Giants should only trade Shockey for real value

Bob Glauber

April 25, 2008

Just the mere mention of his name, and the reaction is immediate and intense.

Jeremy Shockey.

Love him or hate him, this man gets your attention. Especially now, on the eve of the draft, when trade rumors continue to swirl about the controversial tight end.

Trade Shockey or keep him? I say keep him, unless you get a deal that's worth giving up one of the top five tight ends in football.

Bob Glauber Bio | E-mail | Recent columns

Video

Related links

Giants blog
Giants fan forum
Giants minicamp Photos
Giants draft picks Photos
Giants schedule

• Week 1: Thu., Sep. 4 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
• Week 2: Sun., Sep. 14 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
• Week 3: Sun., Sep. 21 vs. Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
• Week 4: Bye week
• Week 5: Sun., Oct. 5 vs. Seattle, 1 p.m.
• Week 6: Mon., Oct. 13 at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m.
• Week 7: Sun., Oct. 19 vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m.
• Week 8: Sun., Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh, 4:15 p.m.
• Week 9: Sun., Nov. 2 vs. Dallas, 4:15 p.m.
• Week 10: Sun., Nov. 9 at Philadelphia, 8:15 p.m.
• Week 11: Sun., Nov. 16 vs. Baltimore, 1 p.m.
• Week 12: Sun., Nov. 23 at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.
• Week 13: Sun., Nov. 30 at Washington, 1 p.m.
• Week 14: Sun., Dec. 7 vs. Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
• Week 15: Sun., Dec. 14 at Dallas, 8:15 p.m.
• Week 16: Sun., Dec. 21 vs. Carolina, 1 p.m.
• Week 17: Sun., Dec. 28 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Last six games: Times subject to change due to flex schedule.
Best of the Super Bowl champion Giants Video
PHOTOS: GIANTS WIN SUPER BOWL

Giants 17, Pats 14
• Victory parade
• Super Bowl XLII photos
• Giants celebrate title
• Road to Super Bowl
Complete Giants Super Bowl coverage
2007-08 Giants trivia quiz Quiz
Buy Giants frontpage reprints

So what that he's apparently unhappy with his current role in the offense and apparently having a few pity parties because he wasn't a part of the Giants' playoff run. You don't just trade away a valuable player because he's not entirely satisfied with his role and wants an opportunity to play elsewhere.

What professional athlete doesn't entertain such thoughts at some point along the way? Even Lawrence Taylor occasionally whined about playing in New York and once tried to get Bill Parcells to trade him to the Oilers.

It isn't always perfect, and you can't always get your way. That's life. Deal with it. Get over yourself.

Shockey has been a lightning rod ever since his arrival in New York, from saying outlandish things that once included calling Parcells a "homo," to showing up Eli Manning by throwing up his hands after the quarterback didn't throw to the right spot, to suggesting publicly after a game two years ago that Tom Coughlin and his staff were outcoached in a loss to the Seahawks.

But the one thing that remains constant is that Shockey is an elite tight end and gives every ounce of effort on Sunday afternoons. Yes, he does drop a few too many passes, but so do a lot of big-time players. And yes, there are concerns about injury. But if you're telling me that the Giants are better off without him, I don't buy it.

Rookie Kevin Boss did a terrific job filling in for Shockey after he went down last season, and Manning seemed to blossom in Shockey's absence. But I would suggest that had more to do with the light coming on in Manning's head rather than No. 80 not playing. Manning has been very public about wanting to keep Shockey on the team.

The Giants are better with him than without him. Does that mean they should keep him regardless? Not necessarily.

Shockey to New Orleans still is a possibility, although the Saints might have bigger issues to deal with at this point. Remember, they are trying furiously to trade up from the No. 10 spot to get in position to draft LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. If that happens, they'd likely have to use up too much draft-day ammunition to also pull off a deal for Shockey.

So far, we've heard a second-round pick and safety Roman Harper, a proposal the Saints have so far rejected.

The bigger news is that the Giants would actually quantify what it would take to get Shockey, as opposed to simply keeping him off the market.

As second-year general manager Jerry Reese correctly points out, no one is untouchable. But Reese also correctly points out that Shockey is the Giants' starting tight end, meaning they're not simply going to give him away without getting something valuable in return.

The Giants have a need at safety; thus the request for Harper, a promising young player. But New Orleans has plenty of problems in the secondary, so the Saints aren't anxious to give away one of their few bright spots.

There still is a chance the Giants can get decent value for Shockey, but it will take some doing. It therefore would not be a surprise if Shockey still is a Giant by the end of the draft.

And if that's the case, it's one more reason the Giants should feel good about defending their Super Bowl championship. Shockey is in the prime of his career and has at least five more good years left. And even if he has problems with how he's deployed in Coughlin's offense, it's not as if he's doomed to being a blocker more than he'd like.

Coughlin has proven to be adaptable in how he deals with his players, and surely there is a common ground he can reach with his tempestuous tight end. So if Shockey still is on the roster after the draft, he should realize it's not the worst thing in the world.

So should Giants fans who think the team is better off without him.