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Eli Manning is gunning for his second Super Bowl title on Sunday. According to his former teammate Amani Toomer, Manning might not have won his first title if Jeremy Shockey was healthy in the 2007 season.

Appearing on NBC SportsTalk Wednesday with Florio, Toomer said Shockey “tried to take advantage” of Eli by pressuring him for the ball.  Toomer said there was “no question” Eli improved his play after he didn’t have the distraction of Shockey in the huddle.


(profootballtalk.com)

Jeremy Shockey, the former Tight end of the NY Giants has sold his West New York town house located in the Hudson River waterfront community of Jacobs Ferry. Shockey sold the 3 bedroom/3.5 bath, 4,000 sq.ft corner town home overlooking the Manhattan skyline for $1,800,000 in August of 2011. He paid $2,550,000 for the property in July 2004.






(livingonthehudson.com)

We already knew Jeremy Shockey was patriotic. Dudes don't get prominent tattoos of sneering bald eagles draped in American flags without loving them some U.S. of A.

Shockey reiterated this stance Sunday, when he called out members of the Texans for not giving proper attention to the national anthem before the Panthers' 28-13 win at Reliant Stadium.

As you can imagine, the Texans were a bit dumbfounded regarding Shockey's comments -- particularly his attention to detail. Shockey said he noticed 10 Houston players not at attention.

"If he's so patriotic, why was he looking at our bench instead of the flag?" Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans said Sunday, according to the Houston Chronicle. "Where did he come up with the number 10? Was he counting? Why was he paying attention to us during the national anthem?"

It was Ryans whom Shockey beat for a 9-yard touchdown during the third quarter, prompting an exuberant celebration by the 31-year-old tight end. Ryans found it ridiculous Shockey could come up with his theories from 50 yards away.

"Of course, our players are patriotic," Ryans said. "We respect the flag and America and our soldiers that are fighting for our freedom."

After his postgame rant, Shockey took to Twitter with a series of patriotic messages, including "GOD bless America" and "Stand tall and proud. It's our duty as citizens to pay tribute to the ones that gave us our freedom."

Seriously though, Shockey was all in on America on Sunday. Makes you wonder if he watched Bill Pullman's speech from "Independence Day" before kickoff.


(nfl.com)

To a man, the Houston Texans credited the 5-9 Carolina Panthers with outplaying them in every aspect of the game Sunday afternoon. But flamboyant tight end Jeremy Shockey still felt the need to kick a playoff-bound team when it was down.

So Shockey accused the Texans of disrespecting the "Star Spangled Banner" before their 28-13 loss at Reliant Stadium. He even credited it with some extra motivation for the upset.

"Personally myself, I was pretty upset they weren't showing respect to America during the National Anthem," Shockey said after the game. "There were about 10 (Texan) players who didn't put their arm across their chest. A couple of guys saw that. This is America.

"I haven't seen it anywhere else in the NFL, but I don't know how you forget something like that."

Shockey's charge came so far out of left field that it could barely fit into Reliant, even on a day when the roof was closed. Reporters aren't typically watching players during the National Anthem so it's hard to say that he is completely wrong. But players are often bouncing on their feet during the National Anthem, pumping themselves up for the game.

As long as everyone is standing for the song, no one keeps score of who is holding their arm across their chest.

Except apparently Jeremy Shockey. Forget being a tight end who has often failed to live up to the potential that made him the 14th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. Shockey is the head of the American Patriot Police. Self anointed.

He obviously wasn't in Reliant for the Sept. 11 opener when the Texans put on a moving, flag-filled pregame ceremony that involved several players. DeMeco Ryans lead the Texans out onto the field, waving a gigantic American flag that day.

It's absurd to call Houston's NFL franchise unpatriotic. On the very day that Shockey made his charges, the Texans surprised the widow of a Marine with a halftime presentation that let her know she'd be receiving a new mortgage-free, custom-built home through Operation FINALLY HOME. Sara Wood and her 5-year-old son Landon will be moving into the new house.

Wood's husband, Marine staff sergeant Scott Wood, was killed in the line of duty.

Shockey wasn't interested in that though. Instead, he says he saw disrespect from the Texans toward the country that he loves.

