In 2002, New York Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton lost the power to call plays a month after taking the fall for an ill-advised decision by coach Jim Fassel to push the ball downfield late in the second quarter of a game against the Arizona Cardinals.

After the season ended, Payton likely would have been fired if he hadn't left to join Bill Parcells' Dallas Cowboys staff.

It's a fact of NFL life: accountability followed, if necessary, by consequences. Sometimes, as in Payton's case, it's not fair. Other times, however, a guy who deserves to be dumped escapes scrutiny.

Indeed, six years after being made the scapegoat in New York, Payton is coach of the New Orleans Saints and enjoys the thick veneer of Teflon that typically is reserved for men who have taken a team to a Super Bowl.

Payton acquired a multi-year pass based on his first season with the Saints, during which the team returned to town after the Katrina catastrophe and won the hearts and minds of everyone with a Louisiana address by parlaying new stars Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and Marques Colston into the first NFC championship appearance in franchise history.

Since, expectations have been high but performances low.

Last year, many hoped the Saints would improve on their unlikely '06 success. Seven wins and nine losses later, they didn't.

This year, big things again were expected. And with two games to play, the Saints already are out of contention, looking up at the Panthers, Buccaneers and Falcons in the NFC South.

So after such tremendous disappointment, who is responsible? Well, if Payton was responsible for calling the one play that doomed the Giants against the Cardinals in '02, Payton should be responsible for two full years of underachievement by the Saints.

The only problem? For now, no one in New Orleans has even begun to whisper the possibility that Payton might not be laying the foundation for eventual enshrinement in Canton, Ohio. It's more than just the won-loss record; because GM Mickey Loomis isn't a traditional "football guy," Payton has more input than many coaches regarding personnel.

And so at a time when many believe that former Texans GM Charley Casserly has been vindicated by passing on "running back" Reggie Bush with the No. 1-overall pick in the '06 draft, why isn't Payton being criticized for pouncing on Bush like the last piece of pizza no one else wanted?

Then there was Payton's curious decision to use a first-round pick last year on wide receiver Robert Meachem, who has a mere nine career receptions, when University of Miami tight end Greg Olsen still was on the board.

Before anyone tries to justify the decision to draft Meachem over Olsen based on the possibility that Payton wasn't interested in a rookie tight end from the "U" based on past experiences with such a player, let's not forget (even though Payton surely would love to) that Payton swung a trade for former Miami tight end Jeremy Shockey, who played for Payton in New York.

Though there have been worse trades in league history, there haven't been many. For at least a second- and a fifth-round pick, Payton received a chronic malcontent who couldn't get over the fact the team won a Super Bowl while he double-fisted cocktails in a luxury suite.

Apart from making Plaxico Burress look good by comparison, Shockey would have contributed nothing of value to the '08 Giants.

The results? In a pass-early, pass-often, pass-always offense, Shockey has only 45 receptions and not a game with more than 75 yards of production.

And no touchdowns.

It gets better, potentially. If ex-Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma participates in 85 percent of the defensive snaps (he has started all 14 games) and if the Saints sign him to a contract extension, the Saints would have to send to the Jets the second-round pick currently earmarked for the Giants.
And the Giants then would get a first-rounder. For Shockey.

In any other city, Payton would be looking for a landing strip with another team, like the one he found in Dallas when he was about to be fired in New York. In New Orleans, however, there's no sign Payton is in any trouble.

Next year, he might not be so lucky. And since the Saints might not have a first-round pick or a second-round pick in the '09 draft, improvement will have to come from the free-agent market.

Or by trading away 2010 draft picks.

Regardless of how Payton goes about attempting to make his mediocre team better, he'd better have a good plan. Memories of that magical '06 season will last for only so long, especially if the other three NFC South teams continue to separate themselves from the Saints.

(sportingnews.com)

As Drew Brees frantically and futilely tried to pass the Saints back into contention against the Falcons on Sunday, Jeremy Shockey, the club's high-profile offseason acquisition, found himself in a strange and decidedly low-profile place: on the sideline. In the desperate fourth-quarter finish, Brees completed a remarkable 19 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns. None of them was to Shockey. The Saints ran 36 plays in the fourth quarter -- the equivalent of a normal half -- and Shockey was on the field for three of them. The official explanation was that Shockey had left the game with an injury, and indeed Shockey's right ankle was swollen with fluid in the postgame locker room. But that didn't explain Shockey's absence on the drive before the injury, which occurred on the second drive of the fourth quarter. On the Saints' first possession of the fourth quarter, Billy Miller played almost every down at tight end. "We rotated (Shockey) and Billy because of the nature of what we were doing route-wise," Saints Coach Sean Payton said. If that was the case, the only rotation I saw was Miller rotating in and Shockey rotating to the sideline. Afterward, Shockey said anyone who thought he was out of the game for any reason other than his injury "was wrong." But clearly he was out of the game for some reason.

(cnnsi.com)

NFL.com reports Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey is "day-to-day" with an ankle injury suffered during Week 10's loss to the Falcons.

Shockey, who was a late arrival at camp because of a leg injury and missed three games with a sports hernia, had two catches for 16 yards in the loss.

Shockey owners across the country (myself included) no doubt are rolling their eyes. He has just 223 yards and no TDs this season.

Even if Shockey were healthy, I submit he wouldn't be that much of a factor. The Saints' offense is one that has nine zillion receivers running in nine zillion directions.

Shockey is better off in an I-form, play-action, throw-it-to-the-tight-end-across-the-middle-type of offense. (Read: New York Giants). Maybe he would've been better off staying in New York after all.

Shockey owners can't count him for Week 11. Who are the replacements?

Teammate Billy Miller isn't a bad start. He has 50 or more receiving yards in New Orleans' last five games. Shockey's replacement in New York, Kevin Boss, isn't a bad play either. He has a TD in three straight games, and Eli Manning will have to keep it simple against the Ravens.

A last-ditch play is Todd Heap. The Baltimore tight end showed some signs of life in Week 10 (58 yards, 2 TDs), and the formerly elite level tight end will be in Joe Flacco's sights against the Giants.

As for Shockey owners, reserve that spot on the bench. He's still worth owning, but it comes with bemoaning.

(sportingnews.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jeremy Shockey was hurting, frustrated and angry after a miserable return to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday following hernia surgery.

Shockey questioned how the team has handled his injury and was unsure if he'll play next week in London.

The four-time Pro Bowl tight end, who had missed the past three games with a sports hernia, practiced last week and was cleared to play. But on the first play of Carolina's 30-7 win, Shockey said he "did the splits" and felt pain.

"I feel a spot in my leg that wasn't there before," said Shockey, who indicated he was hopeful he only dug up scar tissue and did not suffer more damage.

Shockey was clearly slowed by the injury. Later, after a catch, Shockey had the ball stripped by Julius Peppers and Carolina recovered. It led to the Panthers' go-ahead touchdown in a rout that left Shockey in a foul mood despite leading the team with five catches for 50 yards.

"I had a fumble that hurt the team. I missed a backside cutoff block," Shockey said. "That's on me, 14 points I felt like I gave up today, not because of effort, but just because physically I'm not healthy."

Shockey said he may have come back too soon from the surgery, and also indicated the Saints erred by misdiagnosing him in training camp.

"I'm worried that this thing could have been taken care of in camp, like it should have been," said Shockey, who the Saints acquired from the New York Giants in July for two draft picks. "If it wasn't misdiagnosed in camp like it was there'd have been no problems. ... Next time I know. When I get hurt I'll get three or four opinions besides just the team's."

Shockey underwent surgery four weeks ago, and had practiced without limitation the week before facing the Panthers.

"It's not a three-to-six-week recovery time," Shockey said. "It's really a five-to-seven-week."

Shockey's injury concerns were part of a horrible day for the Saints' offense, which was held to seven points by Carolina and watched running back Reggie Bush and center Jonathan Goodwin leave with left knee injuries.

Shockey said he would know more about his status Monday.

"I want to help this team win that brought me here," Shockey said. "I'm just disappointed in myself. I'm making plays and everything, but I'm just not healthy."

(ap.com)

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Without tight end Jeremy Shockey or receivers Marques Colston and David Patten, Drew Brees still passed for 1,013 yards in the Saints' past three games, leading New Orleans to victory in two.

Now it looks like all three of the Saints' top receiving threats could return for a divisional game Sunday at Carolina.

"Good to go," said Shockey, his teeth chattering intermittently after he emerged from an ice bath following Thursday's practice.

The former Pro Bowl tight end had sports hernia surgery on Sept. 23. He started practicing on a limited basis last week, but sat out last Sunday's win over Oakland.

"Everything has felt better every day and that's very encouraging," he said. "It's the first time that I can actually sneeze without feeling like I'm getting stabbed, like in a bar."

The Saints also waived tight end Sean Ryan, who was New Orleans' third option at that position while Shockey was out last week.

Through the first three games of the season, Shockey was the Saints' second-leading receiver with 16 catches for 151 yards. He has spent most of the past few games standing next to Payton on the sideline. Payton even joked that he needed to get Shockey back on the field because the flamboyant Texan was "driving me nuts standing next to me with a towel in his hand."

"Jeremy really wants to be involved," Brees added, smiling at Shockey's towel-waving sideline antics.

Shockey said he appreciated the way the Saints' allowed him to remain as involved as possible during his injury.

"Anything I can do to help my teammates, if I can just give them one piece of advice or they see me jumping up and down like a lunatic and it helps them, hey, it's the only thing I can do," said Shockey, who went on to contrast his treatment in New Orleans to the way he thought he was marginalized by the Giants after he broke his leg last December.

"Last year was handled very unprofessional by the Giants, what they did to me and not wanting me even to go to the Super Bowl," Shockey said. "That's the past. Everyone here at this organization — it's first-class here and I think that when we go to the Super Bowl, I'll be playing in it."

(ap.com)

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - New Orleans tight end Jeremy Shockey and star wide receiver Marques Colston appear close to returning to the playing field as each participated in practice during the week.

Shockey, who underwent sports hernia surgery after Week 3, was to miss three- to-six weeks with the injury but took limited reps on Wednesday before sitting out practice on Thursday.

The off-season acquisition from the New York Giants has recorded 16 catches for 151 yards in New Orleans' first three games this season.

Both Shockey and Colston's status for Sunday against the Raiders remains uncertain.

(sportsnetwork.com)

NEW ORLEANS -- There's a very interesting scene on the New Orleans sideline.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey, who stayed away from the Giants during last season's Super Bowl, isn't steering clear of the Saints while he's recovering from hernia surgery. In fact, Shockey's keeping a very visible presence.

Shockey, in street clothes, has been bouncing around all game. He's been standing near coach Sean Payton most of the game and often has been the first to shake the hands of teammates as they come off the field.

(espn.com)

METAIRIE, La. (AP) - Tight end Jeremy Shockey, the Saints' second-leading receiver through three games, is expected to be out for three to six weeks because of a sports hernia.

Shockey, who was acquired from the New York Giants in a trade shortly before training camp, had 16 receptions for 151 yards during the Saints' first three regular-season games. He played Sunday in New Orleans' 34-32 loss at Denver, catching five passes for 56 yards.

On Monday afternoon, Saints spokesman Greg Bensel confirmed a report on the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune's Web site that Shockey was scheduled to have surgery this week.

A sports hernia is the weakening of muscles or tendons in the lower abdominal wall. For Shockey, it's the second serious injury in as many seasons. He broke his left leg last December and missed all of the Giants' postseason run to a Super Bowl championship.

Shockey's absence also is the second major blow to the Saints' receivers this season following the loss of Marques Colston in Week 1.

