Even though TE Jeremy Shockey became injured in the magical 2007 season and didn’t play throughout the playoffs, he still received a ring for the Giants Super Bowl win. Amidst the Giants victory without the boisterous TE, speculation began as to whether or not they even needed him on the squad.

Two years later, Shockey found himself in a similar situation. Bothered by injuries all season, the tight end ultimately toughed it all out and made his mark on this Super bowl. This reward comes with a bit more merit than the 2007 hardware.

“It’s very special,” Shockey said. “It’s gratifying to even be in the game, much less catch a touchdown pass. I’ve put in a lot of hard work for this since I was in seventh grade. Everything worked out for a reason.”

Not only did Shockey play, but he played well, ultimately catching what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.

If you really think about it, Shockey kind of got the shaft here in New York. Before he got hurt in the 2007 season, he was playing pretty well. In the three seasons previous to 2007, Shockey hauled in at least 6 TD’s and at least 600 yards in receiving. In 2007, he was on pace to possibly reach his highest yardage mark, having had 619 yards through the 14 games.

I’m not saying it was a bad move to get rid of Shockey. In fact, I agreed with the move, and still do on this day. However, to say that he wasn’t in any part responsible for our Super Bowl victory in 2007 because he didn’t participate in the playoff run would be unfair to him.

I believe that’s how most people feel (including the Giants front office) for there was zero lamentation in his release. For that, I put the “Earns First” in parentheses for it truly depends on your own interpretation.

I for one am pretty happy for the guy.

Former Giants Michael Strahan and Jeremy Shockey have never been ones  to mince words.  Yesterday, both Giant greats showed they still have a driving passion for Big Blue more than two years after their Giant careers ended.

Osi: “I wont be a backup…”

Okay, Osi. Then stop playing like one. Last season, Umenyiora was rendered invisible most weeks by a single offensive tackle. He wants to prove that he can still be an elite defensive end, but he also wants to keep his starting position and play every down.

He won’t settle for being a backup.

“It’s not something that I’m going to do. If I’m asked to come back there and do that then I’ll just stop playing football.”

Granted, he was coming off a lost season where he had major knee surgery. To that, former teammate Michael Strahan came to Osi’s defense. He said it usually takes two seasons after surgery for a player to get back into the groove.

“Next season will be a year in which I expect him to do big things because now that knee injury will really be behind him and he can make the mark that he’s made in his previous seasons.”

Plaxico Vows to Play Again

Former Giant WR Plaxico Burress is determined to return to the NFL once he completes his commitment to the New York State Department of Corrections.

In an interview with his former coach, Bill Cowher (set to air Sunday), Burress said he is staying in shape and hopes to play again in 2011. Cowher believes Burress’ contrition is genuine and is truly sorry for his actions. He also believes Burress will make the most of any second chance, should it arise.

“He admittedly blames no one except himself. He’s had a lot of time to reflect.”

Jeremy Shockey, in Miami for the Super Bowl as a member of the New Orleans Saints, had only good things to say about his former teammate.

“It’s something I would like to see,” Shockey said. “Plaxico’s a great guy. He made a mistake like all of us do. Plaxico’s a freak of nature,” he said. “He can do whatever he puts his mind to. It would not shock me to see as soon as he gets out for someone to pick him up and really be a force like he was with the Giants.”

“He was a great teammate. I consider him a great friend. He’s always a good guy to have in the locker room. Teaches young guys how to run routes. He’s a good guy. He just made a bad mistake.”

Strahan also had something to add regarding Burress. “….he has a lot of hunger to prove himself, to show that he can still play and do well at it, and nobody could pretty much cover him half the time anyway and I doubt they’ll be able to do it when he comes out.”

Jeremy Shockey was drafted with the 14th pick of the 2002 NFL draft with enormous expectations.  Fans fell in love with his athletic and rugged style of play, reminiscent of Mark Bavaro.  In his first year, Shockey did not disappoint, catching 74 passes for 894 yards and two touchdowns, and was named the Pepsi Rookie of the Year.