Whether Shockey was really mad about the National Anthem or the crushing hit Ryans delivered to him, separating him from the football on one memorable play, is a matter for debate. For Shockey made sure to point out that he also beat Ryans on a touchdown catch, while pretending not to know the linebacker's name.

"It was simple play," Shockey said of the touchdown, "And I guess, what his name — Ryans, DeMarco Ryans, what's his name? — DeMeco Ryans couldn't make a play and it was an easy touchdown."

Hey, no one's ever employed Jeremy Shockey for his brain. He's got his eyes on you during the National Anthem though. And he's like Santa Claus. He's making a list.

Beware, NFL. Beware.



(houstonculturemap.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey and wide receiver Steve Smith extended their consecutive game streaks with a catch. Shockey finished with two receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown and has caught a pass in all 133 regular season games he has played. Smith, meanwhile, has made a catch in a team-record 72 consecutive games. He also produced a catch in 52 consecutive games from 2002-06, the third-longest streak in team history.



(panthers.com)

Reggie Wayne started a new streak last week by scoring 56-yard TD (his 1st TD since Week 1) finishing the game with 5 receptions for 122 yards and Jimmy Graham added 2 TDs to go along with his team leading 84 yards on 5 receptions for the New Orleans Saints in their victory over the NY Giants in Week 13 of the 2011 NFL Season.

This Week there were FIVE proCane TDs. The day was started off buy Vince Wilfork who scored his first career NFL TD by recovering a fumble in the end zone and was capped by a Frank Gore TD.

To see the old full 149 week streak click here.

Week 14 2011:
Vince Wilfork - 1 TD - New England Patriots
Jeremy Shockey - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers
Greg Olsen - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers
Santana Moss - 1 TD - Washington Redksins
Frank Gore - 1 TD - San Francisco


Week 13 2011:
Willis McGahee - 1 TD - Denver Broncos

Week 12 2011:
Reggie Wayne - 1 TD - Indianapolis Colts
Jimmy Graham - 2 TDs - New Orleans Saints

Jeremy Shockey (ribs) has resumed practicing. He's on track to play against the Colts after sitting out in Week 11. Averaging just 2 catches for 34.



Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(fantasysp.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey has missed his second straight day of practice with a rib injury, but coach Ron Rivera is “optimistic” Shockey will play Sunday at Detroit.

Rivera said Thursday the team will assess Shockey “first thing in the morning.”

Shockey has 24 receptions for 311 yards and one touchdown.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and linebacker James Anderson practiced, while linebacker Dan Connor remains was limited with a shoulder injury. Linebacker Jason Phillips (calf) did not practice.

Rivera also said tailback Josh Vaughan and linebacker Kion Wilson will play on special teams Sunday. Both were signed off the practice squad Wednesday.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(ap.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey had an MRI Monday to determine the extent of an injury he suffered early in the game against Tennessee Sunday that limited his participation.

Shockey was injured on the Panthers' first offensive series. He returned briefly but was limited by what coach Ron Rivera called an injury to his side.

"He got bumped up pretty good," Rivera said.

"It's tough to lose a guy like that on the first play. It's kind of a scary thing. He tried to come back and do the best he could. It got the best of him. He went out there and was a warrior as far as I was concerned. He tried to contribute and did the best he could."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(charlotteobserver.com)

Carolina was an ideal landing spot for Jeremy Shockey, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million to join the Panthers after being cut by the Saints in the offseason. It reunited him with the coach who played a critical role in his development at the University of Miami, ex-Hurricanes assistant and current Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. It also paired him with another former Hurricanes tight end, Greg Olsen. Olsen, who is five years younger than Shockey, signed a long-term extension with the Panthers after being traded from the Bears in the offseason and clearly has established himself as the team's top pass-catching tight end, but Shockey has embraced his role, played it well and stayed relatively healthy. Shockey, 31, has made it clear that he would like to sign an extension to stay with the Panthers. Carolina would likely consider bringing him back on another short-term deal, but it's expected there won't be serious contract talks until the offseason.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

Carolina Panthers TE Jeremy Shockey said he hopes to negotiate a contract extension with the team. "You see people grow and you know it's going to be a special team. You want to be a part of that," Shockey said. "You were here when new coaches came and developed. You don't want to be somewhere else because you put so much hard work in and you've seen people grow. And the only thing it's going to do is get better and better." Shockey said there have been no contract talks yet between the Panthers and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(kffl.com)

Jeremy Shockey has enjoyed being a part of the Panthers' rebuilding process. And the veteran tight end wants to stay there to see it through.