Colston, who led the Saints in receiving in each of the previous two seasons, needed surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb and is not expected back for another month.

Shockey lobbied for a trade to the Saints in the offseason, hoping to rejoin head coach Sean Payton, who was the Giants' offensive coordinator in 2002, the flamboyant tight end's rookie season.

Shockey caught more passes (74) for more yards (894) that season than any other in his career and was the rookie of the year. With the Saints, he was expected to play a major role in a pass-oriented offense led by quarterback Drew Brees.

So far, the Saints' leading receiver this season is running back Reggie Bush, who has 26 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

With both Colston and Shockey out, the Saints may have to rely more on receivers David Patten, Devery Henderson, Lance Moore, Robert Meachem and Terrance Copper. However, Patten pulled his left groin during Sunday's game and is unsure of his status for this week, while Copper was inactive last weekend with a pulled hamstring.

The Saints also have two other tight ends in Billy Miller and Mark Campbell, although Campbell also was out last weekend because of a pulled hamstring.

Payton met with reporters earlier on Monday afternoon, but did not mention Shockey's injury.

(msn.foxsports.com)

NEW ORLEANS -- All it took was for the New Orleans Saints' Jeremy Shockey to make one catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday for the Louisiana Superdome crowd to start chanting the tight end's name.

Although Shockey didn't find the end zone in the Saints' 24-20 win over the Bucs, his play brought life and enthusiasm to the offense, which coach Sean Payton said he loved.

Shockey caught only three passes for 10 yards in the first half. The third quarter, though, is where Shockey made his presence felt. He made three catches for first downs on grabs of 8, 26 and 10 yards with two of them coming on third down.

Shockey ended with six catches for 54 yards in his first time on the field since breaking his leg with the New York Giants.

(sunherald.com)

The Times-Picayune reports for the second consecutive week, Saints HC Sean Payton spent the days leading up to the game saying it would finally be time for the first appearance of TE Jeremy Shockey (leg), who broke his leg last season with the New York Giants. But Shockey was not in Thursday's starting lineup, and he did not appear on the field. He was on the sideline, however, dressed in a uniform. His debut, presumably as the starter, will have to wait for Week 1 of the regular season, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 7. "I can't call it 100 percent yet, because if he was 100 percent I would have played him," Payton said. "But I think by Monday he's going to be 100 percent, and I feel like we're getting enough work from him during the work week with the quarterback." "I feel like I'm making progress. I'm getting to the point where I'm close. I didn't want to have a setback where I'm not 100 percent for the Tampa Bay game. I think it was a smart decision that we made tonight." Payton said he thought about playing Shockey against Cincinnati on Aug. 23 and the Dolphins, but decided against it both times. "I think by Monday he'll be 100 percent," Payton said. "It became a risk-reward kind of thing the last two weeks. It was a hard decision, because I wanted to see him get some live snaps. The good news is he's real close. We'll have him ready next week for Tampa Bay, and that's the plan."

(ffmastermind.com)

METAIRIE, La. -- Tight end Jeremy Shockey left the turf at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati following warm-ups in uniform Saturday night assuming he'd make his first start with the New Orleans Saints.

Before returning with his teammates a few minutes later, Saints coach Sean Payton told Shockey to ditch the helmet and pads and spend the Saints' third preseason game again on the sidelines.

"I don't know if he had a plan for that," Shockey said. "He's the head coach and that was probably the smart thing to do. I prepared all week as I was going to play the game. If I wouldn't have played, maybe I wouldn't have prepared as hard."

Now with the starters likely to see barely one quarter Thursday night when the Saints play the Miami Dolphins in the Louisiana Superdome for the preseason finale, it's possible Shockey may not take a single snap during the preseason as the team could elect to sit him once more.
Shockey practiced every day last week and was full speed again on Monday. He wouldn't go into details on whether he's nursing a separate injury besides the broken leg he sustained late last season while still with the New York Giants.

Payton said he'd like Shockey, along with cornerback Mike McKenzie, running back Deuce McAllister and safety Josh Bullocks to see some playing time since much of their snaps were taken away because of their injuries.

The 6-foot-5, 251-pound tight end also downplayed the significance of actual game time reps with quarterback Drew Brees at this point. Payton said Brees probably won't play Thursday anyway against Miami. The part where tacklers are flying at him is what he said his regular season preparation is missing.

"It's not really that important because I get reps with Drew everyday in practice," Shockey said. "It's just more of the game speed thing. That's just the really most important thing. You see how the game goes and the contact. You don't play any preseason games, you'll probably get all sore the regular season games and you body doesn't bounce back everyday for practice."

Brees said he figures every little detail between the two players won't be perfect come Week 1 against Tampa Bay. The Saints quarterback isn't too worried about his lack of playing time with Shockey.

"I know he wants to get out there and I certainly want to get out there with him," Brees said. "Even if we don't get any time in a game, a preseason game prior to the first game of the season, I'm not worried about our chemistry. We're building that right now and I like where we're at... the more we play together, the more it will prove to be that way."

(sunherald.com)

The Associated Press reports the New Orleans Saints decided to keep TE Jeremy Shockey (leg) out of their preseason game Saturday, Aug. 23. They sat him out after pregame warm-ups. Head coach Sean Payton said Shockey had a good pregame, but the team wanted to be cautious with him. "I'm excited about where he's at right now, but I held him back. We didn't want to go through the scenario of having him setback."

(kffl.com)

It has been eight rehabilitation-filled months since free-spirited Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey last played for keeps in the NFL.

And while eager to make his preseason debut Saturday night against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium, he is trying to keep the moment in perspective.

There will be no special arm tattoo to mark the occasion. Each arm currently is covered in body art from shoulder to hand, anyway. He simply wants to leave the stadium with his health intact, get on the team's chartered plane and fly home to New Orleans.

Nothing more, nothing less.

"I feel pretty good about the week," Shockey said Thursday after completing his fourth consecutive uneventful day of practice. "I'm not 100 percent or anything, but there has been progress made."

When told that Saints Coach Sean Payton planned to play him at least one quarter against the Bengals, Shockey replied: "Hey, that's up to him. I'm not the coach. I do what I'm told. Hopefully, I keep getting better and keep getting closer to my goal.

"There are more than two weeks left to the (start of the regular season), and without a doubt I'll be 100 percent when the real games start. I don't want to have a setback. I don't want to do something stupid and hurt something else by pushing it too hard."

Payton said he is encouraged by what he has seen of Shockey in his first series of sustained workouts in training camp since being acquired July 21 from the New York Giants for second- and fifth-round picks in the 2009 draft.

Shockey's 2007 season ended abruptly Dec. 15 when he fractured his left fibula in a 22-10 loss to the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium. It turned out to be his final play with the Giants, who went on to win the NFC championship and stun the previously undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.

Saints officials are hopeful Shockey, who pushed for a trade to New Orleans after a reported rift with the Giants' front office, will flourish in a new environment.

But Payton cautioned Saints fans to be patient. Don't expect too much Saturday night against the Bengals.

"We want to monitor how many snaps he takes," Payton said. "A goal would be a quarter.

"The one thing I want to see is for him to stay healthy. The goal for him is to be ready for Tampa Bay (in the season opener Sept. 7 at the Superdome). For him, this will be an introduction."

825222
Shockey needed no introduction when he arrived on the eve of training camp in Jackson, Miss. Anyone who had followed the NFL the past six seasons had to know of his flamboyant personality and penchant for attracting the media spotlight in New York, including teammates and team officials in New Orleans.

Thus far, he has kept a low profile and been a model teammate, according to Saints tight end Mark Campbell.

"I only knew about Jeremy as a fiery competitor, a loud guy with a lot of tattoos," Campbell said. "I didn't know what to think. I just knew of that side of him. But getting to know him, he's really is a great guy and really fits well into our locker room. He's funny, a good conversationalist, and a pretty intelligent guy."

Campbell stopped and smiled.
"Maybe, I should think about getting some tattoos and maybe growing my hair out, and then I think it will increase my value as a player," Campbell said. "But on a serious note, he seems to be a great teammate. That's all we can ask for. We kind of pride ourselves here in New Orleans for having a good locker room. We all get along. We hope that carries over to the field, and Jeremy fits into our locker room very well."

Shockey, 28, is expected to fit in much better when he gets on the field full time and starts bringing a return on the Saints' investment. He appears to be champing at the bit to justify his existence.

"It's really critical for me to get out there and practice a lot more and get some preseason time just to see how my leg feels," said Shockey, 6 feet 5, 251 pounds. "You don't want to play the first game and feel like a truck hit you the next day. You want to get that soreness out."

Quarterback Drew Brees said he can't wait to incorporate Shockey into the playbook and get him into single coverage against a linebacker or safety, reminiscent of those days in San Diego when Brees threw to perennial Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates.

"I can't wait, but here's the thing," Brees said. "The more that Jeremy and I practice together, the more I get a feel for him and him for me. It's what I call the 'me-to-you factor.'

"When things break down, when it's a look that maybe you're familiar with, when I can tell by his body language what he's going to do. Whether it's a look I give him, the look the defense is giving us, he sees what I see and we're on the same page. I know where I can throw the ball, and he knows where I'm going to throw the ball. The only way you gain the 'me-to-you factor' is with reps. The more live reps we get together, the better."

The Brees-to-Shockey factor kicks into gear Saturday night, if only for a quarter or so.

(nola.saints.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey ran some plays with the first-team offence in practice on Monday, and appears on track to make his first appearance in a Saints uniform when New Orleans plays its third pre-season game on Saturday night in Cincinnati.

"Today was certainly more [action] than he has gotten and the plan is to get him in Saturday," Saints head coach Sean Payton said. "He is getting a lot better and he is in shape, so I'm hopeful we go this week — each day — without any setbacks."

Shockey, a four-time Pro Bowler, whose outspokenness sometimes upset his coaches as much as his big-play ability delighted them, broke his left leg last December and missed the rest of the New York Giants' Super Bowl run.

During the off-season, he asked to be traded and was sent to New Orleans just days before training camp began.

Shockey has practiced only sparingly since joining the Saints.

"I have been in this league for seven years and you know how to take care of your body," Shockey said. "You see guys coming in and out of this league and the guys who take care of their bodies the best are the guys that stay in the league.

"I'm doing everything I can on my part … I'm excited about the opportunity, and I don't want to do something stupid and hurt something else by pushing too hard. We have got a couple of good weeks ahead of us to be ready for the real games."

Shockey productive under Payton
Through his first six NFL seasons, Shockey has 371 receptions for 4,228 yards and 27 touchdowns.

One of his most productive seasons was his rookie year, the year Payton was his offensive co-ordinator in New York, when he caught 74 passes for 894 yards.

That, and the opportunity to play with Drew Brees in a pass-heavy offence, were some of the main reasons Shockey pushed for a trade to New Orleans.

"If you don't see me out there practising, I'm working on the treadmill underwater, so I'm getting myself prepared and in shape," Shockey said. "The only thing I can do is keep concentrating on learning the offensive play book, [on] which I think I have a good grasp.

"I have spent some good time with Drew. It is going to be fun.

"We have got a lot of time. Like I said, this week I'm going to push it a little bit more just to see how it goes from there."

Payton, who calls the Saints' offensive plays, is eager to see what Shockey can do in his system and had hoped to have the tight end in the lineup by last weekend, when the Saints hosted Houston.

"We probably would have expected him to have gotten more work, probably in the second pre-season game," Payton said. "But we're here right now and we have got plenty of practice opportunities for him.

