Heated Matchup between two proCanes looms in Week 15

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey ranks third on the team in catches (37) and touchdowns (three) and fifth in yards (371). Limiting the former University of Miami standout could fall to another Hurricanes alum in Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden, who smiled when asked about the potential matchup.

“I remember Jeremy, and he was a ‘Cane,” Gooden said. “It’s always good to play against a ‘Cane, and it’s going to be Greentree football. Greentree is what we called the practice field out there [at Miami]. We love to compete out there. We played against [Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Hurricanes tight end] Kellen [Winslow] and some of the other guys who play like Jeremy. So we can’t wait to see him. That’s what we do on defense. We love playing against the best. You don’t want to play against someone sorry. That’s nothing to brag on. So we’re looking forward to seeing Mr. Shockey, and hopefully, we get the best.”

At 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, Shockey is a matchup nightmare for many opponents because of his strength and his speed. Gooden, who is no slouch at 6-1 and 242 pounds, didn’t shy away from the challenge.

“We want dictate to people what they can do,” Gooden said. “It’s not about looking at them and saying how to stop somebody or how to do this. They’ve got to watch the tape and figure out what we’re going to do. That’s the name of the game, and that’s what we’re doing defensively. It’s not about trying to stop somebody. If you do that, you put too much pressure on yourself and then you make mistakes. We want to feel what we’re going to do to them. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Shockey has a knack for exchanging verbal barbs with opponents and getting inside their helmets. That didn’t bother Gooden.

“What school do you think I went to? I’m going to talk back to him,” he said. “If he talks to me, I’m going to talk back to him. I do the same thing, I like to get up in people’s heads. I’m not afraid of anybody in this league. Nothing against Jeremy. He went to the ‘U,’ and he’s my boy, and we’re brothers for life. But at the same time, if you’re that weak to let somebody get into your head, you shouldn’t be in the league. If there’s going to be chatter, it’s going to be that. But it’s going to be a good game. It’s a brotherhood. There’s going to be competing going on, just like we did when we were in college.”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s or Tavares Gooden’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltmoresun.com)