Jason Pierre-Paul's availability for the season opener has been a summer-long question mark for the New York Giants. We still don't have an answer.
Big Blue's top pass rusher is questionable for Sunday night's tilt against the Dallas Cowboys because of the surgically repaired back that slowed him all offseason, Giants coach Tom Coughlin announced Friday. "We'll see," said Coughlin, who called JPP a game-time decision after he was limited in sessions all week.
Coughlin first took a look at Pierre-Paul in Monday's practice and told reporters: "Obviously he has a ways to go."
The news on Victor Cruz's injured heel is sunnier. New York's deep threat practiced fully all week, and his probable status ensures he'll be on the field against the Cowboys.
It will be critical for Cruz and Eli Manning to generate a storm of points against the Cowboys. If JPP can't go, an already overrated Giants pass rush will be stripped of its only dominant contributor.
New York's chiefs concern is Dez Bryant. The Cowboys star receiver is the NFL's most dangerous weapon south of Calvin Johnson. Romo and Dez have been in sync all summer, which doesn't bode well for a Giants secondary that ranked 25th in the league in the preseason, per Pro Football Focus.
The situation at linebacker is equally uninspiring, with Keith Rivers, Dan Connor and Spencer Paysinger listed as the starters. Connor beating out Mark Herzlich might be a surprise to some, but it speaks more to the unit's lack of difference-makers.
When we took a peek at the NFC East on the "Around The League Podcast," I picked the Giants to finish dead last at 6-10. None of my peers agreed -- all picking Big Blue to go 9-7 -- but I can't get past these issues I see on D.
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