Once castoffs, Jeremy Shockey, Jonathan Vilma fueling Saints

NEW ORLEANS — Before his 2005 death, iconic New York Giants co-owner Wellington Mara summoned two players to his Rye, N.Y., home — running back Tiki Barber and tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey grew up without a father in Ada, Okla., and cherished his bond with the Giants' patriarch, who died of lymphoma at 89.

Shockey feels Mara's encouraging spirit with him still as the New Orleans Saints tight end prepares for Sunday's NFC Championship game vs. the Minnesota Vikings.

"I know he's looking over me now with a smile," Shockey said of Mara. "He was the best.

"We had a grandfather-grandson relationship. After he passed, it was never really the same for me in New York."

Barber understands.

"It wasn't an accident that Wellington's two favorite players at the time of his death were myself and Jeremy," the NBC analyst said. "Despite how different we were, Jeremy might have been my favorite Giant because of his passion.

"Whether he was practicing or playing, he did everything full bore. This playoff run is somewhat of redemption for Jeremy in the public's eyes. But he always gave every bit of himself on the field."

Shockey has regained a trust he felt was broken when he said the Giants didn't fly him to Super Bowl XLII after he broke his leg Week 15, 2007.

His reunion with Saints coach Sean Payton (Giants offensive coordinator, 2000-2003) and University of Miami teammate, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has amounted to a new beginning in New Orleans. Shockey and Vilma arrived via 2008 trades from the Giants and Jets.

During games, Shockey and Vilma seek each other out the way they did during two seasons at Miami, including a 2001 national championship season.

"Jeremy gets me fired up, I get him hyped up," Vilma said. "Everybody knows how good of tight end he is. But he brings that little chip that makes our offense a little nasty."

The 6-5, 251 Shockey's touchdown on an injured toe in Saturday's 45-14 divisional win was the fourth with 48 catches for the four-time Pro Bowler. Vilma was selected to his second Pro Bowl with a team-best 130 tackles.
"Jon and I want to win a Super Bowl for this city," Shockey said. "I want to retire a Saint."

Vilma chafed when then Jets coach Eric Mangini said he didn't fit his 3-4 defense.

"That gave me that little chip on my shoulder, wanting to prove to my teammates, to the rest of the league that I can make plays," Vilma said.

Vilma is Saints quarterback Drew Brees on defense. The starting units go at it every day in practice in either red-zone or two-minute drill.

"It's already competitive," Brees said. "But then Jon and I will put $100 or bet dinner on who wins."

The payoff? The tenacious way Payton's top-seeded Saints play.

" Just like they did at 'The U,' Shockey and Vilma are tempo setters, smart, productive team players," said ESPN analyst Jon Gruden.

A first-generation American born of Haitian parents, Vilma feared for family members after last week's deadly, 7.0 earthquake. "I was fortunate to have my mom and dad get in touch with my relatives and was able to know that everyone was okay," Vilma said. "Once our season is done I'll focus in and decide how best to help."

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(usatoday.com)