Shockey, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million last offseason, said Monday he hopes to negotiate a contract extension with the Panthers.
"You see people grow and you know it's going to be a special team. You want to be a part of that," Shockey said. "You were here when new coaches came and developed. You don't want to be somewhere else because you put so much hard work in and you've seen people grow. And the only thing it's going to do is get better and better."

There were questions about Shockey's health after he missed 10 games over three injury-plagued seasons with New Orleans, which released him in February. But he has played every game this season, despite breaking his finger in Week 1 and suffering a concussion three weeks later in Chicago.

Shockey and Greg Olsen, both of whom played for Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski in college, have been a tough, pass-catching tandem. Olsen is second on the team in receiving, and Shockey is right behind him with 23 receptions for 292 yards and a touchdown.

Shockey, 31, said there have been no contract talks yet between the Panthers and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

"Like I said before to the coaches, Ron (Rivera) and Rob, I didn't come here for the money. I'm coming here to be comfortable," Shockey said. "Chud looks at me as family. I've known him since college days. You just see some great people in here."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(heraldonline.com)

Shockey tweeted: “The 2 loves of my life @danicortazar12 and jack daniels”



Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.

Through seven weeks of the season, there are four NFC South representatives among the six most-targeted tight ends in the NFL. The top two spots are occupied by NFC South players.

New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham has been targeted a league-high 66 times, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He has 45 catches for 674 yards and five touchdowns.

Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow is No. 2 with 56 targets. He has 31 catches for 282 yards and a touchdown. Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez is No. 5 with 50 targets. Gonzalez has 35 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns.

Carolina’s Greg Olsen is No. 6. He’s been targeted 45 times and has 26 catches for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Olsen’s numbers could be higher, but he shares time -- and targets -- with Jeremy Shockey.

Even though he’s not the primary tight end, Shockey still ranks No. 16 with 37 targets. He has 22 catches for 291 yards.

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Panthers TE Jeremy Shockey caught four passes for 60 yards in the team's Week 6 loss to the Falcons.

Shockey's role was increased with Carolina trying to pick on Atlanta's safeties, but the 60 yards were his season high, and Shockey hasn't scored a touchdown yet this year. He won't be a fantasy option against the Redskins in Week 7.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey, who played for the New Orleans Saints for three seasons before getting cut after the 2010 season, took to his Twitter account Monday morning to apologize for running off the field Sunday afternoon without shaking the hands of his former teammates.

"I hold myself accountable. It was a classless move by me. No one takes losses worse than me," Shockey wrote on his Twitter account Monday morning. In another entry he wrote:

"All the rings I won from high school, college, and in the pro level really means nothing.. Competing means everything!!"

Shockey had three catches for 21 yards in the Panthers' 30-27 loss to the Saints but was animated throughout.

He also posted this Monday morning: "I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have." Need to get more chances to help my team win."

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, Shockey's replacement, had eight catches for 129 yards. He has had three consecutive games with 100-plus yards receiving, the first time that's happened since 2000 when Tony Gonzalez had four consecutive games when he was with the Chiefs.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nola.com)

Back when Randy Shannon was attempting to talk basketball player Jimmy Graham into trying football, the former University of Miami football coach used a very powerful recruiting pitch.

“He said, 'We are Tight End U,'" Graham said. “He said, 'Look at the guys who’ve been through here -- Greg Olsen, Kellen Winslow and Jeremy Shockey. Look where they are now. They’re in the NFL. You can do the same thing.'"

Shannon’s out at Miami, but he turned out to be a prophet. Graham, now with the New Orleans Saints, is doing a lot of the same things Olsen and Shockey are doing for the Carolina Panthers and Winslow is doing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Throw in Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, who didn’t go to Miami but has another common bond with Graham, and you can make a pretty strong case that the NFC South has the league’s best collection of pass-catching tight ends.