With one of the best rookie seasons for a tight end, Shockey was poised to become one of the all time great Giants.  The sky was the limit for the talented young tight end, and he won fans over with his smash mouth style of play, even if he did have the occasional lapse in judgment.

But  eight seasons into his pro career, Shockey has never played a full season, nor has he ever topped the reception or yardage totals from his rookie season.

After earning a Super Bowl ring while on the injured reserve, Shockey seemingly forced the Giants’ hand, and was traded to the New Orleans Saints for two draft picks (used on Clint Sintim and Rhett Bomar).  Shockey claimed he was unhappy that the team made him sit in a press box during the Super Bowl while lower profile players on the IR watched the game from the sideline.

But his unhappiness with the Giants went deeper than his treatment during the Super Bowl. Throughout his Giants career, when things were not going well statistically for him, fans often heard rumblings that Shockey was unhappy with his role in the offense.  As Keyshawn Johnson would put it, Shockey wanted the Giants to ‘give him the damn ball.’

According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, “Shockey hasn’t commented publicly on the subject, though he has told many people that he is frustrated with his role in the offense.”

Statistically speaking, Shockey has been involved in the Saints’ offense far less than he was during his unhappy years in the Giants’ offense.

After two years and 25 games played in New Orleans, Jeremy Shockey’s totals are:
Read more…

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….

Eli Manning and his brother Peyton are part of a show produced by Gatorade which documents the true story of two towns in New Jersey that are huge football rivals. The players are reunited to finish a game that ended in a tie back in 1993.

They will produce a show each week leading up to the game which will follow the teams preparing for the game, sort of a high school version of the HBO series Hard Knocks. The game will be played on Sunday, April 26th and the honorary coaches for each team are Eli and Peyton Manning. They will be on the sidelines and working with the teams. Check out the episode below where Eli and Peyton discuss the upcoming game.

Coincidentally, GFB reader Roger points out that Brandon Mason, who we mentioned had a private workout with the Giants last week, was an alumni of one of the teams, the Phillipsburg Stateliners, and holds many school records.

Ralph Vacchiano at the Daily News reports that according to “The Giant Insider” the Giants asked for Braylon Edwards and the Browns wanted Steve Smith in addition to some draft picks.

It was previously reported that the Browns wanted DE Mathias Kiwanuka. That story was later found to be untrue.

(According to ‘The Giant Insider,’) what really happened happened is that the Giants offered Cleveland the two draft picks they got in the Jeremy Shockey deal (a second and a fifth), and the Browns said they wanted those picks and Smith. The Giants said no to that, according to the story, but offered an alternative of the picks plus Domenik Hixon or Mario Manningham.

At that point the Browns walked away.

The New York Post disputes this report citing “someone familiar with the talks”, that while the Giants had discussions with the Browns, no Giants players were discussed.

Adam Schefter on his blog for NFL.com reports that that the New Orleans Saints will not sign Jonathan Vilma to a long-term contract extension this season, or even shortly thereafter.

Had the Saints decided to resign Vilma, then the Giants would have received a first-round pick for tight end Jeremy Shockey. The conditional fourth-round pick the Saints traded to the Jets for Vilma would have become a second-round pick.

Instead, the Giants will get New Orleans’ second-round pick for Shockey. The conditional fourth-round pick the Saints traded to the Jets for Vilma will become a third-round pick in 2009. The Jets used the Saints fourth-round pick in 2008, but they will have to return a fourth-round pick to New Orleans this April.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York unveiled it’s latest addition to the Sports Zone, revealing a wax figure of Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The wax replica of Eli joins Yankees short stop Derek Jeter, Mets third baseman David Wright and Jets quarterback Joe Namath on the fifth floor of the museum. Head over to the official site to check out a picture of it.

According to Mike Triplett of the Times-Picayune, former Giants and current Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey will be undergoing surgery for a sports hernia and is expected to be out for three-to-six weeks. In seven seasons in the NFL, Shockey has yet to complete the full sixteen game schedule in any season. The Saints will turn to 10-year veteran tight end Billy Miller to pick up the slack.

The Giants have announced that they have signed tight end Martrez Milner, who was the Falcons’ fourth-round pick last year, to their practice squad.