If anyone can predict the future for injured Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, it's Justin Tuck.
Tuck, a longtime veteran on the Giants' defensive line and current Oakland Raider, mentored Pierre-Paul and helped keep him out of trouble over the years. And Tuck thinks -- right index finger or no right index finger -- Pierre-Paul will be just fine.
"I think he will be (the same player he was before)," Tuck said at a charity golf event, via the New York Daily News. "I think once he gets used to playing again, then yeah (he'll be fine.) You can't deny his athletic ability. He's a terror to block.
"Hopefully everything else is healthy around him. If that's the case, I see no reason he won't be the JPP of the second half of the season last year in this coming year."
The bizarre thing about hearing this from Tuck is that the Giants planned on Pierre-Paul being a similar type of leader. Michael Strahan passed down his knowledge to Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, who also helped raise Mathias Kiwanuka in the system. They all had a hand in Pierre-Paul, too, who was supposed to carry the torch into the next generation of great pass rushers.
Now, we'll truly get to see Pierre-Paul's character shine through. He could have learned some valuable lessons from the horrible accident that changed his life. Sometimes, trauma is the best motivator for a lifestyle change.
At least the Giants hope so. The team has a stable of young, raw pass rushers hoping to develop in the coming years. They could use Tuck, or a version of him, to help bring them along while they wait on Pierre-Paul.
*The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses the eight most intriguing training camp battles heading into the season. *
