Should The Giants Trade Jeremy Shockey?

Since winning the Super Bowl, the football world has enveloped the New York Giants in one of the biggest group hugs of all time. People are tripping all over themselves to come up with superlatives worthy of David Tyree's catch and Steve Spagnuolo's coaching. There's only one guy not feeling the love. Jeremy Shockey.

Since breaking his leg in Week 15, Shockey's only been spotted once, sitting in a Glendale suite where he sucked down tallboys and watched his team play in the Super Bowl. The Giants won, of course, and Shockey's backup Kevin Boss made a huge play which made it easy to forget the role Shockey once played on the Giant offense. Integral to both the run and pass game, he had 57 catches before getting hurt and blocked with good success.

You'd think that the thought of the return of a healthy Shockey in 2008 would make heads dance. After all, Eli Manning's ascension to confident quarterback would pay great dividends with Shockey joining the talented wideouts in pressuring defenses. Instead, there's been a lot of nitpicking about Shockey not being on the sideline on Sunday or at the parade on Tuesday, ignoring his broken leg, and, now, calls for the end of his tenure with the team. Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News says the Giants would be best served by trading Shockey.

Iyer argues that Shockey gets hurt a lot (playing with the subtlety of a sledgehammer will do that), hasn't had a breakout season (never mind solid, productive ones) and Boss played well during the stretch and playoffs.

It's true, Boss made some big plays for the Giants down the stretch but so did Tyree and Steve Smith. Should the Giants be looking to deal Plaxico Burress, then? After all, they beat Tampa and Dallas even though Plax only had five catches for 43 yards. He'd bring back a pretty decent draft pick, maybe even two!

This reminds me of the last time the Giants won the Super Bowl. They lost Phil Simms en route to the playoffs and Jeff Hostetler stepped in, leading the team to a championship as if he'd been the quarterback all along. He was helped along by a great running game, a stout defense and more than a dollop of luck along the way but, when the offseason came, the team benched Simms all the same. Two losing years followed before Dan Reeves took over, reinstalled Simms and took the team back to the playoffs.

What have you done for me lately is an easy way to feel when you see Shockey on crutches and Eli clutching the Lombardi Trophy. A deeper look in the memory banks, however, recalls the player who was a leader of the Giants offense and whose injury was thought to be a devastating blow to their chances. It wasn't as it turns out, just like losing Simms didn't eliminate the Giants in 1990, but that doesn't mean having him isn't better than the alternative.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-08-2008 @ 4:58PM

al coholic said...

I love Shockey's hustle and enthusiasum. Now that Manning has a Super Bowl under his belt I think he will be able to get the best out of him. I just don't buy into the team being better without him.

Not that Boss isn't a great addition to the team. I say use them both!

I bet Shockey doesn't go running down to Miami this year and leave Boss to practice with Eli.

2-08-2008 @ 5:27PM

incognito said...

Shockey was one of the problems throughout the years along with Tiki. Best move would be to trade or release him! Shockey isn't a great TE, he is mostly known for his mouth and his self centered attitude! They don't need him and it showed! Shockey can go and work/practice in FL all he wants! You know, because he is the greatest player ever, right!...LOL

2-08-2008 @ 6:13PM

Bill H said...

I disagree.

You cannot compare Shockey to Phil Simms. Simms was a team guy.

Shockey is, and always has been, a me-first guy. He has called out coaches, called out Eli on the field with his mannerisms, gets hurt every year, and is never around in the off season. He runs poor routes especially if he isn't getting the ball. Most importantly, he comes back every year with more muscle which has made him a

I am not saying to get rid of him but he needs to change.

2-08-2008 @ 6:45PM

Sherri said...

In some ways i say get rid of shockey...but if he worked on himself a little and became a team guy maybe he would be more liked.i think that a team comes together when they stop caring about themselves and start caring about the team.i'm a huge browns fan and i can see that that is what caused the amazing season that they had.

2-08-2008 @ 9:19PM

Mel said...

No! why should they? depth on the team is the reason why the team was good enough to win. So we should trade strahan or osi because tuck was playing so well. We seem to forget that we were injured alot the preavious seasons, Everybody step up this year which will make us more dangerous with a healthy shockey next year.

2-09-2008 @ 7:23AM

bigflyer said...

Shockey is an egotist, head case, in the same mold as Fatboy Rahjah Clemens. Great skills, limited team ability.
He doesn't seem to fit into the lovefest that is the current SB Champs team, but Giants fans are fickle to the core. Their short memories include calling for the heads of Eli the Younger and Get-to-the-meeting-early-or-you're-lateCoughlin after three games this past season.

2-09-2008 @ 7:32AM

Three Rivers said...

Some people make a controversy out of everything. It sounds as if this player went to Arizona to be with his team ( a suite in Glendale was mentioned). Perhaps he was medically advised to stay away from large, unruly, crowds that could cause instability to a person on crutches. Would those who are trying to make something negative out of this, rather be writing about additional injuries he received, because he was on the sidelines at the super bowl and trampled at the end of the game? I wonder how they would then characterize him....I am sure it would not be a positive report. No decision, thought or action appears to be safe anymore.

2-09-2008 @ 10:48AM

john said...

I'm a draft day Jerry Reese!!!
Ad Shockey with the Giants 1st round draft pick and try to trade up into the early rounds. I think we could at least get into the teens instead of last pick right? Shockey is a team cancer!!players do not like him. He may be a better blocker than Boss, but Boss just grew up in a hurry guys...ie:superbowl victory (without 80).