"The downside would be pushing it and having a setback and not having him for the first week of the season, so you weigh that. I'm optimistic he will still get in against the Bengals."

(cbc.ca)

Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey practiced on Tuesday - at least the portion of the workout that was open to the media - the first time during training camp that he has been a participant on back-to-back days.

Aside from a visible lack of endurance, Shockey, who has seen his on-field practice time severely curtailed by his continued recovery from knee and foot injuries he sustained last year when he was with the New York Giants, seemed to be moving around unencumbered.

Shockey, who was obtained in a trade with the Giants just prior to the beginning of training camp, was expected to take part in his first game action Saturday night when the Saints travel to meet the Cincinnati Bengals, Coach Sean Payton said on Monday.

(blog.nola.com)

NEW ORLEANS: Jeremy Shockey ran some plays with the first team offense in practice on Monday and appears on track to make his first appearance in a Saints uniform when New Orleans plays its third preseason game on Saturday night in Cincinnati.

"Today was certainly more (action) than he's gotten and the plan is to get him in Saturday," coach Sean Payton said. "He's getting a lot better. He's in shape. So I'm hopeful we go this week, each day, without any setbacks."

Shockey, a four-time Pro Bowl tight end, whose outspokenness sometimes upset his coaches as much as his big-play ability delighted them, broke his left leg in December and missed the rest of the New York Giants' Super Bowl run. During the offseason, he asked to be traded and was sent to New Orleans just days before training camp began.

Shockey has practiced only sparingly since joining the Saints.

"I've been in this league for seven years and you know how to take care of your body," Shockey said. "You see guys coming in and out of this league and the guys who take care of their bodies the best are the guys that stay in the league. I'm doing everything I can on my part. ... I'm excited about the opportunity and I don't want to do something stupid and hurt something else by pushing too hard. We've got a couple of good weeks ahead of us to be ready for the real games."

Through his first six seasons, Shockey has 371 receptions for 4,228 yards and 27 touchdowns.

One of his most productive seasons was his rookie year, the year Payton was his offensive coordinator in New York, when he caught 74 passes for 894 yards. That, and the opportunity to play with Drew Brees in a pass-heavy offense, were some of the main reasons Shockey pushed for a trade to New Orleans.

"If you don't see me out there practicing, I'm working on the treadmill underwater, so I'm getting myself prepared and in shape," Shockey said. "The only thing I can do is keep concentrating on learning the offensive play book, which I think I have a good grasp. I've spent some good time with Drew. It's going to be fun. We've got a lot of time. Like I said, this week I'm going to push it a little bit more just to see how it goes from there."

Payton, who calls the Saints' offensive plays, is eager to see what Shockey can do in his system and had hoped to have the tight end in the lineup by last weekend, when the Saints hosted Houston.

"We probably would have expected him to have gotten more work, probably in the second preseason game, but we're here right now and we've got plenty of practice opportunities for him," Payton said. "The down side would be pushing it and having a setback and not having him for the first week of the season. So you weigh that.

"I'm optimistic he'll get in" against the Bengals, Payton said. "The plan is to practice him all week and play him in the game."

(iht.com)

In case anyone needed a reminder that Jeremy Shockey was gone - as if the quiet summer wasn't a clue - it was all there on the film of the Giants' preseason opener in Detroit. And when tight ends coach Mike Pope watched it, he knew he had a lot of work to do. There were missed assignments, missed blocks, miscommunications, incorrect routes and a slew of other mental errors. For most of the last six years, with Shockey on his side, those were things Pope didn't have to worry about. Now he does.

(cnnsi.com)

'Canes Fans, check out Shockey's response to the last question. Great quote.

Jeremy Shockey played meet the press today in Jackson, Miss., at the Saints' training camp, and as you will read, he had plenty to say, including that he doesn't "have a personal vendetta against the Giants."

The full transcript:

Q: Can you talk about joining the Saints?
A: I'm really happy to be a New Orleans Saint. Obviously a lot of people didn't see this coming. There were a lot of rumors. I want to thank Mickey (Loomis) and Sean (Payton) for believing in me, bringing me here and giving me the opportunity.

Q: What happened with the situation in New York?
A: I just think that Mickey and Sean wanted me more than New York. I think New York got a fair package. Hopefully New Orleans will have a really good package. It's a very good situation.

Q: Did you not think that this would happen after a deal was not consummated after the draft?
A: Leading up to the draft, you hear a lot of rumor and speculation. My mother lives down in Texas, so she reads all the papers. I didn't give up hope. Really at that time, I was just trying to get healthy. I had never had a really serious injury before in my life. I never gave up hope. I want to thank my agent Drew (Rosenhaus); he obviously helped make this thing happen as well. I wouldn't say that I ever gave up. It was always in the back of my head, even after the draft.

Q: Were you surprised when it finally happened?
A: I was relieved. I wasn't surprised. There were a bunch of rumors. If I had gone back to the Giants no matter what it would have been a circus. I'd have went up there if they kept me, there would have been all of the rumors if they were better off without me, this, that. The last thing I wanted to do was be a distraction. That's one of the reasons I didn't want to go to the Super Bowl. I wasn't healthy. They did a great job. I didn't want to be a distraction to that team. If I went, I'm a distraction. If I didn't go, I was a distraction. It's the same thing if I had gone up to play for the Giants. I'm just very happy to have the opportunity I have in this city and with this team.

Q: Can you discuss what you feel is misunderstood about you?
A: The people that know me as a person like Jon (Vilma) and several other guys on this team that I know, they'll tell you that I'm not as wild and rebellious as some people say, but that's the media. They build you up to knock you down and if you know me, you know me. If not, the rumors fly. You've probably heard it all. I've heard it all. What you see is what you get. I wear my emotion on my sleeves and I'm a true person. I 'm not fake or fabricated to anybody.

Q: Are you happy to be in a little more media friendly and less media intense environment than New York City?
A: I knew that question was coming out sooner or later. Actually I think my family is. They're the ones, my mother especially that read the newspaper. I always hear about it from my brother and it doesn't really bother me. Obviously I'd like to just concentrate on football besides looking to be a distraction, being in the paper, being out here, going over here, this city, whatever. It gets out of control a little bit. Obviously I'm happy. I'm happy in the situation more than anything else.

Q: Did you come out like a little kid today on your first day of school?
A: I really did. Obviously I played for only one team before I came here. I was telling some guys in there. I'm just really excited to go out there and practice and start all over again. I'm starting at ground zero and working my way up as if I'm trying to make the team. That's the mentality I have in this camp, working at things I'm not so good at, trying to get better and healthier and since it's a little bit hotter here than Albany, I'll work on my conditioning and everything else as well.

Q: What are your impressions of this Saints offense?
A: Statistics speak for it. You can see that they're top three every year, offense, the red zone and other intriguing statistics. It speaks for itself. It's going to be a fun year and I'm excited to be here.

Q: Can you talk about some of your best memories of New York and Sean Payton?
A: Sean drafted me. He did a great job of helping me learn to be a pro. Playing everyday in the NFL is to come to work and be ready to work. That is what he really preached. He talked a lot about paying attention to the small details. It hasn't changed.

Q: How important is it to have not only a new start, but a new start with him?
A: It's very rewarding. It's very rare in this league to go back to the guys that drafted you.

Q: Did having to sit out that Super Bowl run last year give you a new perspective or new appreciation for the game?
A: Sometimes it's good to sit back and watch. You want to be out there. The things that were written that I was unhappy, I never said anything in the paper, they just wrote their own thing, their own synopsis. I'm very happy for those guys up there, coaches, everyone. They did a great job and they deserved everything they got.

Q: Not knowing Drew Brees personally, what did you think of him when you came here?
A: We had some familiar friends. I know a lot about him. For a guy who plays at his level, you can't miss him. With the opportunity to play with him and this coaching staff and teammates is going to be fun.

Q: Was Drew the first guy you sought out when you came here?
A: He was one of the first guys that called me and congratulated me. He said there were a bunch of rumors and stuff. Mickey (Loomis) did a great job along with Sean Payton and Drew Rosenhaus getting it done. Like I said, the Giants got a good deal, a fair deal. Hopefully the Saints got a great deal.

Q: What would you like to tell Saints fans that they are getting in Jeremy Shockey?
A: What I've been trying to the past six years which is just play full speed and play as hard as I can. I can't control injuries. I just play this game with passion and a lot of heart.

Q: Sean Payton said you weren't quite 100 percent. Where do you think you are at?
A: It's hard to tell. I haven't had a broken bone ever in my life like I had right now. You're never 100 percent in the season. It's July I believe. Time has flown by. I'm not 100 percent, but I don't need to be 100 percent right now. You just need to learn and that's what I need to do. I need to sit down and learn and sit down with Drew and know his motion, his cadence, everything that he does, I want to be there. I'm not 100 percent right now, but I will be soon.

Q: Do you look forward to this initial media generated attention cooling off a little after today?
A: I'll appreciate the six or seven that are there then. I thought the obligation to talk to the media was only during the football season. Up in Albany, it was like this everyday and you get used to it. Obviously this is a smaller media corps. I'm looking forward to getting to know the beat writers here. I don't know them, but I'm sure I'll know you guys. You're probably different than the people that write for the Enquirer or some of the other papers up in New York.

Q: One of the things that were said in those New York papers was that you wanted to be the number one option in the offense. Did you ever feel that way?
A: I think they used me as pretty much the number one option. I led the team in receptions a couple times. I don't know who quoted that.

Q: Do you expect to be the number one option in this offense?
A: I expect to start from ground zero. I'm a walk on here. I'm just trying to make this team and to do the best I can to help everybody around me. Hopefully I bring everybody else's game up to a level that...Marques (Colston), Drew (Brees), Reggie (Bush). I want to help these guys play at a higher level and do as I try to do every year, which is to do the best I can. We have a great core of guys here, a great coaching staff, everyone made the conditioning workout, and everyone made the weights. It's a little different weather from what I'm used to. Up in Albany, everyone usually does not make the conditioning test or the weights. They won a Super Bowl last year and they really deserved it. I'm going to miss my teammates, my coaches, the owners, everything about that organization.

Q: Can you respond to a quote that said you were seeking revenge on the Giants?
A: Where was that quote? I said that?

Q: Would you look forward to playing the Giants which you are scheduled to do next year in the regular season or if both teams qualify for the playoffs this year?
A: I look forward to playing every team. Obviously if you've been on a team for so long and play that team, that's just natural. I look forward to practicing against the Houston Texans in a week or so. I don't have any personal vendetta against the Giants.

Q: Have you ever been to Bourbon Street? Has anybody told you to avoid it?
A: When we played in the Sugar Bowl when I was in college. It wasn't very good for the Gators.

(nj.com)

After today's morning practice, the first of the 2008 New Orleans Saints training camp, quarterback Drew Brees recounted his getting the news that the team had acquired high-profile tight end Jeremy Shockey earlier in the week.

"I was a little shocked, no pun intended," said Brees, who had thought that trade talks with the New York Giants had died down after the Saints' minicamps.

"I certainly am looking forward to the opportunity to get to know him a little bit out here and get to know him as much as we can as far as building that relationship."

The quarterback targeted Shockey on a number of occasions. In the first one, a short out route on the right side, the former Giant went down on one knee to snag a low pass from Brees and the crowd let out a modest cheer.

Shockey started the morning running individual drills with a coach and proceeded to run with the first, second and third offensive units. He also caught the last pass of the morning, a short flare to the right from Tyler Palko that Shockey took 10 yards before receiving a hard hit from linebacker William Kershaw.

