If you watched New York Giants tight end Kevin Boss leap over a Philadelphia player the way Michael Jordan used to jump over Patrick Ewing before dunking on his head, and you follow the Giants, two words instantly came to mind: Jeremy Shockey.
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| As he did with the Giants, Jeremy Shockey is quickly causing problems in New Orleans. (US Presswire) |
He was never as good as people thought -- never as talented, never as tough, never as hard working or never as enduring. Boss is a fifth round pick out of Western Oregon University, in only his second season, and he's already erased the memories of Shockey in New York. Just how good could Shockey have been if that's already occurred?
When I asked a Giants official about Shockey, the person laughed, and responded: "Jeremy's no longer our problem. Ask the Saints. He's their headache now."
Boy, is he ever.
To say that the Saints got suckered by the Giants in the Shockey trade is an understatement. The Giants were Frank Abagnale and the Saints a naïve dupe ready to hand over credit card information.
There's a larger point to the Boss demolition of the Shockey legacy. Shockey is a me-me athlete, the Terrell Owens of tight ends, except Owens possesses lasting ability and a tremendous work ethic.
For various reasons Shockey was able to turn a handful of spectacular plays into a career. He wasn't as vital to the team as an adoring New York press made him out to be and certainly not as talented as some Giants fans believed.
Shockey was more flash than substance, more name than ability, and it's showing now.
Most of all, Shockey remains extremely divisive in a locker room. Other than Owens, there isn't a more polarizing player in football. After having hernia surgery, Shockey seemed to blame the Saints for his lingering problems. In the fourth quarter against Atlanta on Sunday, quarterback Drew Brees, a genuine talent with a brilliant work ethic, desperately tried to get the Saints back into the game. Where was the team's high end acquisition? On the sideline.
Though the Saints won't admit it publicly it's clear Shockey was benched at the most crucial period in the game. This is how the New Orleans Times-Picayune described the scene: "...the two-time Pro Bowl tight end spent most of the wild final period parked in idle, alternating between standing with helmet in hand on the sideline or slumped alone on the bench with his helmet at his feet."
Earlier in the game, on third down and 10 from the New Orleans 37-yard line, as the Times-Picayune describes, Shockey missed a block, forcing Brees to hurriedly throw the ball to Shockey in the flat. Shockey not only missed the block, he dropped the pass.
Brees and Shockey had a highly animated conversation.
"It was just a miscommunication on the protection from the play before, so we were just talking through it," Brees told the media. "It was not a big deal other than just trying to get on the same page."
Shockey's had a lot of those "miscommunications" over the years.
Like the time he said the Giants' staff was out-coached.
Miscommunication.
Two weeks ago, Brees and Shockey argued on the sideline.
Miscommunication.
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| maxflipper33: Awesome article Freeman. He looked like an all-world TE when he ran over some Texans in a preseason game. (Note: Preseason) And yet, the first thing I'll remember is his drop against the 49ers. So, did this trade help the Giants? They elevate Boss, get rid of a clown and they're 8-1. Enough said... |
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| Mike Freeman: Great post and your point about how he once looked is well taken. I'm just not so sure he was ever that good in the first place. I wonder if he was more of a media creation than anything else. |
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Since coming back from the hernia surgery, Shockey's made eight catches for 72 yards -- in three games. In six contests for the Saints, he has 24 catches for 223 yards. He hasn't caught a touchdown and he hasn't been a factor in any way.
Meanwhile, Boss is having a solid year. He's emerged as perhaps Eli Manning's favorite target. He won't make the Pro Bowl over guys like Jason Witten or Chris Cooley (nor should he) but the Giants know they have a good player at that position for some years.
At the end of this season, the Saints will be stuck with Shockey, the Giants will have Boss and the Giants will begin plotting how to use their 2009 second and fifth-round picks New Orleans relinquished to get Shockey.
Shockey is the Saints' version of DeAngelo Hall.
Good luck with him, New Orleans. You're gonna need it.
