Addition By Subtraction?

I hoped that it would never get to this point, although I think I knew all along that it would. I still wasn't totally convinced that the relationship between Jeremy Shockey and the Giants was completely irreconcilable. However, if the Giants had allowed these circumstances to reach that level, there's no telling what damage may have been done to this team and their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

I can't say enough about what Jeremy Shockey has done on the field for the Giants. He is one of the most dangerous pass-catching tight ends in the NFL, and an even more effective run blocker. A four-time pro bowler, Shockey has perennially been considered among the elite class of professional tight ends. His accomplishments speak for themselves. But what I will miss most about this player, and what I believe will make it difficult for many Giants fans to accept this move, is the emotion that he brought to the field every Sunday.

It's hard not to like Jeremy Shockey when you watch him play. The image of him fighting for yards against the Eagles in Philadelphia after losing his helmet is one that will stay with Giants fans forever. This image really sums up the way Shockey played on gameday. He is an extremely tough competitor that always fought for every yard. There is no denying this, despite everything that has happened that may sour the way he is remembered in New York.




Unfortunately, in the National Football League, it takes more than just playing hard on Sundays. Everybody does that. In order to be successful, it takes somebody who puts winning and the good of their team ahead of themselves. It sounds corny and it sounds cliche, but it holds up. Just think about Terrell Owens.

In thinking about the Shockey situation, Owens kept popping into my mind. I think there are some clear parallels between these two players. Regardless of how you may feel about TO, there are two truths that you cannot deny: 1) he's an incredibly gifted football player and 2) He competes hard whenever he takes the field. The list of receivers with the ability to impact a game the way that he can is virtually nonexistent. Think about his catch in the final seconds to give the 49ers a three point victory over Green Bay. Remember the tears that came after. Remember him suiting up for Philadelphia in the Super Bowl on a broken ankle, and what it must have taken for him to perform the way he did in that game. You can't question how much this guy cares. That someone with his talent and drive would be run out of two different cities would seem very unlikely. And yet, as we all know, it has happened. Teams have cast TO out, and never seem to have regretted that decision for one day.

As I said at the start, what makes this tough to take is that things never got as bad in New York as they did with TO in San Francisco or Philadelphia. As far as I know, there is no video footage of Jeremy Shockey doing crunches on the news. We haven't hit rock bottom. However, in reviewing the way this thing has gone, I have little doubt that it was only a matter of time (of course, the details may have been different).

Let's review some reasons why I believe this was the right move for the G-Men:


- Behind the images of Jeremy Shockey as the valiant warrior who leaves it all on the field is the man who "accidentally" hit fans in San Francisco with ice in 2002, and gave us this quote in 2006: "we were outplayed, and out coached. Write that down." Outbursts and the deflecting of blame were staples of his time in New York.

- Throughout the 2006 season, there were rumors swirling about the negative affect that Jeremy Shockey was having on Eli Manning's psyche. He was allegedly berating him quite frequently during the second half of the season (probably the worst stretch of Manning's career). Many predicted that the offense would run more smoothly in week 17 against the Redskins because Shockey was not playing. These predictions were correct. The Giants won handily, in what was probably their most impressive performance of the season.

- 2007, week 15, Shockey breaks his leg in a Sunday night loss to Washington. I go to bed devastated. This had been a piss poor performance, and I thought that the Giants are doomed without Shockey. And yet, from this point on, they begin to play their best football of the year. They lost only one game during this stretch. In that loss, they came as close as anybody had to knocking off the undefeated New England Patriots, a feat they would accomplish 5 weeks later.

- After watching his team find their rhythm and win the Super Bowl without him, Shockey begins to demand that his role in the offense be changed. Logically, he was also suggesting that the offense itself be changed. He was calling for the Super Bowl champs to change their system to fit his needs. He wanted the ball more. Sound like anybody else you know?

- The Giants felt that Shockey was most valuable when he was used primarily as a blocker. He was unwilling to fill this role. More of the balls were instead going to Plaxico Burress, who had spent the off-season in New York working out and establishing a strong connection with Eli Manning. This connection paid huge dividends on the field (it has been reported that Steve Smith has also been working out with Manning this off-season, which is good news given Shockey's departure). Manning extended this same invitation to Shockey last off-season and the off-season before that. He refused both times, opting instead to stay down in Florida. This certainly did not help his case to get the ball more, and yet his demands were stronger now than they had every been.

- Despite all of this, players like Manning and Burress have reportedly gone to management to give Shockey their endorsement. Like me, it was hard for them to accept that this player, who adds so much on the field, wasn't right for this team. Management made a very tough decision, but it was for the best.



I don't mean to bash Shockey here. I think that he will be a star in New Orleans, where he will be reunited with Sean Payton. As he did in New York, Payton will no doubt line Shockey up in many different places on the field, and he will get him the ball often. Shockey will add another legitimite downfield threat to an offense that was already extremely wide open. On top of that, his blocking will help to improve the Saints' running game. I think he will be happy about having a fresh start. But, regardless of how well he performs and how happy he seems, I don't think we would have seen the same results from him in New York. The Giants were handcuffed here. And, as much as it hurts me to say it, I think this was the right move.

