Rumor: Shockey told Shiancoe
he should leave New York
Apr/20/08 11:45 AM Filed in:
Jeremy
Shockey
According to an anonymous
source who spoke with the Newark Star-Ledger,
Giants TE Jeremy Shockey told former Giants TE
Visanthe Shiancoe "he'd be better off playing for
a team that features a receiving tight end in its
offense."
That source also told the Star-Ledger Shockey had
originally told Shiancoe to stay in New York, because
he was leaving, and Shiancoe would be the Giants
starting tight end. Shiancoe signed a 5-year, $18
million contract with Minnesota before the 2007 season.
Shiancoe had 27 catches for 323 yards and a touchdown
with the Vikings last season.
Commentary: Considering Shockey and Shiancoe are close,
and Shockey has demanded a larger role in the Super
Bowl champion Giants offense, this isn't difficult to
believe. It's not as if Shockey is known to withhold
his opinion. Whether Shockey did make the alleged
comments, Shiancoe is in a run-first offense now, but
the allegation itself is in line with the negative
reputation Shockey has built since Giants coach Tom
Coughlin took over in 2004.
He missed their playoff run in 2007 due to a broken
leg, but some say the team came together when the
out-spoken Shockey was placed on the IR and not around
the team. Shockey has expressed his desire to be
traded, possibly to the Saints, who are coached by
former Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton.
Fantasy Impact: Shockey is a field-stretching tight
end, and Payton used him as such in New York. Current
Giants coach Tom Coughlin doesn't seem inclined to use
Shockey very much in that capacity, but if he ends up
in New Orleans with Payton and QB Drew Brees, look for
him to return to the top of the tight end board in this
year's Fantasy draft.
(realfootball365.com)