Ballerific Sports: Wednesday’s Deadline Brings Contracts Except For Jason Pierre-Paul : blogged by @niksofly

Wednesday was “Let’s Make  A Deal” day in the NFL.  The wait seemed to finally be over for some of the league’s top talent.  The 4p.m. ET deadline tends to have that effect. Right after the Cowboys announced Dez Bryant’s $70 million deal ($20 million in a signing bonus, $45 million guaranteed), Demaryius Thomas hit the lottery, I mean signed a contract.  The Broncos and Thomas reached a five-year, $70 million deal with $43.5  million guaranteed. (I need to reconsider my life choices…career wise. *Deep Sigh*)

Justin Houston of The Kansas City Chiefs nearly broke the bank with a six-year, $101 million deal with $52. 5 million guaranteed making him the second highest paid defensive player. The New England Patriots kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, signed a four –year deal worth $17.2 million with the team, allowing Gostkowski to garner the title as the highest paid kicker. [There needs to be a union for special teams…specifically the kickers. BTW, I know how the salaries are weighed.] 

While the other players are still flashing their pearly whites, one player is still in limbo. The deadline has come and gone for Jason Pierre-Paul and The New York Giants have not signed JPP to a long-term deal.  After his Independence Day accident, JPP consequently lost his right index finger and needed surgery to repair the fractures in his right thumb. Slapping the franchise the tag on him earlier this year, the Giants thought they would be able see how he would perform this season. Possibly after the appropriate assessment, The Giants would invest in him long-term next season. (Place emphasis on the possibly.) Considering the injuries he suffered this past holiday, that assessment may never come to pass.  JPP hasn’t signed his franchise tag. (Inserts technicality.) He isn’t technically on the Giant’s roster so the possibility of being on the non-football injury list is slimmer than Beyonce’s waistline  (and we know Bey’s waist is tiny).  I really hope everything works out for JPP and he has the opportunity to go off on the field thus clutching his future in the NFL, but only time will tell. And it doesn’t seem to be in favor of JPP. Training Camps are around the corner and the season is nearly upon us. Signing that $14.813 million tag doesn’t look like a bad idea in hindsight, does it?

JPP isn’t the first player to lose a digit. The Houston Texans scored Whitney Mercilus who is also missing his index finger. Mercilus plays well. All hope isn’t lost for JPP. JPP, BA wishes you a speedy recovery and successful year! Congrats to those that inked their deals!

-Niko Rose