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Jason Pierre-Paul rubbed the scarred skin that used to be his index finger, caressing it with his good hand throughout a 12-minute session with reporters. The mangled limb was out there in front of the cameras for the world to see, no longer the guarded injury that may have cost a 26-year-old his lifes work.
There was no such vulnerability from the Giants star. He was smiling, confident, dismissive and, above all, defiant.
Pierre-Paul offered no apologies and few words of regret in his first interview since blowing up his hand in a July 4 fireworks accident. He declared himself a better player with nothing to prove, and explained that his lack of communication with the Giants was simply the consequence of medication.
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You cant do nothing when youre on anesthesia, waking up, going in and out of conscious, he said. I had no reason not to let them in (the hospital). I just didnt know.
I dont know who was making my decisions. It couldve been the doctors.
Pierre-Paul, who signed a one-year deal with Big Blue on Tuesday, will not travel with the team to New Orleans for Sundays game against the Saints.
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The DE characterized that as his own decision following a conversation with Tom Coughlin, believing his presence would cause further distraction to his teammates. Its still unclear when, or if, Pierre-Paul will play real games and try to capitalize on an incentive-laden contract. But that was almost a moot point.
Im the same JPP that I was last year, he said, acknowledging h**l be wearing a special glove on his mangled right hand. Theres not going to be a major adjustment. As far as my hand goes, Ill get used to it. Im just fortunate to play football again.
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I dont have a desire to prove anybody wrong. The day I walked in here I already won. People said I was going to be out for the whole season. And I knew what kind of effort I put in the offseason way before this happened. Just coming back, I already won.
The fireworks disaster that cost Pierre-Paul at least a $15 million contract was a mistake and thing that happened. He said it occurred during an annual event with kids in South Florida, something hed done for the last six or seven years.
The mistake, or my fault, he said, was buying the fireworks. I did it and it just went off. Things happen. Mistakes happen. I wasnt shocked at all. My fiance was going crazy. But I stayed calm.
I wasnt embarrassed at all, he added. At the end of the day, media is going to say what theyre going to say. People are going to have their opinions. But I didnt care about none of that. Because one way or another, I was going to return to football.
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Throughout the 12-minute interview, he interrupted answers to declare that theres an untold story to the accident one that hes holding back for another time. I got pictures and everything, he said. Pierre-Paul turned appreciative when asked about support from the Giants, and while recalling a sobering stay in the hospital.
Im just very fortunate Im alive, he said. I got wounds and I look up every day at my hand and say, Thank you, Lord. But Ive seen worse. There was probably 12 people in that hospital and mine was the best so Im just fortunate.
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Although defiant, Pierre-Paul acknowledged one very important lesson: no more firework shows.
Of course it is (my last time). You live and learn. People make mistakes. Were all human. Were all people.
Tags: jason pierre-paul , nydn video features , sports injuriesSource: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/giants-jason-pierre-paul-shows-mangled-hand-article-1.2418034
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