2-09-2008 @ 10:57AM

Tee said...

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY.THE GIANTS ARE GREAT BUT WHAT IF PLAXICO GETS HURT WHO WILL CATCH THE BALL.DON'T GET COCKY NOW.

2-09-2008 @ 12:20PM

Sports Fan said...

You gotta keep him, Boss needs to learn from him. Jeremy will behave because he wants the action and the esteem that comes from being a TEAM player, no stars here.

2-09-2008 @ 4:26PM

A.B.Benjamin said...

Shockey is an asset to Giants. He plays hard all
the time. Great blocker, & reliable target for Eli
over the years. what do you want? He plays with passion. He wants the ball He wants to win Voted to
pro-bowl twice/ If he was not injured, he would have been hugged at the Super Bowl& he would be celebrating to the fullest. What do you want fromaguy who gives 100% all the time?

2-10-2008 @ 4:48PM

jbulger said...

Do NOT get rid of Shockey. While Boss has done a very fine job in his relief role, Shockey's playmaking and blocking ability are far above what Kevin can provide today, and his intensity will be needed next season. Gilbride has to do a better job next season of working Shockey into the game other than as a run blocker. The days of Shockey showing up his QB when he's open are over... and Eli didn't need to do anything to fix that other than be the Super Bowl MVP.

2-11-2008 @ 11:28AM

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!!!!
HELLO!!
The Giants just won the SUPERBOWL WITHOUT SHOCKEY....
HELLO!!!
Quit telling me that Boss is this and that, but? and TEE....If Plexico gets hurt,who will Manning throw to? The Giants have over 29 mil in salary cap space, I think they can find somebody to throw to...ie:Tyree? Shockey back changes everything. Read about what other Giant players have said about him. Its not good. Boss is fine folks. He doesn't need Shockey as a teacher. Read incognito's blog

2-12-2008 @ 1:47PM

jim said...

If you look at the past Giant Teams, you'll see the tight end's have been the foundation of NFL/Super Bowl Championship Teams. When the Giant's won Super Bowls in 86 & 90 it was with Mark Bavaro and Zeke Mowat. Shockey and Boss will be the tight end combination to bring the Giants future NFL/Super Bowl Championship's.

Everybody shut up and quit causing problems.

2-13-2008 @ 2:13AM

garrett said...

I agree shockey and boss are great combination we dont need to trade jeremy he works hard.I also think watching his team go to the superbowl while he is on crutches had to be hard.It is just his confidence that makes him not a team player.When things are going bad he still beleives he can make things happen.Dont forget about his game in dallas or the blocks he makes or the tackles.This combination isnt somthing you want to hand over in the draft. I honestly think the giants owe him the return superbowl It doesnt hurt us at all to keep a great TE like shockey.If anyone listens to him he goes to miami to get inshape in hopes of being better fit to not get hurt and make it the whole season. When you see someone that great in a great team like the giant we should all see it makes sense.And anyone knows media is BS and maybe things arent what they seem. Thanks

2-13-2008 @ 2:23AM

Also Keep in mind how jeremy got hurt making a block so his team could get yards.And He got rolled by his own team mate True that is football but letting someone with the heart he has go just isnt fair.And eli just started doing well and i can tell you all its eli growing up and not shockey. Have you ever seen eli stand up and fight so hard like in the superbowl just to compleete a throw. My hat is off to him but we havent seen that all year.I think if they all keep it togeather we will wrap it up next year with shockey.Thanks

2-13-2008 @ 10:24AM

DonR said...

"IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT" Giants need Boss and Shockey.

2-15-2008 @ 4:06AM

JINT said...

TO TRADE SHOCKEY OR NOT (TO BE DISCUSSED ON MY BLOG SOON ->

Well guess what fella's it isn't up to us....................In my opinion if we're going to use a dual tight end like the Pigskins did in the Joe Gibbs glory era I can defentely see the benefits of keeping Shockey as I think he would excell in a Offset H-back to help run support off Left tackle and we all know Shockey's pass catching potential, there is no doubt that Eli has a chemistry with Kevin Boss and he should be groomed in the more traditional TE role

With our OLINE getting older and no true pusinshing road graders on our left side
(we're a get a hat on a defender, more than a zone blocking unit that gives ->the RB a two way go system)

*** I think it's invevitable next year to show different faces bringing in deep threat specialist Hixon as he's being groomed, rookie sensation Smith, scatback and maybee Westerbrook clone Bradshaw

as well as mix and match with our fullback hedgecock on occasion (although with Shockey at HBack and Boss at TE , .....it limits the need for any blocking back) mixing back fields of Jacobs with Bradshaw, Jacobs alone, Bradshaw alone , Ward (if we resign him) alone and Ward with Bradshaw.

****If we're NOT going to use Shockey in this manner, and he's too talented to sit and not be in 75% of our offensive plays----> thus sitting Boss to the bench which I think is a big mistake and NOT USE them Together!!!

than we are better of yes pulling the trigger and trading Shockey but NOT for Oucho Cinco SORRY

2-17-2008 @ 8:11PM

fenwick said...

Damn, I really don't know. Shockey's a decent TE, and he has been getting a lot less self-absorbed, but we did do better without him. I say don't trade him, just split games between him and Kevin 'The Beast' Boss.

GIANTS FOREVER!!!

3-20-2008 @ 10:27AM

taffy said...

I think that Shockey should stay. He brings valuable experience to the team however will he be happy if he doesn't get the ball as often as he would like? If the leg heals and he is back to form perhaps he should decide if the Giants plan fits him. The decision should be his.