"None of those guys are guys you want to end up covering," said New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who played at Miami. "I had to do it in college and thought I was getting away from it and I did for a few years. But now I've got to deal with it in this division and I've got to deal with it every day in practice. It’s not a lot of fun."

It’s not mere coincidence that the NFC South, once a wasteland for tight ends, is suddenly filled with some of the best pass-catchers in the league. And it’s no coincidence that most of them came through the Miami pipeline.

When one team has success with something, other teams tend to follow. And when you’re looking for good tight ends, you look for the guys who come from the best factory.

The Saints started this trend back in 2008 when they traded for Shockey. The next offseason, the Falcons traded for Gonzalez and the Bucs traded for Winslow. In 2010, the Saints used a third-round pick on Graham, who played only one year of college football. He showed them so much potential that the Saints released Shockey after last season.

He didn't stay unemployed for long. Before the lockout started, the Panthers scooped up Shockey. They later made a trade with Chicago to get Olsen. There was some very strong logic behind both moves.

Ron Rivera had just taken over as Carolina’s coach and he brought Rob Chudzinski as his offensive coordinator. Yep, you guessed it. Chudzinski once was the tight ends coach at the University of Miami.

"We’re caught up in the same boat to a degree, but we’re young at a couple positions and we have enough playmakers at tight end that you have to account for both of them," Rivera said.

The Panthers, who pretty much ignored offense in the John Fox days, found their franchise quarterback in Cam Newton. And now they're using their tight ends as frequently as the other teams in the division.

Watch an NFC South game these days and you’ll think you're on the practice field in Coral Gables.

"As soon as I made the decision to play football, they started showing me tapes," Graham said. "I watched tapes of Olsen, Winslow and Shockey. I guess that was pretty much like reading a textbook on how to play tight end. Heck, even when I was getting ready for the draft and my combine workout and pro day, I watched a tape of Olsen's pro day over and over because everybody told me that was like the greatest workout ever for a tight end. It’s pretty amazing because I didn't have a lot of football experience, but I feel like those guys cleared the way for me. I learned a lot by watching tape of them and I think the reputation they created for Miami tight ends also helped me a lot."

But the commonality Graham has with Gonzalez might have played a role. Like Graham, Gonzalez played some college basketball. There are people who say Gonzalez could have played in the NBA, but he chose football. That turned out to be the right move because Gonzalez has been the most prolific pass-catching tight end in the history of the NFL.

It also didn't hurt that San Diego's Antonio Gates, another former basketball player, has probably been the closest thing to Gonzalez.

"I think when someone has success like Antonio Gates had and the league sees that, I think all of us pay attention to another area to scout than just the college football field," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said.

Payton’s having fun drawing up plays for the former basketball player. In Sunday’s victory at Jacksonville, Graham had the best game of his career -- 10 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.

"He’s a guy that is going to give you headaches if he can stretch your team vertically," said Rivera, who will face Graham and the Saints on Sunday. "He has enough athletic ability and route-running ability and good hands to cause you problems underneath. And if you’re not careful and you try to match him up with the wrong guy, he could take advantage of that."

But it’s not just Graham that Rivera and the other NFC South coaches have to worry about. Every time an NFC South team takes the field these days, you have to worry about the tight ends.

They’re a huge part of every passing game. Graham is second in the league with 36 targets. At 35, Gonzalez hasn’t slowed a bit. He has 21 catches for 229 yards and is tied for second among the league’s tight ends with four touchdown catches. Winslow and Olsen each have been targeted 27 times, which ties them for seventh in the league among tight ends, and each have 17 catches. Shockey’s been targeted 19 times and has 11 catches.

"All those guys are like wide receivers playing tight end and they can block too," Vilma said. "As a defense, you have to account for them on every play. It's not really supposed to be like that. But, in our division, that’s the reality now."


(espn.com)

Jeremy Shockey is still trying to figure out the NFL’s concussion protocol, which allowed Michael Vick to play the week following his concussion last month but has kept other players on the sideline.

But the Panthers’ first-year tight end knows this: He doesn’t plan on missing Sunday’s game against New Orleans, the team that cut him after last season.

