Report: Jason Pierre-Paul released from Miami hospital
Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul celebrates after sacking San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith during the second quarter at Candlestick Park. (Oct. 14, 2012) Credit: AP
Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has been released from Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, news first reported Tuesday by the NFL Network.
The exact timing of Pierre-Paul's departure was not clear, much like his immediate future after reportedly having his right index finger amputated and undergoing surgery for a thumb fracture after a July 4 fireworks mishap.
Wednesday is the deadline for franchise-tendered players such as Pierre-Paul, who has an offer for a one-year, $14.8-million contract on the table, to reach a long-term deal with their teams.
It is highly unlikely that will happen. Because Pierre-Paul is not currently under contract, the Giants cannot put him on the non-football injury list. So he remains in physical and contractual limbo. He might wait until he is healthy enough to play before signing the one-year deal.
Pierre-Paul's physical situation has been a matter of mystery and controversy all along. He did not meet with Giants officials when they traveled to Florida to visit him last week.
Then last Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter generated controversy when he posted on Twitter what appeared to be Pierre-Paul's medical chart detailing the amputation.
In an interview with SI.com, Schefter explained the decision this way:
"This was a public figure and franchise player involved in a widely speculated accident with potential criminal behavior in which there was a cone of secrecy that surrounded him for five days that not even his own team could crack. This wasn't as if some player were admitted to the hospital with a secret illness or disease. We've seen those cases over the years, as recently as this past year even.
"This one was different and unique for a variety of reasons. The extent of his injuries were going to come to light, maybe that day or later that week, but soon. They're horrific injuries, incredibly unfortunate for the player. But in a day and age in which pictures and videos tell stories and confirm facts, in which sources and their motives are routinely questioned, and in which reporters strive to be as accurate as possible, this was the ultimate supporting proof."
Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, was asked Tuesday in Cincinnati during MLB's All-Star week events whether the union was open to making more medical information available to teams before the amateur draft and said:
"Let me offer you this: What happened a few days ago related to JPP's medical records being made public was a travesty. There is an oral and ethical standard by which the media -- and I'm not preaching, just understand what I'm saying here -- that there are guidelines that should be followed, a level of respect for information that should not be public be followed.
"In an atmosphere in which content rules the day, I get it, content rules the day. At some point in time, someone's got to decide whether or not that content reaches the light of day and/or perhaps how it should reach the light of day. Giving unmitigated access to information that appears to show up on blogs or on someone's Twitter feed or someone's Instagram account, is a problem.
"So opening up Pandora's box and hoping that everybody plays nice in it is not something we're interested in doing right now."
With Erik Boland
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