Foil in the Oven: Pay the Prophet

This has been an incredible year in sports for me. I never thought I would be accused of being a bandwagon hopper for being a Red Sox, Giants, and Celtics fan (note: I'm omitting the UCONN Huskies here because they have been strong for my whole life and were not strong this year). And yet, here I am, a fan of the World Series champs, the Super Bowl champs, and in the midst of watching my favorite NBA team play for an NBA title. The Giants Super Bowl victory gave me a feeling like none I have ever experienced because it was so unexpected. It took five full days for me to even write about it on this site because I was so awed.

Not a day has gone by since the Super Bowl that I have not woken up and thought about the Giants Super Bowl. Really. Some days my alarm has gone off and I say in my head "oh fuck it's early....The Giants won the Super Bowl" and I spring out of bed. Some days it's "Jesus I bet it's cold as shit outside. I would cut off a finger if I could just stay in bed right now.....Holy shit, the Giants won the Super Bowl" and then I work my way up to the sitting position. Some days it's "Holy shit my head hurts. I'm a fucking idiot. Ah, the Giants" and I somehow find myself at work several hours later, apparently having gone through my normal routine. This is really how it's gone. And, it doesn't end there. Watching this video to start my day has been my key to success for several months now. Every day I watch it, and then hit the ground running, ready to kick ass all day:



That video still gives me goosebumps four and a half months later, and I expect that it always will. But, eventually, I would have to shift my focus away from basking in the glory of 07-08 to focusing on the challenges that lie ahead in 08-09. I was prepared for this. I just didn't think that it would happen so soon.

Many challenges lay ahead of the Giants, some expected and some unexpected, as they took the field yesterday at their mandatory mini-camp. For the first time in 15 years, Michael Strahan is not in the plans for this season. I was ready for that. Jeremy Shockey attended but did not participate. Hell, this was more than I expected, but I still have no idea how that situation will play out. What caught me off guard, and what seems to have caught the media in general off guard, was the fact that Plaxico Burress refused to practice because he wants a new contract. I don't know why but this popped the Super Bowl fantasy bubble that I had been living in for nearly five months now. Super Bowl 42 is a great memory, but I've now put it behind me, and I'm ready to focus all of my attention on the season at hand.

I've been tossing around this Shockey situation for months now, and I've gone back and forth.
The guy is a great player, no doubt about it. His receiving skills are well-documented, and he is an exceptional blocker. In fact, I think it is his run-blocking that is most valuable to this Giants team. On the field, there is no question that the Giants are much better with Shockey than without him. He's an impact player. Anyone who tells you otherwise is an asshole. But, they can't keep him on if he continues to act the way that he has been for the past few months. It could potentially ruin the team. The guy is a constant distraction as it is. Him being unhappy with the organization will only exacerbate his distracting effect.

The 06-07 Giants were like a circus by the end. There were so many distractions and bits of drama in the media. It was horrible. It left such a bad taste in my mouth. I thought they were crazy for extending Tom Coughlin another year after that, but I'll give him credit for turning the team atmosphere around last season. This team can't fall back into their old form. If dealing Shockey is what it takes, then that's what they need to do. I hate to say it, because he's such a good player, but I just don't see any other way for this to resolve itself. Other than a trade, he hasn't indicated that he wants anything. There don't seem to be any contract issues. What options do the Giants have?


I'm not worried about the Plax situation. The Giants will pay him, and this is certainly not the kind of thing that would affect the team's chemistry. Usually, I get bummed out whenever I read about an NFL player holding out for a new contract. I never like being reminded that this is all about money at the end of the day. But, in this case, I think Plax is justified. What he did for the organization last season was incredible. He played hurt for almost the entire season. He caught 70 balls. He had over 1,000 receiving yards. His performance in the NFC championship game against Green Bay will go down as one of the greatest individual performances in the history of the franchise. And, in case you've forgotten, he also caught the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.

There are three years left on Burress' contract, and his average salary during those three years will be 3.5 million. Certainly, he's underpaid for his abilities. His agent is also Drew Rosenhaus, the same slimy, crooked motherfucker that represents TO. So, this isn't something that is just going to go away. And, like I said, I don't have a problem with this. Burress very well may have shortened his career by playing hurt this season. And, because there are no guaranteed contracts in the NFL, he needs to make sure he gets his money now before it is too late. And, before you start judging Plax and declaring that he should honor his contract, ask yourself whether or not you hold the players and the organization to a double standard. Many times, people criticize players for not wanting to play out their contract and then don't seem upset when an organization cuts a guy that they don't feel is earning their money. The bottom line is that the man needs a new contract. The Giants need to get this done before training camp.




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I couldn't focus on anything yesterday. The anticipation for Game 4 has been building, and I expect to be at a pretty steady rage by tonight. Pierce and KG will be rested and they will play better. Rondo's injury scares me, but it sounds like he's playing. It's a sprained ankle, which guys play on all the time obviously, but I just worry about whether or not he'll be able to get any penetration. I read several sources that said Doc may consider playing Tony Allen at the point, which could be disastrous. In my mind, you play Rondo or House. If that's not working, then give the ball to Ray or Pierce and have them bring it up. There's no need for Cassell or Tony Allen to be on the court. Who knows. It's the Finals. No excuses. If the Celtics are aggressive and play a physical game, I'm confident that they take tonight. Just pound the shit out of them.



The picture below is the new addition to my desk. Hopefully it can inspire me to write some more creative things. The man in Mexico that sold it to me said it was made out of shells, but who the hell knows if that's true or if I even understood him correctly.