Giants should trade unhappy Shockey

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)