The Sports Xchange

The New York Giants have finally made contact with defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had his right index finger amputated as a result of a Fourth of July fireworks accident at his home in Florida.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese told WFAN that he spoke with Pierre-Paul on Sunday.

“It was a personal conversation and I want to keep it private between him and I,” Reese said on WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton” show from Giants camp on Monday morning. “I want to leave it at that. We had a good conversation. … It was a great conversation.”

Reese also said he has talked to Pierre-Paul’s agent, but declined to discuss Pierre-Paul’s contract and whether he will be placed on the non-football injury list.

Pierre-Paul’s camp has said the 26-year-old is unlikely to sign his $14.81 million franchise tender until he is confident he can pass the team’s physical.

The loss of Pierre-Paul, who last year led the team in sacks with 12.5, leaves a significant void for the Giants to fill in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s new system, one that relies heavily on the pass rush.

Pierre-Paul has so far refused the Giants’ help, staying in Miami to do his rehabilitation, but Reese insisted he hasn’t been bothered by the lack of communication.

“No, it didn’t rub me the wrong way,” Reese said. “When somebody has a catastrophic, traumatic injury like that, it’s a life-changing thing. … We’re not mad about it. We were just trying to say ‘Look, we’re here for you. We want to get well.’ That’s all we’re trying to do.”

Giants owner John Mara earlier told WFAN that Ronnie Barnes, the team’s vice president of medical services, was able to make contact with Pierre-Paul. Barnes was one of the members of the organization that flew to Florida to meet with Pierre-Paul personally, but was turned away at the hospital.

The 15th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Pierre-Paul has 42 sacks in 75 games. He was slowed by injuries in 2012 and 2013 and came on strong in the second half of the 2014 season with nine sacks in the final five games.