: "Time to start over in New York?"

Dungy: "It really is."

Patrick: "Where do you start when you start over?"

Dungy: "I think that you start with the coach, and Tom Coughlin should not be fired. You don't fire coaches that have won two Super Bowls, but he should step down. This is going to be a long-term rebuilding process."

When the pro-coach Dungy comes out and says what he did on Sunday night, you might have to admit the Coughlin Era is over.

And while it's still nearly impossible to find someone in the organization wanting to release an experienced coach who brings two Super Bowl rings to the table, even co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch — who don’t want to fire him — might have no other option.

Giants’ David Wilson to undergo neck surgery: Report

New York Giants running back David Wilson’s 2013 season came to an early end because of a neck injury that doctors told him carried an increased risk of further problems if he continued playing. Now his NFL future could be in jeopardy after Giants GM Jerry Reese revealed the former first-round pick will undergo neck surgery next week.

Wilson said during the season that he intends to keep playing, but he’ll need to rehab from surgery before he can do that.

Reese told WFAN Thursday, that Wilson will need to have an operation on his neck this offseason. Team owner John Mara, speaking on the same radio station earlier in the day, also touched on Wilson’s status.

“We’re hopeful that David will be able to play for us again next year. Time will tell on that one,” Mara said.

There was no timetable given for when the surgery will occur or when Wilson might be ready to resume his career. His status is murky at best, though, and that should make running back an area that the Giants address the offseason because an Andre Brown/Michael Cox combination isn’t a particularly appealing one for a team with lots of other holes to fill.

“Our medical staff thinks he will be ready to play this year,’’ general manager Jerry Reese said Thursday on WFAN while noting that dealing with the neck can be “tricky.’’

Here are the details on David Wilson's surgery: He'll have a fusion of the vertebrae to repair the herniated disc in his neck on Jan. 16.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) January 9, 2014

Wilson played in the first six games of the 2013 season. He started at running back Oct. 6 against the Eagles, rushed six times for 16 yards and scored his first and only touchdown before leaving the game in the second quarter of a 36-21 loss with a neck injury.

He was inactive the next three games and then put on season-ending injured reserve with what the Giants said was a herniated disk in his neck. Wilson, as it turns out, also has spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine, which is a chronic condition he played through at Virginia Tech and in his rookie season with the Giants.

The Giants and Wilson were hoping to avoid surgery, on the chance that rest and treatment alone would reduce the herniated disk. That was always considered a long-shot scenario, and now a surgical procedure has been deemed necessary.

Mara said it is likely the Giants will have to use one of their draft picks on a running back. Reese has said previously the Giants cannot go into the 2014 season projecting Wilson as their No. 1 running back.

Wilson was not very effective even when he was healthy in his second NFL season. Coach Tom Coughlin benched him after Wilson lost two fumbles in a season-opening loss in Dallas. Wilson ended up with 44 rushing attempts and 146 yards.

This doesn't bode well for the Giants at the running back position. Their other key back, Andre Brown, faded down the stretch of the season and is an unrestricted free agent. Brandon Jacobs retired, and veteran addition Peyton Hillis, a free agent, is not expected to return. The only other running back on the roster is Michael Cox, who just completed a lackluster rookie year.

Giants owner more interested in Tebow than Jerry Jones' butt-kicking invite

Who knew that New York Giants owner John Mara was such a cut-up.  Big Blue's top guy walked into the cafeteria at the University of Albany— where the team practices— sporting a bandage on his forehead into a throng of media.

Reporters— waiting to hear what Mara had to say about Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, telling an audience on Tuesday, "Y' all come to Cowboys Stadium and watch us beat the Giants' asses"— didn't wait long for Giants owner to throw out a one-liner.

"You should see what Jerry Jones looks like," he said alluding to the bandage.

Mara knows Jones has more verbal ammunition than Dez Bryant has mommy issues but continued to convey his own message back to the loud-mouthed Cowboys' boss.  The Giants do their talking on the field and words mean zilch.

