Jul 21st 2008 3:41PM by Tom Mantzouranis (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, Saints, NFC East, NFC South
Maybe that three-team trade rumor had some substance after all. Is it just a coincidence that after months of talk about the Giants sending Jeremy Shockey to the Saints, the deal happened to go down the day after the Dolphins shipped Jason Taylor to the Redskins? Or is it a sign that the two teams were working on something else (with, possibly, those Dolphins) and decided to just finally get it done on their own after Miami strayed from the plan?
Regardless. Shockey is now a Saint, for the price of a second- and fifth-round pick in 2009.
If Kevin Boss is really the player he was at the end of last year, the Giants are sitting pretty. But to assume that on such a small sample size is dubious, especially since it seemed that was clicking for the team during that stretch. But they obviously couldn’t exist with Shockey, and Jerry Reese recently practically admitted his time in New York was short.
The Saints get a big talent with a bigger attitude, but don’t underestimate the vengeance factor, as Shockey (who seems the vindictive type) tries to prove the Giants wrong — especially playing in the system, for the coach, and with the quarterback he wants. Sean Payton has desperately wanted a playmaking tight end, and Shockey can do wonders for his offense. But one has to wonder why the Saints gave up the exact same steep cost they were offering before the draft, with the Giants losing leverage with each passing day.
Either way, like the Taylor trade, a long-bandied domino has fallen, and we’re getting closer to inner peace as the season approaches. It’s your turn, Brett.
