Former NY Giants TE Jeremy Shockey's Departure Was Best Outcome for Eli Manning

Would Eli Manning be playing for his second Super Bowl title if outspoken tight end Jeremy Shockey was still a member of the New York Giants? 

Heck, would he have even won his first title if Shockey was healthy during the 2007-2008 season?

Former Giants' wideout Amani Toomer doesn't think so. 

The following excerpt was taken from a recent article on ProFootballTalk, in which Toomer discussed the relationship between Shockey and a young Eli Manning: 

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Toomer said Shockey 'tried to take advantage' of Eli by pressuring him for the ball. He also said there was 'no question' Eli had improved his play after the distraction of Jeremy Shockey was gone from the locker room and from the huddle.

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This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, especially looking back on the tight end's desire to always be the go-to target, along with his continual complaining when he didn't get his way. 

Manning was a young quarterback at the time, and his progression into becoming one of the game's elite quarterbacks would have been severely slowed (or maybe never would have happened at all) with a guy like Shockey in the locker room. 

One of the most impressive aspects of the Giants' magical run to the Super Bowl XLII title was Manning's complete dispersion of the football. 

Plaxico Burress was the "star" but he only reeled in 70 passes during the regular season.

Veteran Amani Toomer, who was the team's number two receiver at the time had a respectable 59 receptions for 619 yards, and 13 other New York players caught passes that season.

So with Shockey's injury (which occurred later in the season), came the alteration of the expected targets per game that he wanted, and allowed Eli to target more well-deserving players throughout the year.

In the postseason, with Shockey out, Toomer led the team with 21 grabs, and rookie WR Steve Smith emerged as a viable slot option.

There was no worry about how many times Plax was getting the football, and an overall team concept was extremely apparent and instrumental in their successful run for the title. 

The same goes for this year's Giants. 

Is Victor Cruz the headliner? What about Hakeem Nicks? Right when you forget about Mario Manningham, he hauls in a huge touchdown catch.

Jake Ballard is the team's best tight end, no question. However, Travis Beckum and Bear Pascoe have made solid contributions in his absence. 

A selfish, jaw-flapping pass-catcher is never good for a quarterback, and although Jeremy Shockey was quite the talent (with his four Prow-Bowl appearances), Eli Manning and the entire Giants' organization can all be thankful he's gone. 

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