Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is reportedly not yet ready to sign the $14.8 million franchise tender that the New York Giants is offering him, saying that his injured hand "isn't quite ready" and he could still be sidelined for another month or longer.

Pierre-Paul injured his hand in a fireworks accident during this year's 4th of July weekend, which led to his right index finger being amputated and his right thumb fractured in multiple locations.

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The damaged hand is still heavily wrapped when he went to the Giants' facility for a medical on Monday, where he also met with team officials and coaches for the first time since his injury happened.

According to the league's official website, head coach Tom Coughlin said that there is "no timetable for his return" and JPP is clearly not likely to join the team in the field as of the moment.

However, the contract standoff between the two camps is said to be more about the money rather than Pierre-Paul's ability to play.

JPP wants to sign the franchise tag when he is healthy enough to play because if he signs it now he will not get the full amount for every game he misses because of the policy on non-football related injuries.

If he signs it in the future when he is 100 percent healthy, he will receive a "prorated portion" of the tag even if he is already playing at midseason.

ESPN noted that because New York's final 53-man roster, which included JPP, was already submitted, the $14.8 salary is already counted in the team's salary cap even if he does not play, but they can activate him after six games.

If they choose to place him in the non-football injury list, the salary will not be counted and they are also not required to pay it, but the Giants will not be allowed to play Pierre-Paul for the remainder of this season anymore, something that he and the team obviously do not want to happen.

Bleacher Report's Timothy Rapp said that both JPP and the Giants "wouldn't benefit" from his absence as he is actually the best defensive player in New York's roster. Last season, he had 53 solo tackles and 12.5 sacks in 16 games.

TagsNFL, NFL 2015, NFL news, NFL News 2015, NFL rumors, NFL Rumors 2015, Jason Pierre-Paul, new york giants