(clarionledger.com)

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints’ two biggest offseason acquisitions were praised by their former college coach Tuesday morning.
Larry Coker, who coached tight end Jeremy Shockey and linebacker Jonathan Vilma at the University of Miami, is now an ESPN commentator and was the guest speaker at Day 2 of the Sun Belt Media Days.

Coker, who led the Hurricanes to a BCS championship and No. 2 finish before being fired after the 2006 season, said the Saints made good moves when they traded with the Jets to get Vilma in February and with the Giants to canonize Shockey on Monday.

“Jeremy Shockey is an outstanding talent,” said Coker, who recruited Shockey to Miami. “He’s a special, special player. Jonathan Vilma is one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around. He can be as good as he wants to be.”

The Saints gave up second- and fifth-round picks in next year’s draft for Shockey, whose ongoing dissatisfaction with his role on the Giants made his future there untenable. A four-time Pro Bowler, he will turn 28 next month.

Coker acknowledged Shockey’s excessive emotion and said his passion for the game is a plus as long as it’s channeled properly. He thinks the fact that Saints coach Sean Payton was the Giants’ offensive coordinator during Shockey’s All-Pro rookie season in 2002 bodes well for the reunion.

“That says it all,” Coker said of Payton’s familiarity with Shockey. “Sean’s not going to bring a bum into his football program. Get Jeremy on your football team and you’re going to win some games. I think it’s a great match.”

New Orleans’ first major offseason acquisition came when it brought in Vilma, a former Pro Bowler, to be its new starting middle linebacker.
Its last major acquisition, apparently, was bringing in Shockey, who missed New York’s postseason run to the Super Bowl title because of a broken leg last season, to add a new weapon to an already potent offense.

Shockey’s proven ability to get open down the middle of the field should cause another concern for defenses that also have to try and contain running backs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush and cover wide receiver Marques Colston while quarterback Drew Brees orchestrates things.

“One of the special things I love about Jeremy Shockey is that he brings passion and emotion to the game every week,” Coker said. “He’s my kind of player. He’s a tremendous playmaker.”

Coker recalled speaking with Shockey when he was trying to convince the young tight end to leave his native Oklahoma and join the Hurricanes.

He asked Shockey what he wanted to accomplish and Shockey said he wanted to win a national championship, be a first-round draft choice in the NFL, and be the first tight end drafted.

After Miami won the national championship in Shockey’s junior season and Shockey was a sure-fire No. 1 draft choice, Coker knew he had to recruit him all over again.

“Like a good head coach, I had to tell him, Jeremy, you’re not ready,” Coker said. “You’re not going to be that high a draft choice this year, there are 14 tight ends in the draft. Of course, he went into the draft, was the 14th player picked and was the first tight end.”

Coker also remembered something Shockey’s mother told him when he was trying to get her son to become a Hurricane.

“She said, he might not be your best football player,” Coker recalled, “but he’ll be your toughest football player. She was right.”

(2theadvocate.com)

The best thing about Jeremy Shockey is that he plays with emotion. The worst thing about him is that he can be too emotional. And that's why he is now Drew Brees' headache and no longer Eli Manning's.

Shockey was never able to get over the Giants winning the Super Bowl without him. It also bugged him that New York's management demanded that he sit in the team's luxury box rather than allowing him to stand on the field with his teammates in Phoenix last February. Call it a Super Bowl funk, and that was the state of Shockey's mind this offseason. And that's why he was traded to the Saints, the one team that always wanted him and finally met New York's demands.

On the field, statistically, Shockey's best season was his rookie year, six seasons ago, when he caught 74 passes for 894 yards. Since then — at least in my mind — he dropped as many big catches as he made. He had one 100-yard receiving game last season, in a 31-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He had just three touchdowns catches; in comparison, Chris Cooley had eight for the Washington Redskins.

The two best tight ends in football right now are Jason Witten of the Cowboys and Kellen Winslow of the Browns, with All-Pro Antonio Gates of San Diego right behind them. Eli's brother, Peyton, would tell you that Dallas Clark, who had 11 touchdown catches last season, is more reliable than Shockey and runs infinitely better routes.

Shockey's typical game-day histrionics had become an emotional drain on both the Giants' offense and Manning, especially when the passing game wasn't working. When he was upset, Shockey would slam the ball to the ground and point back to the huddle about where Eli should have thrown the ball. Some interpret those Shockey actions as one of a super competitor; others can say he was being selfish and taking away from his teammates. How many times did it take a teammate or a coach to calm Shockey down when he became upset on the field?

No one can debate Shockey's enthusiasm and overall effort. He generally refused to work out with his teammates in the off-season, but he generally was in very good shape at the start of training camp doing it his way.

Off the field, Shockey was known for a predilection for a good time. But on the field, most of his teammates knew that he always had their back. If he played baseball, Shockey would be the first on the field to defend a teammate in a fight; he's that kind of man.

Despite his outbursts, the Giants would have better off with both Shockey and second-year player Kevin Boss this season. Yes, Boss had that big 45-yard catch against the Patriots and he looks like he can be a special player.

And, unlike Shockey, the big kid from Western Oregon really likes blocking, a prerequisite in the New York running game. But when you're attempting to defend a championship, it's better to have as much talent as possible. Two is always better than one.

And what happens if Boss doesn't develop into the player the Giants expect him to be? What if Boss gets hurt?

Behind Boss, the Giants have two young players who haven't played. Michael Matthews is 6-4 and 270 and can block while Darcy Johnson reportedly can catch. You would think, depending on how the preseason goes, the Giants could be checking the waiver wires if neither Matthews nor Johnson develops.

On the flip side, Saints coach Sean Payton believes that Shockey will be the perfect down the seam target for Brees and his offense. Payton needs Shockey to take some pressure off Reggie Bush and young receiver Marques Colston while converting his catches into first downs.

You can also bet that Payton will have some alignments where both Shockey and last year's receiving tight end, Eric Johnson, are on the field at the same time. Mark Campbell and Billy Miller are the tight ends who do the blocking in Payton's schemes and Campbell missed last season following back surgery.

The bottom line is that this trade was good for Shockey. He definitely needed a change of scenery.

Especially since it didn't appear a change of heart was forthcoming.

(foxsport.com)

The Times-Picayune reports TE Jeremy Shockey is happy to be a Saint. "I am excited to join the Saints, as they have expressed interest in me," Shockey said in a statement released by the team. Shockey will meet with the media for the first time Thursday after the Saints' first practice at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. "I have had a relationship with Coach (Sean) Payton, and I appreciate what he has done as a head coach," said Shockey, who enjoyed his most prolific offensive season as a rookie in 2002, when Payton was the Giants' offensive coordinator. "The Saints have a lot of weapons, starting with QB Drew Brees, and I look forward to joining my teammates at training camp. This will be a fun year." Shockey will arrive today in Jackson and must pass a physical exam before the deal can become official. He is recovering from leg and ankle injuries that ended his season in December, but Payton said the Saints anticipate a full recovery before the start of the regular season.

(ffmastermind.com)

New York Newsday reports new Saints TE Jeremy Shockey will be looking for revenge when he takes the field against his old team, the Giants. "If the team trades me, I promise you I'm going to make them pay," Shockey said. The Giants and Saints are not scheduled to meet this season, but could both be playoff contenders and possibly meet in the postseason. The teams are scheduled to play in New Orleans in 2009.

(ffmastermind.com)

3. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns. With 171 receptions over the past two seasons, Winslow has finally become the star everyone projected him to be. His rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism makes him a matchup nightmare, and his ability to align just about anywhere on the field opens up several options for the Browns' offense.

5. Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants. Shockey's greatest weaknesses are his head and his mouth. If he would just stop complaining long enough, he would be recognized for the outstanding receiving threat he is. He is also a better blocker than most think -- he just doesn't like to block.

Click here to see the rest of the rankings.

NEW YORK — The New York Giants are a better football team with tight end Jeremy Shockey, wide receiver Plaxico Burress says.

Shockey was the subject of offseason trade talk after Kevin Boss’ performance in place of the injured former first-round draft pick during the Giants’ run to the Super Bowl championship. An attempt by the Giants to trade the 27-year-old Shockey to New Orleans during the NFL draft in April failed.

“People say we’re better off without him,” Burress, 30, said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio’s “On the Ball” program. “I say those people don’t know the game of football, how hard this guy goes out and competes every Sunday.”

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the Super Bowl as the Giants upset the unbeaten New England Patriots 17-14, said, “I want him around. He’s one of the main reasons I came to New York.”

Shockey, who caught 57 passes last season, broke his left leg against Washington on Dec. 16 and missed the Giants’ title run. Boss replaced him and caught five passes for 90 yards during the playoffs, including a 45-yard pass on one of New York’s touchdown drives in the Super bowl.

“For a guy of his stature that likes to go out and compete on a week-in, week-out basis, it was sad for him not to be a part of that,” Burress said. “If you know him like I do, you know he wanted to be a part of it.”

At the Giants’ minicamp last month, Shockey was held out of practice sessions as he continued to rehabilitate his injury. Coach Tom Coughlin said he’s the No. 1 tight end on the team’s depth chart heading into training camp.

“I can’t speak for ownership and I can’t speak for anyone upstairs,” Burress said. “I can speak as a friend and teammate and I want him around.”

(rockymountainnews.com)

It appears there are movers and shakers in the NFL that believe the current picture being presented by the Giants, stating tight end Jeremy Shockey is no longer involved in trade talks, fails to match reality, according to NFL.com.


(rototimes.com)

The Bergen Record reports a source that has been accurate much of the time says the Giants have given up efforts to try to trade TE Jeremy Shockey, and that Shockey will stay put with the team. The rumor had been a very complicated multi-team deal was in the works, one which relied on a lot of things falling into place. One of the things that wasn't, however, was Shockey's ankle, and his inability to pass a team physical.

(ffmastermind.com)

After being announced as an addition to FOX's NFL Sunday pregame show, Michael Strahan became the first to publicly confirm that Jeremy Shockey wants out of New York.
"He doesn't want to be here, he doesn't want to play here," Strahan said. "I think the best thing for them and for Shockey is, if they have the opportunity, let him go." It's up to the Giants to decide Shockey's immediate future, and since he is a good player, they definitely aren't going to just "let him go."

(rotoworld.com)

So sorry about lack of blogging today. I really needed to get out of the basement, so I went to Fox's news conference introducing Michael Strahan as the newest member of its pregame cast.

You can read all about it by buying Newsday Wednesday or by reading Newsday.com and clicking on a bunch of ads. We really need the dough. Thanks.

To whet your appetite, click below for Michael's comments when I asked him about Jeremy Shockey. Interesting stuff.

Here's Michael:

"It’s a situation where he doesn’t want to be here; he doesn’t want to play here. That’s obvious with everything that’s going on. I don’t think you really gain much by keeping a guy around, regardless of how well he plays for you, there’s always that tension and that’s one thing you can’t have if you’re expected to go back and repeat and have a team that’s going to get everything you expect out of them.

"You can’t have that tension. You have to have guys there who are happy to be there, not someone who is there and doing his job and no doubt he’d do his job very well, but you just don’t need that extra in the locker room, especially since he is one of the older guys, one of the leaders. You don’t need that out of one of your leaders.

"So I think the best thing for them and for Shockey is if they have the opportunity, let him go. You read the paper; you know it’s like that. I’m not telling you anything that’s a secret. He doesn’t want to be there."

(newsday.com)

There is news that the Bucs have expressed interest in Jeremy Shockey. As if the Bucs don’t already have enough troubled tight ends. They are starting to corner the market on tight ends like they have on quarterbacks. Since this is still a rumor, let’s hope the Bucs show absolutely no interest in him at all from this point on.

