THEY say to err is Human. Well, giants Defensive End, Jason P. ERRED big time. Heading into the 4^th of July, Jason Pierre-Paul was in a position to turn his nose up at a 60 million dollar offer from his team that would have certainly included some guaranteed money, which even in the wake of this incident likely would have been his regardless. Oh if only he had had signed.

Having his index finger amputated this close to training camp, just about guarantees that his 2015 is over, even if you only consider the amputation and not the damage(s) that precipitated its necessity. Add to that surgeries, healing time, and occupational therapy. LOTS of occupational therapy.

I have no idea why a guy in his position would be screwing around with something like large fireworks to begin with. With 60 mil hanging from a string, I’d be walking around covered head-to-toe in bubble wrap. Especially if I thought I could refuse that offer for a better one. He however, risked it and it literally burned him. Or blew up in his face. Pick one. (Or share yours in the comments down there.) Now it’s going to cost him at LEAST this year.

I say at least this year, because a hand injury (even a severe one) doesn’t mean his career is over, or that he can’t still play at a high level. I happen to know that personally, since my right hand had to be reconstructed in 1997.

Like JPP it was the result of something stupid, and I put my hand (in anger over a woman) through a plate glass window. Palm-first. Open handed. My fingers were almost cut completely off, hanging backwards against my hand, dangling only by skin. You could actually see INTO my  hand. Long story short my surgeon (Albert Weiss at Hahnemann, much love to you!) was a genius, and I was able to keep ALL of my fingers.

In 2001 I tried out for a semi-pro team. Just a bucket list sort of thing. Long story short, I stuck and I started at Left Tackle beginning that very season. In 3 years of play I never allowed a sack. Of course I wasn’t in the NFL, but neither was my competition. They were on my level. JPP has proven that he’s an NFL player already. His competition is on his level. He’s even been dominant against that competition before. (Talk about irony. I’m typing this and the Dionne Farris song “Hopeless” comes on. My occupational therapist loved this song. It’s why I love this song 🙂 )

Anyway, I wouldn’t count JPP out just yet. Money aside, he’s going to want to come back. Almost need to come back. Pride will drive him. To prove he’s still physically capable, to hold onto his dream, to prove that he didn’t ruin his own life over something so stupid and trivial. Trust me. Been there. Unless he’s not medically clearable in 2016, expect to see him trying to redeem himself next year. In his eyes if no one else’s.

Side note: As an Eagles fan the worst part of this is, it doesn’t change how the NFC East was going to end up anyway, since the giants were already going to suck in 2015. At least the Dallas Cowboys are guaranteed to not end up dead last this year.