Earlier in the day when asked about Jones' trash talking invitation on ESPN Radio, Mara joked," We'll show up (to play the Cowboys). But that is actually the first time I've heard that comment.  I have been so caught up in the [Tim] Tebow coverage that I haven't had time for anything else."

Outside of Mara's remarks, most of the Giants players downplayed Jones' boast.

Justin Tuck said he wasn't surprised at Jones' yapping.  "Because talk is cheap, play the game," he said.

Even Martellus Bennett was unusually quiet about his old boss.  "I have nothing to say about it," he said.  "Everybody has their point of view."

The two teams open the NFL season at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 5.

Justin Tuck: Giants want to make it a dynasty

The New York Giants had their second Super Bowl ring ceremony in four years Wednesday night at Tiffany & Co. and— when Justin Tuck took a look at both of his 14-karat white gold bands on his fingers— the first word he thought about was "dynasty."

"You get that first time and you're in awe, like, 'Oh God, this might no ever happen again,'" said the defensive end.  "You win a second one and you're like, 'Hey, maybe we can do something here.'

"Our thing now is we want to make it a dynasty."

While the Giants were mingling around the podium inside the famous Fifth Avenue building showing off their new bling— encrusted with  four diamond Lombardi Trophies,  a circle of 37 blue sapphire stones and the words "All In" and "Finish" engraved on the inside— Tuck was talking about becoming  one of the players who could make Giants history.

In a quiet moment away from the chaos, Tuck told quarterback Eli Manning of the future, "We have to play the games, so we might as well win them."

Manning was surprised when someone brought up the conversation with Tuck.

"Well, I thought that was a confidential conversation," laughed Manning.  "Justin was just talking to [owner John] Mr. Mara and he was saying no Giants player has three championships with the Giants."

"So we're setting the stakes high and make sure we stay motivated."

While the phrase "All In" was inspired by a speech given by a New Jersey teacher to a few players near the end of the season, head coach Tom Coughlin started using the word "finish" back in training camp.

"It means everything to me," said Coughlin.  "The word 'finish' really captures a lot of emotion for me. The fact our players can quote to you what this means to them and how they were reinforced by this over and over,  I think that says a lot.  I'll always look upon that."

Don't look now coach, it sounds your players will be using another word next year— dynasty.

New York Giants Pack It In, But Coughlin Staying Put.

The New York Giants finally won but, at the same time, lost.  They beat the Washington Redskins 17-14 at the same time the Green Bay Packers were defeating the Chicago Bears.  It was a bittersweet end to the Giants indescribable perplexing season.  The final dagger to the Giants lost season came at 7:06 EST when the score board at FedEx Field tauntingly flashed the score: Packers 10, Bears 3.

The Giants (10-6) season ended with a victory, but it was the 68 minutes before Sunday's game that really charted their destiny.  The 28 point comeback by the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago and last week's blowout at the hands of the Packers really sealed the Giants fate.  They will not be in the playoffs for the second consecutive season.  The Giants have no one to blame but themselves and it looks like the Giants owner sees it that way too.

The calls for head coach Tom Coughlin's head grew over the past few weeks while the Giants were doing their annual version of a swan dive for the third straight season.  Former Pittsburgh Steelers head
coach Bill Cowher's name was tossed around more loosely than an Eli Manning interception.

After yesterday's loss, Giants owner John Mara immediately made it clear Coughlin will be around to finish the final year of his contract and maybe more.  Mara confirmed it by saying "there was never any doubt" Coughlin would be back in 2011.  Looks like New York won't be a Cowher town after all.

The Giants who finished with 10 wins had to watch as the Seattle Seahawks--a team they routed earlier in the season--squeak into the playoffs with a losing record later that evening.  The Seahawks (7-9) won the NFC West by beating the St. Louis Rams yesterday.  The Giants became only the seventh teams with at least 10 wins to not make the playoffs since 1990.