In his 7 years in the league, Shockey has 371 receptions for 4,228 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has long been considered a cornerstone for the Giants team, an irreplaceable leader, if you must. Whether the quarterback is Eli Manning or Kerry Collins, Shockey seems to be the go-to favorite. He was a 4-time Pro Bowler, and the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year in 2002. In 2005, he was rewarded with a contract extension, making him the highest paid tight end in the league, at $26 million for 6 years.

The biggest testament to me, about a player, is their character. We all know what happens when a player has a Michael Vick character, or a Pacman Jones character. While Jeremy Shockey isn’t killing people or dogs, he is becoming notorious for being self-absorbed. At the end of the 2007 season, Shockey insisted on more playing time or a trade. Neither happened. What did happen was several injuries and vastly reduced playing time. Even though he did play, his selfishness kept him grounded, giving rookie tight end Kevin Boss the opportunity to make a name for himself.

To me, the most telling moment about Shockey’s character came during Super Bowl XLII. He was injured, and could not play. In fact, he didn’t even dress. But instead of sitting on the sideline with his team, he was up in the owner’s box, sipping on champaign, becoming inebriated by the fourth quarter. His selfishness is what kept him in the owner’s box, as did GM Jerrey Reese. He made Shockey sit in the owner’s box. If Shockey weren’t so selfish, sitting down with the team wouldn’t have been a problem. But because of the way he was acting, Reese decided it was better that Shockey stay away from the team. Months after the Giants had won, Shockey skipped the team’s ring ceremony. Even if he was mad at the team, he should have been there to receive his Super Bowl Ring. His most recent dispute was a shouting match with Reese, proving that he does have character issues.

The Bucs would be at a loss if they took Shockey. He has been battling injuries for the past few years, and his character issues and high maintenance could cause a plethora of problems for the Bucs. Jerrramy Stevens keeps his mouth shut. So far, Aqib Talib has kept his mouth shut. But if that’s something the Bucs want Shockey to do, then they will be sorry.

(mvn.vom)

The New York Giants' turbulent offseason got another jolt this week when disgruntled tight end Jeremy Shockey and general manager Jerry Reese got into a shouting match at the team's minicamp, according to New York-area media reports.

The Bergen (N.J.) Record first reported that the shouting match between Shockey and Reese took place. A team source confirmed there was an argument between Shockey and Reese, although when it occurred was not clear, the New York Daily News reported.

Although the genesis of the disagreement is unknown, Shockey said last week he was unhappy the Giants made him sit in co-owner Steve Tisch's luxury box instead of letting him stay on the field during Super Bowl XLII. He also said the Giants spread rumors he wanted a trade.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Shockey's mental state hasn't gotten much better during the three-day minicamp, which finished Friday at Giants Stadium.

Shockey attended each day of the minicamp, but did not follow Coughlin's order to join the team on the practice field, though all of the other injured Giants were out there, according to the Daily News.

"There is an issue, but it is not something that would prevent him from working," Coughlin told the Record.

Drew Rosenhaus, Shockey's agent, was at Giants Stadium on Friday. He was asked if Shockey wanted to remain on the Giants' roster.

"I don't specifically have a way to address that at this time because Jeremy's been very adamant about avoiding any public discussion about a situation," Rosenhaus said, according to the New York-area media reports.

"The best thing I can say about Jeremy's situation is that we are talking to the team about some of the issues that exist and we hope to get that resolved."

(espn.com)

Jeremy Shockey broke his post-Super Bowl silence yesterday.

"Everybody said that I agreed to get traded and that I would welcome a trade or that I'm unhappy. . . . But you can't find one article that had my direct quote, except from an anonymous source or from this person or from that person, OK?" Shockey was saying yesterday at the POWERade Pro Challenge for children and heat-stricken media at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

That was the good news.

It doesn't mean Shockey and the Giants don't desperately need to sit down and clear the air.

His broken leg isn't 100 percent yet and his broken relationship with some member or members of the front office requires immediate healing.

To wit: why was he watching the Giants shock the Patriots from a skybox?

"And the truth is, I went to the Super Bowl game to go watch my team play; the Giants wouldn't let me sit on the sidelines with my teammates - I was forced to sit up in a box," Shockey said.

I said to Shockey: "And that ticked you off."

"Words can't explain," he said.

I asked him: "What is your relationship with the front office right now?"

"That's between the management and myself," Shockey said.

I asked him: "Do you want to and expect to play for the Giants this year?"

"Tough questions," he began. "I'm not the Giants front office, because they feel like they have to tell the world about things that happened . . . when it's a situation like this that's so severe, you don't leak it in the media. I'm not ever going to be a leak, its a team. But they feel like they're obligated to put their feelings in the media, which really hurt my family and myself, with the things I've done for them."

Shockey said he had texted yesterday morning with co-owner Steve Tisch.

"I consider him a father figure to me - and he would never betray me, like some other people that are there," Shockey said.

I asked him: "Would you welcome a trade?"

"I'm not saying that - no comment," Shockey said. "Whatever's happened between the Giants and myself is gonna stick between the Giants and myself."

I asked him: "Will you be at minicamp?"

"I plan on fulfilling my contractual obligation but the No. 1 thing that I'm going there for is to be with my teammates (who) I miss so much," he said.

When he arrived, wearing a black POWERade T-shirt and shorts, he had offered a statement: "I'm here for POWERade, fellas, and the statement I would like to make about the Giants and the speculation in the offseason is that whatever happens between the upper management, the lower management, the owners, any management, is gonna stay between my representation and them. Unlike the Giants, I'm gonna be quiet. They've released multiple things about myself and if you look back into the media, there's always a source. Well I'd like to know who the source is, and we'll go over here and we'll deal it out ourselves because I haven't said one negative thing towards the Giants."

At the event, he instructed youngsters how to catch a football. "Concentrate . . . it's all in your eyes!" He eagerly helped a young child off with the Jets jersey he was wearing: "Take your shirt off, take your shirt off!" He stopped and posed for pictures and signed a football for Jake Weingarten, my seven-year-old nephew.

Antonio Pierce reiterated yesterday that the Giants would be fools to trade Shockey. Yes they would. They need to make him wanted again. It was hell for him watching that magical run on crutches from afar. Their best chance to repeat is with a happy, healthy Shockey. They are a better team with him. Time for a group hug.

(nypost.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey, who missed the Super Bowl run with a broken leg and asked for a trade this offseason — he was nearly dealt during the N.F.L. draft — came to the minicamp but stayed indoors, while other injured players watched workouts from the practice field sideline.

The Giants had hoped that their biggest issue headed toward training camp next month was in replacing Strahan, the defensive end who retired Tuesday after 15 seasons. That hope lasted about 24 hours.

The bigger issues, apparently, are Burress and Shockey, two close friends who threaten to put a two-pronged wedge through the lingering feel-good aftermath of the Giants’ Super Bowl victory in February. If nothing else, they served as a blunt reminder that the first game of 2008 is now closer than the last game of 2007.

Asked if Shockey was supposed to be outside with teammates, Coughlin added: “That is between Shockey and I.”

Coughlin’s only communication with Shockey this offseason was through a few text messages, the coach said. Through a team spokesman, Shockey declined to speak with reporters.

“Jeremy has stated his position that any discussions of his relationship with the team is something that he wants to keep between us and the club,” Rosenhaus said. “And I’m going to, obviously, respect and honor that.”

Shockey has long been unhappy with his role in the team’s offense, and now senses that the team feels it might be better off without him. He was broke his fibula and injured his ankle in the 14th game of the season and was placed on injured reserve.

He watched the Super Bowl from a luxury box, but did not attend the victory parade in Manhattan or the rally at Giants Stadium. He did not attend the recent ceremony where team members received Super Bowl rings, either.

(nytimes.com)

Jeremy Shockey does not sound like a happy camper. And the disgruntled tight end might not make it to the Giants' minicamp on Wednesday.

Making his first public comments since breaking his leg last December, a defensive Shockey pointed the finger at the Giants for all the offseason speculation about his future and reported unhappiness. And, perhaps indicating a rift with the only pro team he has ever played for, Shockey left the question of whether he would attend the mandatory minicamp up in the air.

"The statement I would like to make about the Giants and the speculation in the offseason is that whatever happens between the upper management, lower management, the owners, any management, is going to (stay) between ourselves," the six-year veteran said yesterday at a promotional appearance at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. "Unlike the Giants, I am going to be quiet. They have released multiple things about myself, and if you look back into the media (reports), there is always a source. Well, I would like to know who the source is.

"I haven't said one negative thing towards the Giants in the newspapers," he added. "I have never expressed the feelings of the things that you guys (the media) made up. You guys will be able to talk to me (more) if I make it to minicamp."

Ownership, management and coaches have repeatedly said that the Giants want to keep the 27-year-old Shockey, who was a no-show at the team's Super Bowl parade, its visit to the White House and last month's championship-ring ceremony.

Still, the team has listened to offers for the emotional tight end and turned down one from the Saints that would have given the Giants a second-round pick this year and a fifth-rounder next year.

Shockey has told friends that he is unhappy with his role, his contract and the notion that the Giants were better without him after he broke his leg in Week 15 because Eli Manning didn't have the burden of having to pass the ball to Shockey to keep him happy.

Yesterday, Shockey, who was rarely seen around the team during its Super Bowl run, seemed to be irritated with the idea that he is a disruption.

When told by one reporter that the team has repeatedly said it wants him back, the tight end shot back, "Why wouldn't they want me? Of course they want me. I just spoke to the owner an hour ago."

Shockey, who just finished the first season of a five-year, $26.3 million extension, didn't say which co-owner he spoke with - John Mara or Steve Tisch. However, he twice made it clear that the Giants should want him back at least in part because he is not a troublemaker who has had numerous run-ins with the law, perhaps counteracting the perception that he is a negative influence.

"I want him here," said linebacker Antonio Pierce, who sported his gaudy Super Bowl ring at the event in Flushing. "What he wants to do and what the organization wants, you have to ask them that question. Antonio Pierce wants Jeremy Shockey."

But does Shockey still want to remain with the Giants? When asked if he is going to stay in town for a bit, Shockey replied, "Who knows? I might go to see my mother in Texas. I have no idea.

"I feel like I am getting better," Shockey said, referring to his broken leg. "Obviously I am not 100%. And if I do show up to minicamp, it's going to be ... I wouldn't imagine me doing much, just getting treatment on my leg. This is the only statement I am going to make. Like I said, it's going to be between the Giants and myself. That is really about it."

(nydailynews.com)

June 5, 2008 -- The last place anyone might expect to see hard-to-find Jeremy Shockey this weekend is smack in the middle of Queens, but that's where the Giants tight end is scheduled to be Saturday.

Shockey is supposed to be in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for a paid appearance for a sports-drink company. If he indeed shows, that's a promising sign as far as his expected attendance Wednesday for the start of the Giants' mandatory three-day mini-camp.
Shockey, as usual, has refrained from participating in the off-season workout program, preferring to stay in shape in Miami. This year, Shockey is rehabilitating following surgery to repair a broken leg and ligament damage in his ankle as a result of an injury suffered Dec. 16 against the Redskins.

The majority of players since March 31 also have been working out at Giants Stadium. Monday is the sixth and final voluntary Organized Team Activity practice and, if he's in town following his promotional appearance, perhaps Shockey will make it to the field for the first time prior to the mini-camp.

When the mini-camp ends June 13, players are off until they must report to Albany July 24 for training camp.

