The Giants have traded disgruntled tight end Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints for a second-round and a fifth-round draft pick in 2009. Always outspoken, Shockey missed last year’s run to the Super Bowl championship with a broken fibula suffered on Dec. 16, in the Giants’ 14th game, against the Redskins. Unheralded rookie Kevin Boss replaced Shockey as the Giants went on their improbable run.
Shockey was missing throughout until he appeared in a luxury box during the Super Bowl against the Patriots, which apparently led to a shouting match between Shockey and Giants GM Jerry Reese during minicamp. Shockey reportedly wanted to be on the sidelines during the Super Bowl yet was not allowed.
Shockey did not practice during that minicamp in June, and beforehand accused the team of talking too much about him.
“Unlike the Giants,” he promised, “I’m gonna be quiet.”
When healthy, Shockey reportedly did not like how his role in the Giants’ offense had been changing from pass-catcher to blocker.
There were draft-day rumors in April that Shockey was going to be dealt to New Orleans, but any possible trade fell through until today, three days before the Giants report for training camp.
Former teammate Michael Strahan, now an analyst with FOX, recently hinted it might be Shockey’s time to get out of New York.
“He doesn’t want to be here, he doesn’t want to play here,” Strahan said. “I think the best thing for them and for Shockey is, if they have the opportunity, let him go.”
Shockey was drafted by the Giants in 2002 with the 14th overall pick and made four Pro Bowls. He had the most receptions (371) of any tight end in Giants history.