Mara, the Giants co-owner, is sticking with his head coach despite another late season fizzle.  "I'm obviously disappointed that we didn't make the playoffs, " he said, "Everybody in this locker room is disappointed.  But that doesn't mean you blow the whole thing up.  he's still the guy we want as our head coach."

The owner even visited Coughlin after the game and reassured the 61 year old coach.  "Don't listen to all the nonsense.  You're going to be back next season.  We still believe in you and we want you as our coach."

Mara said he knows it's not easy to win ten games.  He has stuck with Coughlin before.  In 2006 the Giants beat the Redskins to get into the playoffs and save Coughlin's job.  The next season the team won the Super Bowl.

The Giants players and Coughlin will have the whole off-season to look back at their mistakes and get the team back into the playoffs next year.  Mara can only hope his belief in his coach will pay off.

Giants Host Dolphins at Meadowlands Practice Facility

The New York Giants invited the Miami Dolphins into their training facility tomorrow to help them prepare for the Dolphin's Sunday afternoon game against the Giants co-tenants, the New York Jets.   While the Jets head coach Rex Ryan was burying a jinxed football outside his team's practice facility yesterday, the Jets owner, Woody Johnson, was digging up negative feelings between the two New York teams who share one stadium.

Giants co-owner, John Mara said he didn't contact the Jets owner because he felt it was just a simple case of civility.   Jets fans think it sounds fishy that their New Meadowlands roommates would turn their practice field into a northern version of Sea World right before a big game against their AFC East division rivals.  All that's missing is Miami consultant--and former Giant and Jet coach--Bill "Big Tuna" Parcells performing a Shamu act.

The Giants agreed to allow the Dolphins team use of the indoor field almost a month ago.  Mara said he wishes he contacted the Jets before the invitation. The Dolphins head coach, Tony Sparano, is the Giants former defensive coordinator.

Johnson did phone Mara and voiced his displeasure at his alleged friend's version of "Three's Company." Mara said he told Johnson he wished he called first and said, "We have a long partnership that's going to last for many years and the last thing I want to do is get them upset about an issue like this."  Johnson has made no public comment.

Jets fans disagree.  They have always felt like illegal squatters in the Meadowlands. It goes back to the days of trying use green bunting to hide the blue walls of the old Giants Stadium to recent disagreements with the design of the new stadium before it was completed.

The fans claim they are the stadium's second-class citizens and are still irked by the "rigged" secret coin toss, which decided the team who would pop the cherry of the New Meadowlands Stadium by hosting the first regular season game.

Mara should have taken the Jets inferiority complex into consideration before making the Dolphins--one of the Jets sworn enemies--comfortable.  The Jets might view this as revenge for opening up a multi-stitch gash in Giants quarterback Eli Manning's head during last summer's pre-season game.  Ryan was asked if he was angry about the Giants' hospitality and only remarked, "Officially?  No."  The usually vocal coach then added,  "It's their facility, they can do anything they want with it."

Ryan wasn't so generous later and said, "I don't want anyone using our facility but us.  When we have the Super Bowl [in the Meadowlands] I'm going to make sure we're in it...I don't want anyone in the facility but us."

 While New York sports radio was burning with pissed Jets callers, the Giants players took it in stride.  "It's cool," said Giant wide-out, Steve Smith, "They'll bring a little South Beach love here."

Sparano brought the Dolphins to New York early, not so much as a sneak attack, but more of a bonding outing for his team.  They plan to see the Broadway show "Lombardi" and get acclimated with the cold weather. In an indoor practice field?  Mara also mentioned his son is an associate producer on "Lombardi."  Maybe the Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez--a noted Broadway buff--is a little jealous?

After all was said and done, the Jets and Giants owners made up.  In a Jets fan's warped vision, it is still a Giants town.  Forty-two years without a Super Bowl appearance can make a person greener than the Jets uniform.  Maybe the Jets ought to roll out the red carpet for the Philadelphia Eagles next week, right before they play the Giants.  Sanchez can take them to see "Elf."