The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants finally gave in to the Saints and dealt star tight end Jeremy Shockey for a 2nd and 5th round pick in next years draft. For those true Giants fans, it's a sad day in Big Blue Country. Despite all of Shockeys so-called antics, you know pouting when he doesn't get the ball, mouthing off to himself when a play doesn't go his way, or insisting on practicing in Miami in the off-season along with the rest of the guys from "The U", come Sunday #80 is an absolute beast on the field.
If you bought what the media was selling about the Giants young tight end Kevin Boss being a better player than Shockey, then you, my friend, are one of the many caught up in that media "Matrix". The boy Shockey is a Pro Bowl caliber receiving TE and a better than average blocker. He's the exact type of banger you need to have a viable running game in the smash-mouth NFC East.
You ask why did Eli Manning's play take off after Shockey went down? Manning's stellar play late in the season can be directly attributed to the return of his 3rd receiver, a young stud named Steve Smith out of USC. You might have noticed him making big play after big play during their playoff run. Spare me the non-sense about Boss being a better tight end, please! "Media Rule #1" - just because the media piggy-backs off of each others' notions as they always do, doesn't make what they're saying actually true.
It's been no secret in NY that Shockey has been frustrated with his role in the offense. Coach Coughlin always makes protecting the QB the number one priority, so in the Giants offense, Shockey is often hand-cuffed from being the downfield threat that he knows he can be. Now to the coaching staff's credit, a coaching staff which brought the city it's first Super Bowl Champion since 1991, Shock just doesn't have a leg to stand on as to how the O should be ran.
Somewhere from the constant complaining about his role, all the way to the team telling him he can't be on the sidelines during the Super Bowl, the relationship with Shockey and management grew sour and Shockey wanted out. All football fans can agree that Shockey is not the type of player you want upset on your team. The same fierce untamed emotion he shows on the field which makes him the player that he is, would probably rear it's ugly head off of it.
Unfortunately for the Giants, they, now, do not have that weapon that teams have to game-plan for at the tight end position. The tight end that can terrorize defenses by running by line backers and over safeties. Whether management is at fault or Shockey is at fault doesn't matter. The bottom line for the Giants is that they were a better team with him than without him. That much is clear. The NY spotlight is now on Kevin Boss who is now in a bad spot being compared to perhaps the best TE in team history. Ultimately, from all indications he'll be fighting a battle that he can't win.
You mean like how they missed him last season and won the Superbowl?
All teams miss impact players but the player has to be on the field to make an impact, hence, they made it to the Superbowl without him therefore how is he gonna be missed?
Obviously they're still a good team without him and they've proven they can win. So I don't see where the Giants are hurting without him. Before he was hurt he was disgruntled and the type of offense the Giants run requires a TE that can block, which he can't. And on short yardage plays he stopped crossing the middle for fear of getting hurt or fear of getting hit or something. To tell the truth, he and Willie Randolph should have been gone out of New York a long time ago.
I am the boss tight end now
Not really
Shockey can't block?! Wow! That's just a false statement. He's actually one of the better blocking tights ends in the league if you watch the film. Now does he want to or like to block? No. Yes, they won the super bowl without him, that's because the QB got his stuff together not because he wasn't there. The bottom line is he's a better Tight end then Boss which means they have downgraded that position, which means teams no longer have to game plan for the Giants TE, they are that much better with him. I didn't say they couldn't win without him.
Randolph is a good manager, the problem was he was managing a bunch of stiffs lol. And don't be fooled their still stiffs!
I never said Shockey was a bum, highly inconsistent definitely but not a bum.
He's just not deserving of all the praise that's been heaped upon him. He's been hurt more than he's played and when he has played it was like he was a rookie every year that was supposed to bloom but never did.
The Giants IMO were much worse with him! They were forcing plays to this guy and jeopardizing momentum to keep him awake during games. His drops even during non critical times were embarrassing considering who he was supposed to be and what his ego during interviews portrayed him to be.
He was often exposed by linebackers and even smaller DBs. And plenty of Eli's sacks came right off of his corner! For a guy that big he should be dominating defensive backs not getting alligator arms on a crossing route either.
He's never had a 100 reception season. He's never had a 1000 yard season. And yeah because of injury but that's not an excuse for the money and praise this guy's been getting.
His new 2005 five year deal with the Giants were full of performance incentives he's never met! $3 million up front and $7.5 million in 2006 in negotiated signing bonuses? This guy is the highest paid TE in the game!
He can play when he wants to but other than that he was a financial liability to the Giants and in no way is he being missed.
And true Manning was a much better QB once Shockey was out of the picture. I'd say the Giants had a more consistent and dependable offense once they stopped running plays specifically to keep Shockey in the game.
Again, dude's not a bum, just overrated!
I hear you Antario and i respect you opinion. My main point was that he's better than who they have now and they have downgraded the position which means that they are a better team with him than without. That's all. I think he's a really good TE whether he's overrated or not could be debated. You have to admit, In Coughlins offense he's not the feature. Burress is... and rightfully so. Under Sean Payton he was that guy. I think if he got more opportunities he's a Pro Bowl TE. lol I can't co-sign the alligators arms and all that. Ant he truly is a very good blocker though... trust me.
Like how i pulled a Nastradamus about those Mets huh? haha
Boss is definitely not a better player than Shockey. However, once the Giants saw they could win big without him, then his 'issues' outwieghed his work. Everyone from the bean counters in the front office to the coaching staff has all the justification they needed to run him out of town. If you have attitude problems, real, imagined, or exaggerated and the team is more successful without you, then you're history. Plain and simple.