EAST RUTHERFORD -- Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul finally cashed in this offseason, signing a four-year, $62 million contract to remain with the franchise that picked him in the first round of the 2010 draft.

The payday was a long time coming, delayed by the fireworks accident on July 4, 2015, that mangled his right hand. Rather than the monster contract that would have come in the summer of 2015, Pierre-Paul signed an incentive-laden one-year contract worth $8.7 million after the accident. He then re-signed another one-year contract worth $10 million last offseason.

After Pierre-Paul returned to form last season, the Giants paid up with a contract that has the 28-year-old set for life. But don't expect the contract to change Pierre-Paul.

"I don't look at my new contract as pressure to perform," Pierre-Paul said. "It was an opportunity given to me and I'm going to play it out and get another one."

Few expected Pierre-Paul to return to the type of player he was pre-injury. Doubts were confirmed in 2015 when Pierre-Paul managed just one sack in eight games while playing with a huge club on his right hand.

But Pierre-Paul made major strides last season. An offseason surgery helped and he wore a glove on his right hand last season. He had seven sacks and three forced fumbles in 12 games before suffering a season-ending core injury in Week 13.

Pierre-Paul had been at the top of his game, recording 5.5 sacks in the two games before the injury. Three of those sacks came in the Giants' Week 12 win over the Browns.

"I think I dominated every game I played last year, not just the Cleveland game," said Pierre-Paul, who was a full participant in minicamp. "I looked back on the tape and I saw a player who's just only getting better from the year before."

Pierre-Paul has developed into an unlikely leader. Immaturity has been replaced by perspective after his injury.

Pierre-Paul warned teammates to be responsible during the six-week break before training camp, telling them he's "living proof" of the consequences of bad decisions. Pierre-Paul is in a much different place now, planning to be out of the country and away from fireworks displays on July 4. But his phone will be on this summer if any young players need guidance from a veteran who has been through it all.

"As rookies, man, you don't know what to expect when you're coming in," Pierre-Paul said. "I used to be that guy, too. You don't understand what you're about to get into. I think us as veterans did a good job of making them feel comfortable. It's OK to make mistakes because I still make mistakes to this day. But we made them feel comfortable. And I told them any situation they got, call me, if you want to talk about plays, I'm here to talk."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.