The Sports Xchange

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul reportedly showed up Monday to meet with the New York Giants and to gain clarity on his immediate future.

Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reported that Pierre-Paul, who arrived at the team’s facility on Monday before being whisked into a series of medical examinations, is ready to sign his tender and play right away.

However, Pierre-Paul’s return to the field won’t be quite that easy. He must first undergo a complete examination of his right hand, severely injured in a July 4 fireworks accident.

Assuming he passes the physical, the bigger stumbling block will be resolving his contract.

With 10 weeks left in the season, Pierre-Paul’s original $14.8 million franchise tender has dwindled down to about $8.7 million, a figure that the Giants are unlikely to be willing to pay.

Instead, the Giants might be looking to pay a lower base salary as part of a one-year deal loaded with playing time and performance incentives, a contract that Pierre-Paul might not be so willing to accept.

Head coach Tom Coughlin told reporters last week that there was nothing new to report regarding a meeting with Pierre-Paul. However, in his weekly day-after-the-game conference call with reporters early Monday afternoon, he offered this response to the question regarding Pierre-Paul:

“I told you that I would respond as soon as I knew in fact that it had taken place or that Jason was here.

“To my knowledge, he’s not here at this point in time. When he does, we’ll let you know. And it’s all going to start with the medical.”