Shockey returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday after experiencing post-concussion symptoms following last weekend’s loss in Chicago. He did not participate in contact drills, but indicated he would be on the field against his former team.

“I expect to play this game,” Shockey said. “And I know the Saints expect me to play this game, as well.”

Shockey talked about the importance of the Panthers climbing out of their 1-3 hole against the NFC South-leading Saints (3-1). But Shockey also made it clear this game is big on a personal level.

Shockey, 31, spent three injury-plagued seasons in New Orleans and helped the Saints win a Super Bowl in 2009. But with Shockey coming off a season in which he posted career lows in catches and receiving yards, the Saints cut him in February rather than pay his $4.2million salary.

“I know the personnel. I know everyone from the owners all the way down. Have a lot of respect for everyone in that organization,” Shockey said. “But that’s the first time I’ve ever been cut or released in my life. So I’m not going to sit here and say I’m not going to have a bitter taste in my mouth about being pushed off to the side and say, ‘See you, good luck,’ and everything like that.”

Saints coach Sean Payton, the offensive coordinator in New York when Shockey played for the Giants, credited Shockey with grooming Jimmy Graham, who ultimately took Shockey’s spot. Graham, 24, who attended Charis Prep in Goldsboro, leads NFL tight ends with 367 receiving yards on 24 catches, with three touchdowns.

Told that Payton called him one of his favorite players, Shockey smirked and said: “If I was one of his favorite players, I’d still be there.”

Shockey said Payton offered to fly to his offseason home in Miami to tell him about his release in person.

“I understand. They have a young guy I helped last year to develop,” Shockey said. “I’m not done. I’ve played this game for a long time. As far as being there, I had a great experience and a great time. We won a Super Bowl and a lot of games. It’s a business, I know that. I don’t hold anything personal – that long. But I do hold things personally.”

Shockey, who has a one-year deal worth $3.8million, has caught 11 passes for 178 yards. He has yet to miss any time with injuries, despite breaking his finger in a Week 1 loss at Arizona.

Teammates don’t expect Shockey to miss this week, either.

“He seems fine. He seems like he feels pretty good,” tight end Greg Olsen said. “Shock’s a pretty tough guy, so if he says he’ll play, he’ll be fine.”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Shockey felt better Thursday, but added Shockey would have to be cleared by an independent doctor.

“Michael Vick got a concussion and I think he practiced the next week. Now they’re not letting me practice. So I don’t really know,” Shockey said. “I’m just doing, and I know the Panthers are doing, what’s best for me after football. I’m at the tail end of my career here and I’d rather walk away (than) crawl away.”

Besides his physical skills, the Panthers believed Shockey’s exuberant style would be good for a young team. But Rivera said Shockey also leads in less obvious ways, offering encouragement to a young player.

“He’s got that kind of infectious personality that people tend to gravitate to. He leads by example more so than anybody I’ve been around in a long time,” Rivera said.


(charlotteobserver.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Emily Maynard, who recently split from "The Bachelor" star Brad Womack, is now dating Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey, Us Weekly reported Wednesday.

"They were set up on a blind date," a source told the celebrity magazine.

"They've been out five times. Emily thinks Jeremy is nice, but she's just having fun," the source added.

The NFL player, 31, recently hinted that thoughts of love were on his mind in a Twitter message this week quoting Aristotle.

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies," he tweeted Monday.

Earlier this year, the southern belle from Charlotte, N.C., beat out the bevy of single ladies looking for love on season 15 of the ABC reality show.
Womack, 38, proposed to Maynard, 25, on the last episode of the show and the Austin, Tex.-based bar owner declared he had found his true soul mate.

But Maynard, who has a child from a previous relationship with the late NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick, eventually dumped Womack due to the strain of their long-distance relationship.

"I just doubted he was still gonna want to be with me," she said about her doubts regarding Womack's commitment-level.


(nypost.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey heard the whistle and saw the flag, but never could get an answer on why he was called for offensive pass interference, a penalty that negated his 22-yard touchdown catch Sunday in the Panthers' 34-29 loss to Chicago.

Shockey ripped the officiating crew for the call in post-game comments that likely will draw a fine from the NFL.

