Not surprisingly, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul isn’t exactly on good terms with the 4th of July.
When asked about his plans this year, the pass rusher made it clear he’s going to be as far away from firecrackers and fireworks as possible.
Jason Pierre-Paul on his 4th of July plans: "I won't even be in the United States. Where I'm going, they don't celebrate 4th of July."
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) June 6, 2016
Probably a smart move.
In case you have been living under a rock and haven’t heard about this story yet, Pierre-Paul had a considerable amount of his hand blown off last year when a big firecracker blew up in his hand. Multiple surgeries later, he is missing about half his fingers (picture here).
As a result of this horrific accident, Pierre-Paul lost out on more than just his hand. He had a massive, long-term deal on the table with the New York Giants that he hadn’t yet signed as he was angling for more money.
After his accident, he had to settle for considerably less and played in just eight games last season, recording just one sack. This year, Pierre-Paul had to sign a one-year prove-it deal ($10 million) with New York as well. With that in mind, it’s no wonder he isn’t keen on celebrating this particular holiday, one year removed from the life-altering event.