(nypost.com)

Sources tell Newsday's Bob Glauber that Jeremy Shockey plans to attend the Giants' mini-camp that begins on June 11.
Shockey would be subject to fines if he missed the mandatory mini-camp, but if he truly wanted to leave the Giants he wouldn't attend them. He still hasn't spoken publicly since the Giants won the Super Bowl. We'd expect a lovefest once Shockey is back.

(rotoworld.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey, who has been the subject of trade talk all offseason, was one of four players not to attend. Shockey broke his left leg before the Giants playoff run and subsequently did not play in their Super Bowl win. He stayed away from the media frenzy during Super Bowl Week and watched the game from a Sky Box. Would you have gone to the ring ceremony if you were Shockey?

Michael Eisen, of Giants.com, reports New York Giants tight ends coach Mike Pope said the team anticipates TE Jeremy Shockey to report to the team's minicamp. "We anticipate him being here for the mini camp and we anticipate him being a part of this team as has been stated by the head coach and the general manager," Pope said.

(kffl.com)

Giants TE coach Mike Pope and the rest of the assistants were made available to the media today. Obviously, the hot topic was Jeremy Shockey, which made Pope a popular guy.

Pope said he hasn't spoken to Shockey "most recently." Apparently that means within the past few weeks because he did say he talked to Shockey around draft time. But Pope still had a pretty good feel for the situation and indicated there are some rough patches that need to be smoothed over, though he downplayed Shockey's frustrations with the offense. The vibe Pope put out there was that any player who misses a Super Bowl victory feels removed from the team and needs to feel welcome again.

"We spoke about that right before the draft and through the winter a little bit, yeah," Pope, who has been an assistant for all of the Giants' Super Bowl championships, said of his chats with Shockey. "A good way to look at that is the picture of Phil Simms in the tunnel out here. We all remember that shot. And Phil has said how difficult that was for him. I don't think you can individualize this. Any player who's a big part of the team and gets out of the roster for a period of time, it's a terrific shock because that's what they do. He had a lot to do with us getting there and it's every player's goal to play in that game and win the game. I know he was very, very upset about not being able to finish what we collectively started. I'm sure there was a lot of disappointment."

There have also been plenty of rumors and reports that this situation could result in a divorce. Pope doesn't expect that to occur and he anticipates Shockey's arrival in time for mandatory minicamp from June 11-13.

"I don't think he's any different than other players. Once the team gets back together and they get involved together, those things - whatever they have been - tend to become less of a factor and they eventually disappear," Pope said. "You start playing together, you start winning and the upside of the game is what you're looking at, then things usually run fairly smoothly."

As for the rumblings his teammates don't want Shockey around, Pope quickly dismissed them by saying, "I haven't spoken to anyone who hasn't texted him or talked to him. He's very close to several of our players. ... These guys are all about winning and if players are here that can help us win, they're usually favorably looked on."

And then of course there are the suggestions Eli Manning was better in the postseason because Shockey wasn't around. Not so, said Pope.

"That's demeaning to both players. To think that one player has to be out of the picture before another player can surface, that's ludicrous," Pope said. "Eli Manning has been on a constant scale of improvement; that's very obvious. ... (Manning's improvement) wasn't (the result of) the absence of anybody; it was the ascension of some other players. You'd have to be pretty narrow-minded to look at things that way. This was not a situation wher the vice president becomes president because something bad happened to the president."

And finally, when asked about Shockey's recovery from a broken leg, Pope said he heard he's coming along well and is running in the sand pits in Miami to strengthen his legs.

"He gets hurt, but he's a quick healer because he pushes himself," Pope said.

(blog.nj.com)

The New Orleans Saints are no longer interested in trading for Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Supposedly.

Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis indicated that the team’s pursuit of the volatile, but talented, tight end has ended in a Thursday interview with Sirius NFL Radio. 

“It’s no secret we had some discussions with them and we just couldn’t come to a conclusion on the right compensation,” Loomis said.  “I understand that.  He’s a very good player and the Giants don’t want to just give him away – unless they feel like they’re getting really good value.  But for the most part that’s dead. . . .  I don’t anticipate that being rekindled.”

Unless, of course, the Giants soften their demands.

But will they?  As we’ve previously pointed out, Shockey is scheduled to make a reasonable $1.9 million base salary in 2008, and if the Giants were to trade him they’d suddenly have little or no depth at the position in the event that Kevin Boss gets injured.

The question will be whether and to what extent Shockey will opt to be a pain in the butt during mandatory minicamps or training camp.  If he disrupts what has become a surprisingly solid locker-room situation, the team might simply decide to get what it can and move on.

And this reality creates a natural incentive for Shockey to be disruptive, especially if the Saints intend to continue to tamper with the relationship between the Giants and Shockey by making public comments confirming their interest in giving Shockey what he reportedly wants — a ticket out of New York.

So, basically, getcha popcorn ready.

(profootballtalk.com)

Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said today that he’s spoken to Jeremy Shockey and told the unhappy tight end how much he’s wanted. But he also became the latest person who couldn’t guarantee Shockey would be the Giants’ starting tight end this year.

That’s the plan, Gilbride said, but he added the phrase “right now” - just like GM Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin did a few weeks back. It’s yet another sign that the possibility exists that Shockey could still be traded, though that would appear to be a very slim possibility at this late date.

“It’s so nebulous right now, you just have no idea what’s going to happen,” Gilbride said. “Right now he’s on our team. We’re planning on him being there. He’ll be one of the guys that we’ll look to feature and one of the guys that we’ll look to depend on. Hopefully he’ll be here in good spirits and ready to do the things that we know he’s capable of doing. But who knows? It’s certainly beyond my hands.”

Gilbride said he didn’t have any intimate knowledge of any trade talks, and that “90 percent” of what he hears has come from the media. Still, he felt the need to call Shockey and let him know that “I hope he comes back and if he does come back I’m looking forward to working with him, and I think his coaches and teammates all feel like I do, that we’ll be a better football team because he’s here. I just wanted to make sure he understood that.”

Of course, there’s still the big question: Does Shockey want to come back? He’s certainly told enough people around the NFL that he’s unhappy, and he did request a trade from the Giants. Has he changed his mind? Is he willing to make a smooth return without making any waves? And what did he tell Gilbride about that?

“It wouldn’t be fair for me to divulge what was said by him, and I would feel very uncomfortable doing that. I’d feel like I was betraying a confidence,” Gilbride said. “But I feel like we had a good talk, and the most important thing I wanted him to know was the way I felt.”

What about Shockey’s role in the offense, a major source of his unhappiness? Gilbride said Shockey is “one of the guys we’ll look to feature” if he comes back. But does Shockey believe that? Does he still feel like this is an offense he can contribute to and wants to be in?

“Again, I don’t feel real comfortable about commenting on the exchange of ideas that came from him,” Gilbride said. “I can tell you what I said, and I just let him know there’s a place for him here. I think we’re a better football team if he’s here. And as far as I’m concerned he’s an integral part of what we’re doing.”

That’s a lot of uncertainty. Again.

(nydailynews.com)

It might be rookie minicamp, but the veterans are still a topic of conversation - particularly Jeremy Shockey. Today, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said he's not even sure if the tight end will play another down for the Giants or if he'll be traded.

"It's so nebulous right now. I just have no idea what's going to happen," Gilbride said. "Right now, he's on our team. We're planning on him being there and he'll be one of the guys we'll look to feature and depend on. Hopefully, he'll be here in good sprits and ready to do the things we know he's capable of doing. But who knows? It's certainly beyond my hands."

Gilbride said he has spoken to Shockey recently, but still remains unsure of the situation because of what he's hearing.

"Ninety percent of it is coming from you guys and just listening and reading and hearing what you guys are saying and hearing what our organization's responses are to your inquiries," Gilbride said. "When I spoke to him, I just told him, in essence, I hope he comes back and if he does come back I'm looking forward to working with him and I think his teammates and coaches all feel like I do - that we'll be a better football team because he's here. And I just wanted to make sure he understood that."

Gilbride wouldn't say what Shockey's feelings were on the matter, particularly when asked if he wants to come back and if he likes his role in the offense.

"It wouldn't be fair for me to divulge what was said by him and I would feel very uncomfortable doing that. I would feel like I was betraying his confidence," Gilbride said. "But we had a good talk and, again, the most important thing is I wanted him to know the way I felt."

When pressed on the issue of Shockey's role in the offense, Gilbride said, "Again, I don't feel real comfortable commenting on the exchange of ideas I came from him. I can tell you what I said. I just wanted him to know there's a place for him here and I think we're a better football team when he's here and as far as I'm concerned, he's an integral part of what we're doing."

Gilbride did have an interesting take on how much Shockey's absence while injured last season actually helped Eli Manning.

"Rather than Jeremy leaving, it was more of Steve Smith coming back," Gilbride said. "That's what a lot of people don't realize. It was Steve Smith's return. If you looked at the Dallas game in our opener he did some good things. He caught the pass on the third-down conversion and then all of a sudden we don't have him again until Buffalo. And then, he comes back and little by little ... I thought his emergence really helped (Manning) and also the entire group contributed. I thought the line played better, I thought Steve Smith's addition (helped) and I thought Kevin Boss did some good things. A lot of those guys played a little bit better and the supporting cast - I hate to use that term - but the supporting cast played better, which I thought allowed Eli to showcase his abilities more effectively."

(blog.nj.com)

According to Vinny DiTrani of the Bergen Record’s True Blue blog former Jet, now NO Saint Jonathon Vilma has been in contact with his fellow Miami Hurricane alum Jeremy Shockey. Vilma’s been telling Shockey how great it would be for them to hook up again. But DiTrani writes:

A source who has proved himself reputable insists enough Giants have talked to Shockey and convinced him to stay.

The Times-Picayune reports league sources indicate the Saints' pursuit of Giants TE Jeremy Shockey did not end when a draft-day deal between the clubs could not be reached. HC Sean Payton believes Shockey is a perfect fit for the Saints' offense, and he still desperately wants the player to be wearing a black-and-gold uniform this season. Shockey has informed the Giants of his unhappiness, and apparently unwillingness, to play again in New York. Don't be surprised if the trade is finalized in the coming weeks. According to New York's Newsday, Shockey has four years remaining on his five-year, $26.3 million contract extension, including $1.9 million due this season.

(ffmastermind.com)

On a day the Giants drafted a Miami player in the first round, they held on to one they already had.

Minutes after the Giants selected Hurricanes safety Kenny Phillips with the 31st overall pick yesterday, the team fielded offers from several teams for tight end Jeremy Shockey. Though a trade was speculated to be likely early in the day, the Giants' asking price simply didn't come down enough to finalize a deal.

The Saints, who offered their second-round pick and either a sixth-rounder this year or a fifth-round selection in next year's draft, declined the Giants' proposal of a first-round pick next year, according to someone who was informed of the discussions late last night.

The person, who requested anonymity because of the private nature of trade talks, then said another team entered the fray: The Buccaneers, who offered a package similar to New Orleans' proposal. (The Seahawks also showed interest in Shockey.) But Tampa Bay was unwilling to give up its first-round pick in 2009, meaning Shockey, who is recovering from a broken fibula, will remain a Giant.

For now.

"There's been a lot of talk; very little activity," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said minutes after the Saints selected Indiana cornerback Tracy Porter at No. 40 -- the second-round pick they offered the Giants. "There is so much that goes on with regard to the draft, in terms of picks and players. You learn over the years the discussions come and go. Whether there's any seriousness to them, that's probably for someone else to say."