"Maybe the official saw something (different from) what I did," Shockey said. "I'd like the league to go back and look at that and give an explanation because it was a big play in the game. The momentum is on our side and it comes back. That's definitely hurts our team momentum-wise."

"I've been playing this game a long time and ... I don't know. I'd like to hear the explanation from the league and really understand why they would call something like that. He never gave me any explanation at all."

With the Panthers trailing 24-20 but driving on their first possession of the second half, Cam Newton fired a strike to Shockey in the end zone for an apparent score. But officials ruled he pushed off against cornerback Charles Tillman.

Replays showed Shockey with a hand on Tillman's back, but the contact seemed minimal.

Shockey certainly thought so.

"We pay their salary and can't get an explanation," Shockey said. "I'd like to see the explanation when they do get graded.

"They should be held accountable as well. They get paid a lot of money. They go around and hang out and do whatever they do before the game. Fly for free and do all kinds of (stuff) for free. Very disappointing, disheartening. I don't know what else to say."

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he did not have an angle on the play from the sideline. Tight end Greg Olsen didn't see it, either.

"I was running a route on the other side. We were trying to ask for an explanation and nobody seemed to be able to get one. Everybody kept saying, 'Check with him. Check with him,' " Olsen said. "So I don't know. We'll have to see what it looks like on tape."

The Panthers failed to score on the drive after the penalty. Former Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers blocked Olindo Mare's 34-yard field goal attempt a few plays later.

Adding injury to insult: Shockey aggravated his broken finger on the catch.

"It is what it is," Shockey said of the injury. "It's been going on since Week 1. We'll look into that and see where we go from there."


(heraldonline.com)

Jeremy Shockey aggravated his broken finger and suffered a concussion during Sunday's loss to the Bears.
The original finger injury occurred during Week 1, but Shockey hasn't missed any time. Now he will need to get medically cleared from his concussion. After the game, Shockey was more upset about a phantom offensive pass interference call that cost him a 22-yard touchdown.


(rotoworld.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tight end Jeremy Shockey could be the latest Carolina Panther to miss a game with a concussion.
Shockey was held out of practice Wednesday and coach Ron Rivera said he will be reevaluated Thursday. Since Week 2, the Panthers have had one starter each week out with a concussion.

"We're just going through the concussion protocol," Rivera said of Shockey, who took a shot to the head on a field goal attempt in Sunday's loss to Chicago. "We're getting to the point, and I hate to say it, but we've had one a week. We're concerned obviously but we won't know more until Thursday morning.

"That's probably the best time to judge because the last couple of weeks it's been Thursday mornings they don't feel good, they don't play; if Thursday morning is good, they play."

Offensive lineman Jeff Otah missed Carolina's second game, safety Charles Godfrey missed Week 3 and Sunday it was cornerback Chris Gamble.

Though Gamble returned to practice Wednesday, Otah and Geoff Hangartner missed practice with back injuries.

Shockey was not fined this week for comments he made about the officiating following the Bears game. Shockey was upset when he was flagged for pass interference, nullifying his 22-yard touchdown reception. He said after the game he wanted an explanation from the league's officiating office because he didn't get one on the field.


(espn.com)

In terms of Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, do you ask them to do the same things or different things?
Chudzinski: “I think a lot of the things they do, both of them can do.  There may be a few things we will ask one of them to do a little bit more of. I have been real pleased with both of them. Obviously Greg makes the big catches at the end of the game (Sunday) but Jeremy has been doing all of the little things to help win. You watch the film yesterday and you see some of the blocks down the field or a catch in a critical situation that Jeremy has. I have been real pleased with how those guys are playing.”

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s or Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(www.gastongazette.com)

10 questions about life away from football:

Q. You're a guy who loves to travel. Any idea how many countries you've visited?
I've been to a lot of continents. Not every continent. I'm not married or have any kids so those responsibilities are cut to none. I love to deep-sea fish so I always go to Central or South America, Venezuela, Colombia. ... 20, 30 (countries). I don't know.

Q. Always had wanderlust?
I like to get out, just take a backpack and travel around and see how many times I can get my passport stamped in different places around the world.

