NFL notes: Photograph shows severity of Jason Pierre-Paul’s hand injury
New photos show the severity of the injury to New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s right hand, clearly showing his index finger mostly missing and his thumb and middle finger also damaged.
The New York Daily News posted a photograph (tinyurl.com/JPP-hand) on Thursday showing Pierre-Paul without a bandage over his hand.
It appeared that almost all of his index finger was missing. Paul still had small bandages on his thumb and middle finger. Part of his thumb appeared to be missing.
The two-time Pro Bowler missed all of training camp after the Fourth of July fireworks accident. He allowed the team to examine his injured hand earlier this month, and the Giants declared that he wasn’t ready to play. He remains unsigned and is not being paid.
Deflategate appealed
The NFL filed documents with an appeals court, saying why it disagrees with a federal judge’s ruling in “Deflategate.”
The 200-page filing with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals consists almost entirely of exhibits from the district court. In that case, Judge Richard Berman vacated NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
The NFL has said it will appeal Berman’s ruling. The league says the judge erred in his analysis of the law and precedents in at least three instances.
Brady was suspended and the Super Bowl champions were docked $1 million and two draft picks after a league investigation found the team provided improperly inflated footballs for the AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts in January.
Quick kicks
Saints running back C.J. Spiller said he isn’t being coy when he declines to pinpoint when he’ll play in his first game this season. Spiller, who missed all four preseason games and last weekend’s regular-season opener because of minor knee surgery, has practiced twice this week on a limited basis. If he was certain he’d be ready to play by Sunday against Tampa Bay, he said, he wouldn’t try to hide it simply to preserve an element of surprise. … Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga left practice after injuring his left knee and his status for this weekend’s game against the Seahawks was unclear. … Bills RB LeSean McCoy practiced on a limited basis after experiencing tightness in the left hamstring. … The Patriots acquired receiver Keshawn Martin from the Texans for an undisclosed draft pick. … Jets QB Geno Smith was upgraded to limited for the first time since having his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate, who is no longer with the team. Smith’s participation in some team drills is a sign of progress, although he’s still expected to miss the first four games.