It remains to be seen where this situation goes from here. Shockey has threatened to hold out this upcoming season, though a few members of the organization have simply chalked that threat up to Shockey's ever-volatile emotions.

"Jeremy Shockey, while playing in our program, has worked very hard," Coughlin said. "He's done a good job in mentoring a lot of these young guys who had to come through and play for us this year. He has outstanding ability and there's no change in that status as of now."

There's also no change in Miami's status as a perennial producer of first-round picks, especially safeties. Phillips became the fourth Hurricane safety drafted in the first round in the past seven years, joining Ed Reed, Brandon Meriweather and the late Sean Taylor. Phillips also (barely) kept the school's streak of consecutive years with a first-round pick going at 14.

His selection is a pick that addresses the most glaring need on the Super Bowl champs' roster. It was also a pick that surprised few, as Phillips was slated to be selected by the Giants by many prognosticators.

Perhaps the person that was most stunned was Phillips.

"I saw a lot of mock drafts and stuff said I was going to go to the Giants," Phillips said. "But I really don't (pay attention) to all that and I really haven't talked to them a lot. So I was definitely surprised."

For the second straight year, the Giants' first-round pick wasn't one of the players they brought in for a predraft visit. In fact, Phillips said he hadn't talked to the team's decision-makers since the scouting combine in late February.

But the Giants were comfortable with their read on Phillips -- a former cornerback who can cover, hit, run and has shown good awareness on the field. In three seasons with Miami, the 21-year-old Phillips had seven interceptions, 13 pass break-ups and 203 tackles.

"We like his size, we like his speed," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He's multidimensional. We like those kinds of players. The guy's played corner before, so we feel he can go down and (cover) the third receiver if he has to. He's smart and he's a good person. We like all that stuff about him."

The Giants' lack of depth at safety provides Phillips with an excellent shot at a starting job.

Gibril Wilson, the Giants' fifth-round pick in 2004, signed with the Raiders as a free agent last month. In his place, the team signed 32-year-old Sammy Knight, a heady veteran whose speed has never been his strength. James Butler and Michael Johnson are the other two safeties vying for a starting job.

"We got nice value and we got a need position as well," Reese said. "That's what we like to do in the draft."

(nj.com)

The Seahawks have no serious interest in trading for New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, despite a report in the New York Daily News.

While the Seahawks do have a need at tight end and the former Pro Bowler is a talent -- but also a bit of a character -- the club plans to address the tight end position in the NFL draft this weekend.

The Seahawks are not talking to the Giants about a trade, but include the word "serious" in their dismissal of the report because if Shockey was to be available this weekend for a seventh-round daft choice that's when their "interest" might kick in.

Here's the story from the Daily News:

If the Giants decide to trade Jeremy Shockey this week, it won't necessarily be to the Saints.

Whether the Saints or Seahawks up the ante between now and the start of the draft on Saturday will likely determine whether the Giants make the bold move to dump the 27-year-old Shockey, who has been expressing his frustrations with the Giants to his friends this offseason. According to team sources, the Giants aren't actively trying to trade him, but they are listening to offers and have discussed the possibility.
Some in the organization are convinced Shockey will be traded before the first day of the draft is over, although most sources have indicated it could go either way, depending on how high the offers go.

One source also indicated that other teams have expressed an interest in Shockey, although none more than the Seahawks and Saints. The source did not say who those teams were, but one possibility is the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking to replace tight end Alge Crumpler. The Falcons, by the way, have three second-round picks (34th, 37th and 48th).

Shockey has been telling friends he wants to go to the Saints, where he would be reunited with former Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton - New Orleans' head coach - and play in a more tight end-friendly offense. But Seattle could be an intriguing destination, too. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren likes to feature the tight end in his offense, but he had little luck in recent years with the troubled and drop-prone Jerramy Stevens, who was on the Bucs in 2007. Holmgren is looking for an upgrade over 36-year-old Marcus Pollard, who reportedly agreed to a contract with the Pats last night.

Meanwhile, back at Giants Stadium, the guy who would replace Shockey on the Giants - second-year pro Kevin Boss - didn't sound thrilled with the idea at all.

"He'll be back," Boss said. "I've got a lot more to learn from him. He's been a great mentor. Obviously he's a better player than me. He can do some things I can't yet."

Boss also said "I think we're all confident (Shockey) wants to come back," but he admitted he has not talked directly to Shockey about that. Giants GM Jerry Reese and quarterback Eli Manning have also expressed their hope and belief that Shockey wants to return, although they didn't know for sure, either.

Shockey hasn't commented publicly on the subject, though he has told many people that he is frustrated with his role in the offense, upset at how it was portrayed that the Giants' Super Bowl run began when he broke his leg in Week 15, and is worried about getting the blame next season if things go wrong for the team. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has told the Giants he is interested in re-doing Shockey's deal, even though he has four years left on a five-year, $26.3 million extension.

Rosenhaus, in a recent TV appearance, did not deny that Shockey is unhappy and wants to be traded. He said only that Shockey's feelings are "something that we've communicated to the Giants and the ball's going to be in their court."

(seattlepi.com)

Things are quiet around the Giants these days, with voluntary offseason workouts and the draft coming up.

"Voluntary workout" is code, in Jeremy Shockey's life, for "see you in June." This has never really been a bad thing, what with Shockey always performing well for a good chunk of his six seasons before he gets slowed or, as happened in December, stopped by an injury.

Shockey's voice is never heard in the springtime around Giants Stadium, but his name sure is. Whether it's from reporters asking Eli Manning whether he wants Shockey to be there for these voluntary workouts, or as Tuesday, when guys like Dave Diehl and No. 2 tight end Kevin Boss get peppered with questions about whether Shockey would still make a good, productive Giant.

Their answers, of course, were positive. Boss still has a lot to learn and a lot of muscle to build before he can be a solid No. 1 tight end; Manning was away on his honeymoon, but he told our Tom Rock a few weeks ago that the Giants definitely want Shockey around.
Here's the deal with Shockey: He plays hard, he plays hurt, but I can't really say if he ever plays happy. Maybe he couldn't say that either. The chip on his shoulder goes all the way back to Ada, Okla., and a kid who was mad at the world and hasn't really stopped being mad.

So if he's disgruntled about the broken leg that kept him from the Giants' Super Bowl run, or about his role in Tom Coughlin's deliberate offense, or about whether he feels properly loved by his teammates, that's not really breaking news.

He has talked before about loving his role in Sean Payton's offense when Jim Fassel was head coach, but Shockey omits the reality of his first two Giants seasons. They had the dramatic meltdown in San Francisco in the playoffs, then it was 4-12 and goodbye Fassel.

So Shockey was unhappy that his team stunk. Now, his team is great, but he wants a different role, or perhaps a trade. No one can be sure of what he wants, because - without getting too much inside his head - I don't think Shockey really knows what he wants as a football player.

He has millions, and job security if he wants it. He has four Pro Bowls. He has tons of talent. And now, even though he probably would say he didn't earn one, he has a Super Bowl ring.

If Shockey wants out, the Giants should oblige. A second-round pick would suffice, especially from a team that picks high up in the second round, giving the Giants a couple of top 50 picks to shore up the secondary, or the receiving corps, or even with a tight end.

I could point to all the positive things that happened when Shockey was injured - Boss' improvement, Manning's incredible improvement, the offense's efficiency and simplicity - but, really, logic doesn't have to apply here.

Shockey is an unhappy guy most times. The Giants, reigning champions, could gladly show him that the grass is never greener, especially for a me-first guy in the NFL.

(newsday.com)

The prevailing theory regarding the Giants and Jeremy Shockey is the team learned during its Super Bowl run they no longer need the Pro Bowl tight end.

Truth is, Shockey made the first move toward a separation. And he did so before the playoffs even began.

Shockey told the Giants in December he wanted a changed role in the offense or a trade to another team, according to a person familiar with discussions between Shockey, the Giants' coaching staff and front office. The person, who requested anonymity because he isn't authorized to speak on behalf of Shockey or the Giants, said Shockey threatened to sit out the upcoming season if neither request was granted.

Shockey, 27, who suffered a broken fibula in a Dec. 16 loss to the Redskins, feels his career is being cut short by all the blocking he has been asked to do since Tom Coughlin became coach of the Giants in 2004. While blocking is an integral part of a tight end's job description, Shockey believes he was more effective as a receiver under former coach Jim Fassel and offensive coordinator Sean Payton, now the coach of the New Orleans Saints, who are interested in trading for Shockey.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese, who said on Thursday that Shockey is the Giants' starting tight end "right now," had no comment recently when asked about Shockey's trade demands. Yesterday, Shockey's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, addressed the trade rumors during an appearance on ESPN's "NFL Live."

"In terms of Jeremy's feelings as relating to the Giants, that's something that we've communicated to the Giants and the ball's going to be in their court," Rosenhaus said, later adding: "We've had discussions with the Giants about Jeremy. I'll leave it at that. And you hear what Jerry Reese had to say. It's going to be up to the Giants to decide whether or not they want to trade Jeremy."

Shockey has complained about his role several times since Coughlin arrived. Late in the 2004 season he griped about being turned into "an average player" by the new coach's offense. This came three months after he complained about pre-snap motion, which made him "tired before I get to my final spot."

In addition to neutralizing his receiving ability, Shockey believes the number of injuries he has suffered over the past few years can be attributed to all the blocking he has done. He has battled several ankle sprains, including one that nearly sidelined him for the game against the Redskins in which he broke his leg.

Still, Shockey hasn't said much publicly about his role the past few years. But behind closed doors he has been as vocal as ever. According to someone who speaks with former Giants tight end Visanthe Shiancoe regularly, Shockey once told Shiancoe to stay with the Giants because Shockey wanted to leave, which would have left the starting spot to Shiancoe.

The person, who asked not to be named because the conversation was private, said the emotional Shockey then flipped his stance and told Shiancoe he'd be better off playing for a team that features a receiving tight end in its offense. Shiancoe signed a five-year, $18 million deal with the Vikings last offseason. Click here to continue reading...

Okay, by now you’ve surely heard the one about who the Dolphins will take with the number one overall pick, and what moves the Dallas Cowboys are looking to make in the next week - but have you heard the one about Jeremy Shockey getting dealt to the Seahawks?

Shockey To Seattle -Well, we know that Giants G.M. Jerry Reese just came out and reiterated to the media the other day that Jeremy Shockey’s absence from mini-camp was nothing to be alarmed about, as he misses every season, electing instead to workout down in Miami (and who wouldn’t?). Reese even went so far as to say that Shockey is his starting TE in 2008. What ESPN failed to show, though, is that in the sentence before that, Reese said “anything can happen in personnel…but right now…”

The fact of the matter is that even though it may seem like the Giants have no reason to trade the soon-to-be 28 year old 6′5″, 251 lb. beast of a tight end - they just won a Super Bowl without him. That makes him expendable, whether you like to admit it or not.

Any time a team has an expendable player, that another team or teams are willing to offer substantial compensation for, you take it. Bottom line.

We’re hearing that the Seahawks - in addition to the Saints - have a substantial interest in Shockey’s services, as TE Marcus Pollard doesn’t have much left in the tank, and there’s really no other tight end on their roster. Mike Holmgren’s West Coast system NEEDS a pass catching TE, and with Deion Branch likely to start the year on the PUP list, and D.J. Hackett gone to Carolina, the ‘Hawks need another weapon in the passing game. Not to mention that veteran signal caller Matt Hasselbeck has said he’d welcome it, and he’s probably one of only a handful of QBs in the league who could “handle” Shockey’s personality on and off the field.

