Shock Therapy: Analysis Of The Shockey Trade

Now that the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints have pulled off the trade of Jeremy Shockey, does this spell disaster for the Giants in 2008? Or will Shockey tear apart the Saints team chemistry?

I say neither will happen. This trade is as close as possible to a win-win for both teams, however cliche. Both should receive a boost from the trade, albeit the Giants will have to wait until next year to see exactly what they get.

Here's my two-cents on both Shockey and the trade.

Since being drafted with the 14th pick out of Miami in 2002, Jeremy Shockey has been an enigma.

Blessed with an awesome combination of size, speed, hands and attitude he took New York and the NFL by storm, catching 74 balls for 894 yards and making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Over the last six seasons he's second only to Tony Gonzales with 371 catches as a tight end, accounting for 4200 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Yet despite his talent, Shockey was always a distraction for the Giants.

Aggressive and rambunctious as he was on the field, he was that loud and overbearing off of it. He fumed to reporters about passes not being thrown to him, and had miriad differences with teammates and coaches. He was a one-man media circus, even in media mad New York.

Shockey seldom attended off-season workouts, preferring to do his conditioning at the "U" with Miami guys. All of this seemed to be okay with management, especially owners Wellington Mara and Bob Tisch, both of whom were extremely close to him.

Things changed when Tom Coughlin came on board. He and Shockey were like oil and water and things got worse when both Mara and Tisch died in 2005. With Shockey's benefactors were gone, it was only a matter of time before something gave way. 

It was no secret that Coughlin wanted Shockey to work out in New York, but Shockey refused. It was just another example Shockey being Shockey. He always showed up in great shape and ready to play, but like everything else it was on his terms.

Things finally blew up last year, although no one knew it at the time. When Shockey broke his leg in the Giants 14th game, his season was over. The prevailing thought was that the Giants season was over also.

But after Shockey went down, things improved for New York. Eli Manning became visibly looser and played much better. Amani Toomer became a bigger part of the offense, and Kevin Boss stepped in at tight end did a good job blocking and receiving. It was the beginning of the end of Shockey, as the Giants figured out they could live without him.

The end result was an off-season of bewilderment and questions. As soon as the Super Bowl was over, the media frenzy started.

 "Are the Giants a better team without Shockey" in all it's variations, and the inevitable Shockey responses were media fodder all winter. And it would lead, as everyone guessed to the trade that happened last week. That the deal didn't get done on draft day was a disservice to Shockey, and a loss to the Giants.

Now that it is done, my immediate reaction is the Giants are a less talented team minus Shockey. However else you want to spin it, you can't replace 70 catches a year at tight end very easily.

However New York accomplished what they wanted, some addition by subtraction this year and a chance to add to a young and talented roster with extra picks next year, although if they had acted on draft day, they could have been added this year. And they avoided the media circus over Shockey at training camp.

How did the Saints make out? I say great. For starters, they got the second or third best tight end in the league to add to an already powerful offense.

Second, they get a fiery team leader and genuine tough guy who will do whatever it takes to win, including taking on all comers.

The question marks are there, as noted earlier. There is no denying that Shockey chafed under Coughlin's structure and discipline in New York. Having been through Kyle Turley the Saints aren't strangers to dealing with that, but they better have their eyes wide open.

They got immediate help and a better player right now than the one they might draft next year. The unknown is how long he plays for them. His style of reckless abandon has lead to injuries in the past, and could cut short his career.

That said, going to New Orleans may be just the tonic for Shockey.

He will reunite with Sean Payton, his first offensive coordinator in New York, under whom he enjoyed his best seasons. Shockey should fit in well with the Saints and New Orleans. And he'll be playing this year with something to prove, which may push him to live up to his vast potential.

But 70 catch - 800 yard tight ends ain't growing on trees my friend. When some offers one, you grab him.