Shockey Adding Unneeded Fuel To Fire
Let’s clear the air about all this ‘redemption’ talk before it gets legs. 
It’s being reported this week that former Giant and current Saint TE Jeremy Shockey has “a bitter taste in his mouth” about his Giants’ experience.
In the estimation of this Giants’ scribe Jeremy Shockey should have no ax to grind with the New York Giants.
His tale of deception is clearly in his own mind. To be frank, he was the architect of his own undoing here in New York. READ
The Downfall of Shockey
Shockey could not come to grips that the Giants were succeeding without him and proceeded to act like a child during and after the championship run.
Rumors began to circulate that Shockey was going to be traded. Instead of approaching the Giants for clarity, Shockey and his agent at the time (Drew Rosenhaus, who specializes in representing NFL divas), began a war of words with the Giants in the media.
Then Shockey’s refusal to participate in a limited capacity at mini-camp in 2008, caused the rift to become irreparable. His ankle was still bothering him, but GM Jerry Reese asked him to take the field, show his face.
Shockey refused, instead opting to sit and sulk in the trainer’s room resulting in a shouting match between two.
What Shockey had not realized was that this was Reese’s team, now. In past years, his tirades and unprofessional behavior were tolerated by co-owners Bob Tisch and Wellington Mara, but with the passing of those two men a few years earlier, Shockey lost his greatest allies. The Mara and Tisch heirs were not as hands-on as their fathers, which meant Reese had practically total control.
Shockey was traded to New Orleans in July of 2008 for a second and a fifth-round draft choice. (The Giants used those picks this past April to select LB Clint Sintim and QB Rhett Bomar.)
Since Shockey’s final appearance in a Giants uniform (Dec 16, 2007), the Giants have won 22 of the 28 games they have played.
The Downside of Shockey
To be fair, let’s say that Jeremy Shockey was one of the best players the Giants have ever had. He was an All-Pro as a rookie in 2002 and was named to the Pro Bowl a total of four times.
He added a swagger to the Giants offense, and combined with Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs, actually threw a scare in many a defense (esp. the Eagles).
But his presence brought as many detriments as it did advantages.
He openly challenged coaches’ and executives’ decisions in the media on more than one occasion (see the Seattle road loss from a few years back).
He had no respect for Eli Manning and was a disruptive force in the huddle and on the sidelines.
He only attended mandatory meetings and workouts, opting to stay in Florida while almost all of his teammates were in New Jersey.
He missed the end of every regular season from 2003-07 with an injury.
He did not participate in any of the Giants’ Super Bowl celebrations: the parade up the Canyon of Heroes, the rally at Giants’ Stadium, or the ring ceremony at Tiffany’s.
and finally, in my favorite game of all time…..the 39-38 playoff loss to the 49ers in 2003, perhaps the best displayed case of Shockey’s downside…..
Shockey classlessly taunted the 49ers’ bench after his second reception. He tossed ice water into the stands at taunting fans behind the Giants bench, hitting a small child.
He dropped a touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter that would have been the deciding points. Instead, the Giants settled for a field goal, setting up the historic collapse.
So when you hear this redemption garbage being strewn at you by the clueless media talking heads, don’t buy it. If they can’t sell this week’s Giants-Saints game as a clash of two undefeated teams, well, you know the rest….
