New York Giants: Franchise Tag On JPP Cripples Roster Upgrades

According to the New York Post, the New York Giants placed the franchise tag on Jason Pierre-Paul.

This is the second time that the G-Men have utilized the tag on their star defensive end. In 2015, Big Blue slapped the franchise designation on Pierre-Paul, who refused to sign it. Then fate intervened, in the form of a fireworks accident that derailed JPP’s season, but thankfully not his career.

New York and Pierre-Paul played nice last season, with a below-market contract and the promise of the team “making good”. But Jerry Reese and company likely got spooked, by a former coach and boatload of cash in northern Florida. This year, Jerry played hardball to keep this asset.

But that isn’t the end of the story.

"As reported by the New York Post’s Paul Schwarz on Feb. 27, 2017, “The non-exclusive franchise tag Pierre-Paul ensures that the Giants determine if he stays or goes. Pierre-Paul is allowed to negotiate with another team, but the Giants retain the right to match any offer sheet. If the Giants do not match, the team signing JPP, as compensation, must give up two first-round draft picks to the Giants. Thus, it is safe to suggest JPP and the Giants are back together in 2017."

Therefore, if someone signs JPP, then Reese has an out. He can simply sign Pierre-Paul to that contract or let him ride off into the sunset. No need to get into complicated negotiations, just sign your name to someone’s else’s work. It’s cool.

Or he can whine that the contract is too generous, and make JPP the fall guy.

Most likely, the Giants and Pierre-Paul will be the NFL’s version of a shot-gun wedding in 2017.

"“Obviously we’re talking, but nowhere near a deal,’’ Doug Hendrickson, Pierre-Paul’s agent, told The Post."

History of Resse

Jerry Reese has proven he’s a great general manager when he can overwhelm players with cash. Damon Harrison, Janoris Jenkins and Olivier Vernon quickly made Jerry’s Christmas card list in 2016.

Another example is Dwayne Harris. Was anyone else willing to give Harris a five-year, $17.5 million contract in 2015?

No money for a fullback, and needed upgrades at tight end and along the offensive line, but money to burn on a special teams guy? Makes you wonder what kind of car Reese drives.

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But valuing his own players has always been problematic for the general manager.

Memories have faded, but some may recall that defensive end Osi Umenyiora actually filed suit against Reese and the Giants in 2011.

According to the New York Daily News on June 11, 2011, the allegations by Umenyiora were raw.

"“After about an hour of discussing my current contract, as well as the contracts of other defensive ends currently playing in the National Football League, Mr. Reese told me that two years from the start of the 2008 league year, if I was currently playing at a high level, we’d either renegotiate my current contract so that it would be equal to that of the top five defensive ends playing,” Umenyiora said in the affidavit, which was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by the Daily News, “or I would be traded to a team that would do that.”"

Squeezing every nickel from home grown players has been Reese’s calling card. Luckily for the team, his quarterback is more interested in harmony than being the top paid guy. But the day that Reese has to replace Manning is coming quickly, and one has to be concerned about his method to effectuate that transition.

Ripple Effect of the Franchise Tag

According to the New York Post on Feb. 28, 2017, “The franchise tag prevents Pierre-Paul from getting plucked by another team, but it also ties up $17 million in salary-cap space. That is more than half of the $32 million the Giants are estimated to own in cap space and losing all that spending money would severely alter what they are able to do in free agency.”

Related Story: New York Giants To Place Franchise Tag On Jason Pierre-Paul

To mitigate the tag, expect a couple more roster casualties in the form of J.T. Thomas and Shane Vereen, when they get healthy. But will it be enough to move forward in the ultra-competitive NFC East?

Heading into free agency, the team has a little more than $14 million, according to Over The Cap. Or less than what it took to simply sign Olivier Vernon last offseason.

Reese has tied up more than $34 million in his two defensive ends for 2017, or almost 20 percent of the team’s entire salary cap.

If someone believes this is the recipe for success, please explain it to me. Churn and burn unrestricted free agents, and low ball your home grown talent.

What happens when Odell Beckham, Jr.’s turn comes in 2019? Perhaps, Reese can utilize the fifth year option to get something done early. As we have seen, waiting always costs you more money. But make sure that the parties don’t negotiate during the season because that’s not the Giants way.

Here’s what New York has as a starting point, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

For the record, I think keeping Pierre-Paul on the team is a positive move. But the franchise tag method leaves a lot to be desired for both the team and JPP.