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Pierre-Paul Has Finger Amputated, Bucs Corner Blows Two Fingers Off

Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated Wednesday.

New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul wasn’t the only player to try to end his career on the Fourth of July. Reserve Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback C.J. Wilson reportedly blew two of his fingers off during a fireworks accident on the same night in Lincolnton, N.C.

Meanwhile further south, Pierre-Paul and his family refused to see representatives from the Giants when they tried to visit him at the hospital Wednesday in Miami, Fla. The New York Daily News got word from a hospital representative that the family “asked for privacy” and would not make any exception, even for Giants vice president of medical services Ronnie Barnes.

It turns out there was a reason for that. According to Adam Schefter, Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated after injuring his hand with fireworks on July 4 too.

Barnes and the team reps left Miami never once meeting or speaking to Pierre-Paul, who they hit with the franchise tag when the offseason began. Pierre-Paul hadn’t signed the tender sheet at the time of his accident. It would have paid him $14.8 million this season if he and the Giants couldn’t negotiate a long-term deal before next week.

Now, all that is up in the air. So here’s the lesson NFL players, if you needed one. Just like motorcycles, just like strip clubs, guns and bars, you have to be so much smarter. Pierre-Paul is obviously hiding the extent of his injury from the Giants because he doesn’t want them to pull the tender or make him a free agent. They pulled his long-term contract offer two days ago.

Wilson signed a two-year free agent deal with the Bucs last season and played in two games, recording four tackles. If the Bucs keep the 25-year-old corner on the roster this season he’ll cost them $585,000, but none of that money is guaranteed and they can cut him with no cap penalty.

“We are aware that C.J. was involved in an accident that occurred over the July 4th holiday,” the Bucs said in a statement. “It is our understanding that the injury occurred to one of his hands, and our primary concern at this moment is for his long-term health. We have been in contact with C.J. and are continuing to monitor the situation.”

There’s no mystery for Wilson. He’s missing fingers and God only knows what kind of damage he did to his hand. For a kid barely hanging on in the NFL, this is a career-ender for sure and all for $10 worth of fireworks. It’s a shame.

La Canforna’s suggestion is a good one. Teams need to put “don’t play with fireworks” in contracts from now on, just for the players’ benefit if nothing else.

Written by Adam Greene

Adam Greene is a writer and photographer based out of East Tennessee. His work has appeared on Cracked.com, in USA Today, the Associated Press, the Chicago Cubs Vineline Magazine, AskMen.com and many other publications.

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