The New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs played without key defensive players in 2015 due to injuries, but do not believe these injuries have forced them to move on. Both teams proved this on Tuesday, as the Giants re-signed defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to a one-year deal, and the Chiefs gave linebacker Tamba Hali a new three-year contract.
Pierre-Paul missed most of last season after losing his right index finger in a July 4th fireworks accident, which forced him to sit out until late October. The deal is worth $10.5 million, as the defensive star thanked other organizations for reaching out to him, including the Arizona Cardinals.
Following his return from the incident, Pierre-Paul recorded just one sack in eight games. After the season, the defensive end underwent surgery on his middle finger to help him grip and bend it better. He's hoping this will help prevent him from wearing the "club" wrap he wore last season.
Pierre-Paul was drafted in the first round of the 2010 draft, recording his best season in 2011 with 16.5 sacks. After back-to-back injury-filled seasons, he got back on track in 2014 with 12.5 sacks. The Giants are still holding out hope that the defensive force will get back to putting up those kinds of numbers.
The Chiefs and Hali agreed to the three-year deal on Tuesday, despite the linebacker dealing with knee soreness and a broken thumb at the end of last season. The 32-year-old played the end of last season with a cast on his thumb, finishing second on the team with 6.5 sacks.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015 for the fifth time in his career, and is tied with Willie McGinest for 48th on the all-time sacks list. He is also 11th among active players with 86 career sacks. Hali will use the off-season to recover from the minor injuries, aiming to be a major force in the Chiefs' defense in 2016.
Pierre-Paul missed most of last season after losing his right index finger in a July 4th fireworks accident, which forced him to sit out until late October. The deal is worth $10.5 million, as the defensive star thanked other organizations for reaching out to him, including the Arizona Cardinals.
Following his return from the incident, Pierre-Paul recorded just one sack in eight games. After the season, the defensive end underwent surgery on his middle finger to help him grip and bend it better. He's hoping this will help prevent him from wearing the "club" wrap he wore last season.
Pierre-Paul was drafted in the first round of the 2010 draft, recording his best season in 2011 with 16.5 sacks. After back-to-back injury-filled seasons, he got back on track in 2014 with 12.5 sacks. The Giants are still holding out hope that the defensive force will get back to putting up those kinds of numbers.
The Chiefs and Hali agreed to the three-year deal on Tuesday, despite the linebacker dealing with knee soreness and a broken thumb at the end of last season. The 32-year-old played the end of last season with a cast on his thumb, finishing second on the team with 6.5 sacks.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015 for the fifth time in his career, and is tied with Willie McGinest for 48th on the all-time sacks list. He is also 11th among active players with 86 career sacks. Hali will use the off-season to recover from the minor injuries, aiming to be a major force in the Chiefs' defense in 2016.