On top of all this, the recent word from the New York Daily Newsis that Shockey “is very open to the idea of being traded.” ESPN’s Michael Smith seems convinced that Shockey will be traded to New Orleans prior to the NFL Draft.

Two bidders mean something will get done folks. Something will get done. A move means an increase in fantasy value for whatever QB ends up with him, and Kevin Boss’ value rises substantially.

(thereisnooffseason.com)

Jeremy Shockey, 27, remains a candidate to be traded on draft weekend. The Giants won a Super Bowl without him, and they have another capable tight end, Kevin Boss, who is younger (24) and has a smaller contract. It can't be ignored that the play of QB Eli Manning improved last season after Shockey was sidelined with a broken leg. If the Giants keep Shockey, they will be keeping an emotional player who may no longer feel wanted. And there is a market for him. The Saints -- whose coach, Sean Payton, was the Giants' offensive coordinator during Shockey's rookie season -- are interested. . . .

(sportingnews.com)

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)

These pesky Jeremy Shockey rumors aren’t subsiding, and they won’t soon if a New Era Scouting report is true that Shockey is scoping out houses in New Orleans. It’s a throwaway line in a larger article, and given my skepticism regarding the credibility of all of these new “inside source” football sites, I’m not sure how accurate it is. But there ya go.

The New York Post has refuted rumors that Shockey will be dealt to the Saints (with the most recent gossip that the Saints turned down demands of a second-round pick and safety Roman Harper). The Post, however, is the only source outright denying the rumors, and I tend to believe where there’s smoke there’s fire. Plus, it’s the Post.

I think dealing for Shockey would be beneficial, but only for the right price. If the Giants must have anything close to what they’ve asked for, the Saints would be better off exploring other options. Which brings us to Dustin Keller.

The Saints brought arguably the best tight end in the draft for a visit that extended beyond the typical pleasantries of pre-draft stop-and-chats. The team rolled out the red carpet for Keller, and his fellow Purdue alum Drew Brees said he’d “love” to have Keller as his tight end in 2008.

The Saints might very possibly be interested in Keller, who should be around when they pick at #40. Or this could be a smokescreen to force the Giants’ hands. Either way, they’re improving at tight end. Meanwhile, Jim Ross’ credibility hangs in the balance.

(footballnews-247.com)

In his latest post for FOXSports.com, Adam Schein notes that he has checked in with three league insiders and has come to the conclusion that there is at least a 50/50 chance that Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey will be a Saint by the time the NFL Draft is over.

A friend of Shockey told the NY Daily News that Jeremy is frustrated “with his role in the Giants' offense."
Shockey, 27, was a first-round pick by the Giants back in 2002. He has dealt with injuries throughout his six-year career and has yet to play a full 16 game schedule. He is currently due $1.925 million this upcoming season with a $2.4 million reporting bonus. Overall, he has four-years left on his deal with roughly $13.2 million in base salary.

(giantsfootballblog.com)

Eli Manning wants Jeremy Shockey back next season, but does Shockey want to be back?

That’s an interesting question and one that wasn’t exactly cleared up this afternoon when the Giants opened their locker room doors to the media for the first time this offseason. Manning was asked about this offseason’s rumor that won’t die - that Shockey might be traded before the NFL draft. His response was that he’s looking forward to working with Shockey next season.

Then he was asked if he thought Shockey felt the same way.

“I hope so,” Manning said. “I hope he understands we would like him back.”
It’s unclear exactly what Shockey feels about all this, since he’s down in Miami not saying much, and his agent - Drew Rosenhaus - is declining to comment on any Shockey-related subjects. He obviously knows that the New Orleans Saints - and his old buddy, Sean Payton - inquired about him recently. And he probably knows that the Giants aren’t shopping him (or so they say) but are willing to listen to offers, just in case there’s one they can’t refuse.

But what does Shockey want? There are rumors - lots and lots of them - that he’s unhappy in New York and would welcome a trade. One friend of his recently said he’s expressed a frustration with his role in the offense and with the way it’s been portrayed in New York that the Giants’ Super Bowl run started when he got hurt. He’s also apparently a little worried that if the offense tanks next season, people will blame him.

The problem with that, according to the friend, is that Shockey is a volatile, emotional person who complains. A lot. And there can be a big gulf between him expressing his frustrations in a private conversation and rooting for a trade.

Regardless, it’s not Shockey’s call, of course. And as far as I’ve been told, the Giants’ position is unchanged. They are not actively shopping Shockey, nor are they really interested in dealing him. But no one is untouchable (almost no one, anyway) and they’re willing to listen to offers. If the offer is good enough, who knows? Maybe they’d strike a deal. But Shockey is 27, coming off a broken leg, and has yet to make it through a full, 16-game season in his six-year career. Those facts are likely to keep the offers low enough that the Giants won’t be tempted.

Then again, you never know.

(nydailynews.com)

Jeremy Shockey was nowhere to be found yesterday at Giants Stadium. Then again, it's April and Shockey doesn't usually arrive in East Rutherford until late May.

But with rumors swirling for the past three months about a possible Shockey trade -- perhaps to the Saints -- the injured tight end's absence didn't do much to silence rumblings of a divide between himself and his teammates.

Yet, according to Eli Manning, Shockey is as much a part of the team as ever.

\"When I talk to him, I say I'm excited about this season," said Manning, who has spoken with Shockey on a regular basis this offseason. "I'm excited about what we can become as a team, as our connection between Jeremy and I. I don't think we've reached our potential in our connection and in the tandem we can become. That's what I'm excited about because I see room for improvement in all areas."

There have been plenty of whispers since before the Super Bowl XLII win over the Patriots that the Giants (particularly Manning) are better off without Shockey. There have also been reports the team has fielded trade offers from other clubs, including New Orleans.

And then there are the rumors that Shockey is unhappy with the Giants. After all, it's no secret he hasn't been pleased with his role in the offense during the Coughlin era. While he recovers from a broken leg suffered late last season, Shockey's stance on the issue remains unclear.

Even Manning didn't sound so sure when asked if the four-time Pro Bowl selection still wants to be a Giant.

"I hope so. I hope he understands we would like him back," Manning said. "He's a tremendous player. He helps us out and helps out our offense when he's out there."

If Shockey wants to be "out there," he'll attend the mandatory minicamp in June. If not, he won't. And then, it'll be clear if he wants to remain in East Rutherford.

(nj.com)

For those of you who have not heard by now, professional wrestling commentator Jim Ross talked in passing on his WWE blog about an alleged source that claimed Shockey would be on the move by draft day.

“My sources tell me that the New York Giants are going to trade outstanding TE Jeremy Shockey to Bush’s Saints, prior to the NFL draft. Shockey is an Oklahoma kid from Ada who told me last week he was looking forward to playing for the Saints. “

(portfolio.com)

Coincidentally, Jeremy Shockey is trying to get a new contract out of the Giants. I'm told by my UM sources he really wants OUT, and feels the Dolphins would be a good fit since it's home. The Giants can not get over the fact he doesn't want to train with them in the offseason.

Question to Dolphins nation? Is Shockey, who has four-years left on a five-year contract extension he signed in 2005 (that pays him $25 million) worth the Dolphins second second-round pick. That's what it would take to make the deal happen I'm told?....

(sun-sentinel.com)

Once again, there is a report stating the Saints are trying to trade for Giants TE Jeremy Shockey.

This time, it's SI's Peter King, who wrote today:

9. I think, Giant beat writers, you might sniff around this one: New Orleans is not through trying to acquire Jeremy Shockey.

When PK says, "Jump," I say, "How high?" (Even though my agent told me to wait for my pro day.)

I did some sniffing around and came up with very little. Not saying nothing's cooking, just that there aren't signs of it. All I know is what I heard recently - that the Saints' original offer was a second-round pick (No. 40 overall, if it was this year's pick they offered) and S Roman Harper, their second round pick in '06. The Giants said, "Nah."

So unless NO is reloading for another run at Shockey, nothing's cooking on that front. And believe me, if they plan on prying Shockey from the Giants, they'd better come with a seriously good offer.

(blog.nj.com)

Peter King drops an intriguing nugget into his Monday Morning Quarterback column today:

I think, Giant beat writers, you might sniff around this one: New Orleans is not through trying to acquire Jeremy Shockey.

Although I would add that Saints beat writers -- not to mention, you know, King himself -- ought to be sniffing around as well, the idea that the Giants will trade Jeremy Shockey and that the Saints are the most likely destination has been around for most of the NFL off-season and is not going away.

For the Giants, it makes sense because they didn't seem to miss Shockey late in the season when he broke his leg and was replaced by rookie Kevin Boss. They did, after all, win the Super Bowl without Shockey and with Boss making some big plays down the stretch. That doesn't mean Boss is as good as Shockey, but it could mean that he will be some day, and he's certainly cheaper.

For the Saints it makes a little bit less sense, seeing as they re-signed both of last year's tight ends, Billy Miller and Eric Johnson. But Shockey provides a big-play threat that Miller and Johnson don't, and if the Saints think he'd be a good fit in their passing game, it would be tempting to trade for him.

My best guess is that Shockey will be a Giant in 2008. But just because the Giants say he's coming back doesn't mean he will.

(sports-aol.com)

Eli Manning has "made it clear" that he wants Jeremy Shockey back with the Giants this season, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Mort confirms reports that the Giants have taken several calls about Shockey, but still have no intentions of moving him. Manning is reportedly excited about the prospect of using more two-tight end sets with Shockey and Kevin Boss. The Giants might trade Shockey for a first-round pick, but no team is likely to offer that much for a player coming off a broken leg.

(rotoworld.com)

With the Giants staying pretty quiet with free agents, the talk around the team has focused more on who has departed so far — and who may be next. This isn’t uncommon for a team coming off a Super Bowl win, but so far, the Giants have kept most of their nucleus intact. The key G-Men are under contract and returning to defend their title next season, with notable exceptions Gibril Wilson (now with the Raiders) and Kawika Mitchell (with the Bills).

But one player a lot of fans around the league are wondering about is Jeremy Shockey.

An unquestionable talent with a fiery personality, his future with the Giants isn’t set in stone, and there have been reports of teams expressing interest in trading for him. The Giants showed they could do it without him last year, going on their storied run after Shockey was placed on the IR with a broken fibula on Dec. 17. There were even some juicy rumors that Eli Manning was happy with Shockey’s Super Bowl absence, although we’re (unfortunately) not aware of there being any truth to them. Click here to continue...

For weeks now, the New York Giants have been saying they're still going to keep Jeremy Shockey, aka Locker Room Cancer, because of his talent.

As I've written before, it's certainly odd that the Giants played their best football with Shockey out of the lineup. 

There's no question that Shockey is one of the best tight ends in the league, but in a game where sheer stats don't tell the entire story, teams are better off without players that scream for the ball every time.

The G-Men have Kevin Boss, who was a rookie this year, to fill Shockey's shoes. Boss filled in nicely and while he didn't post great numbers, he scored touchdowns in the last two games of the season. But most importantly, he played within the team concept.    

Plus, by trading Shockey, the Super Bowl champs could get a lot in return...draft picks, salary cap room, etc.

(bleacherreport.com)

Reportedly, the Saints did reach out to the New York Giants this week to inquire about tight end Jeremy Shockey's availability, but the Giants aren't interested in dealing him - at least not at a discounted price.

Several New York and national media outlets reported that the Saints were among a group of teams that asked about Shockey's availability. A report in the Westchester Journal News said the Saints offered a trade, but the Giants are insisting on a first-round pick or a second-rounder plus a starting player.