Jeremy Shockey is a Patriot

No, I’m not inferring that he will be traded to that spy happy organization coached by the Dr. Evil of the NFL.  Rather, Jeremy Shockey the American Patriot.  Just take one look at the picture for this article (or his arm, whatever’s more convenient for you) and you’ll see what I mean.  See the big Eagle and American Flag tattoo?  That probably took hours of excruciating needle piercing flesh, blood spurting pain to complete.  That’s serious business; you would have to really love your country to do something like that.  In the same way, you have to love football to play the game how Jeremy does.  Jumping up outstretched over the middle, unprotected from a charging, 6’ 220 lb. Safety who’s just trying to make this week’s “Jacked Up” highlight reel. 

When you have the kind of passion that Jeremy Shockey has you exude emotion that cannot be contained.  Far too few players have this quality and when they do fans and commentators blast them for it.  Those who take their shots just don't understand what it takes to compete at the level of an NFL superstar.  That’s the poor state of today’s media and popular culture - Don’t show emotion, don’t celebrate, don’t rub anything in because you might hurt someone’s feelings, be a metro, go green etc. 

We can’t question Shockey’s toughness or heart, remember he once ate dirt after a tough loss to punish himself.  We also cannot question his talent.  He is undeniably one of the top 5 TE’s in the NFL today.  He has racked up 4 career Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, and an average of  >5 touchdowns per year in the last 4.  This past year was not a stellar one for the Jeremy and even though he takes all the blame he really should not.

Tom Coughlin needs to take the blame for converting him into a blocking TE that’s severely under utilized.  The coaching staff needs to take the blame for using Shockey as a decoy and not involving him until it’s too late in most games.  Eli Manning needs to take the blame for his 56.1% completion rating.  Eli needs to admit that he couldn’t hit an immobile stuffed elephant from 10 yards out. 

What I really want to say is, “Stop calling on Shockey to be traded!”  I actually want to yell that.  Maybe the Bleacher Report will let me add some audio to this article...  You Giant fans who are calling on Shockey to be traded are the same who called for Michael Stathan’s last year.  How’d you like those 9 sacks?  Now do you still want to trade him prior to the 2007 season?  My point is there can’t be any more people on the “Trade Shockey Bandwagon” because it’s already packed more densely than a semi-truck crossing the border with illegal immigrants.  Someone please tell all these writers that they are throwing their two cents into a pot of gold which is already bet on Shockey being traded.  Worst of all it makes no sense.