Rumor: Shockey told Shiancoe he should leave New York

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)