Q. How much planning goes into your trips?
I usually plan two legs of the trip pretty vigorously. I go somewhere and do a couple of weeks of fishing, if it's the Pacific or in the Carribbean. I may go to Panama and stay there for a couple of weeks then find myself backpacking or hiking in Central or South America.

Q. Ever found yourself in a scary situation?
I've had a couple of close calls. You find yourself up in no man's land in Colombia or something. ... I speak very little Spanish and they know I'm a gringo. I wouldn't say it was dangerous but it's been interesting a couple of times.

Q. Have a favorite place to visit?
Cohiba in Panama is a good place for fishing. It's a place that's pretty hard to get to. You fly to Panama City then you take an eight-hour boat ride or you take a little jet then take a couple hour dinghy ride to the place. That's a place that's untouched so the diving is really good and the fishing is excellent. You see people living there that look like indiginous tribal people. That's very interesting.

Q. What kind of fish do you catch there?
Black marlin. Tuna. Sailfish.
I caught a couple of big black marlins, 700, 800 pounds - monster, Hemingway kind of fight.

Q. What's it like to fight a fish like that?
It's definitely man versus the wild in that area. They're fish you really don't eat. They'll fight you as long as you'll fight them and die. I'm always cautious about that. I'll fight them as much as I can then let them go because I don't want to kill a fish like that.

Q. Have you had some unusual meals in your travels?
To say the least. I've eaten the craziest things you've ever seen. It's like roadkill. Very interesting. You acquire a taste or you'll go very hungry. They had like a big rat up in the jungle in Peru. It had teeth like a beaver.

Q. Do you ever get recognized?
You meet a lot of different people around the world and the No. 1 question is you look like Jeremy Shockey, what are you doing here? There are people that watch football all around the world.

Q. Didn't you have an adventure at Loch Ness in Scotland this summer?
I did a hundred mile race (biking, kayaking and jogging) and flipped a kayak in freezing water in Scotland.
I didn't see old Nessie.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(charlotteobserver.com)

If Jeremy Shockey(notes) can be a lifesaver for the Carolina Panthers this season like he was for teammate Ben Hartsock(notes) today, it will be a heck of a year.

Hartsock is crediting Shockey with helping save him today after Hartsock, a fellow tight end, could not breathe in the team’s lunch room. A piece of pork tenderloin lodged in Hartsock’s throat and Shockey came to the rescue, the National Football Post has learned.

“He said to me a little while ago, ‘I really hope this doesn’t get out but if it does it’s going to be a funny story,’” said Chicago-based agent Mike McCartney, who represents Hartsock.

It's more of a story with a good ending than it is a funny one. Hartsock tried drinking some water to clear his throat and when that didn’t work it became evident to others in the room he could not breathe.

“He started to go to the bathroom and I don’t know if he collapsed, but he couldn’t breathe,” McCartney said. “Some new guy came and tried to give him the Heimlich. It didn’t work. Then, Shockey hit him in the back pretty hard and out came the meat. The Panthers told me it was really scary.

“Ben told me Shockey came over and gave me the Heimlich Maneuver and saved my life. He was in good spirits and he’s real thankful for Shockey.”

The story serves as a good reminder that it’s important to know how to administer the Heimlich because you never know when a friend or teammate could be in need.

It gave the Panthers plenty to chat about on the practice field. “Don’t choke, Hartsock,” became a new line in practice.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sports.yahoo.com)

When times were toughest for Reggie Bush this offseason, when it appeared his playing future was at its cloudiest, he talked things over with a former Saints teammate who knew the feeling: Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey and Bush referred to that talk during a pregame chat on Friday night, shortly before Bush’s new team, the Miami Dolphins, handed Shockey’s new team, the Panthers, a 20-10 beatdown.

“He’s excited to be here,” Shockey said afterward when I asked him about Bush. “He just thanked me for the advice I gave him early in the offseason. Told him to keep his head up, things would work out and it’s good to see things are.”

Bush received 10 touches in his Dolphins debut, shaking free for 81 yards on eight carries and a couple of receptions. His longest gain was 17 yards, but even then there was enough shimmy and shake in his gait to fill onlookers’ heads with the possibilities.

“He’s got the talent,” Shockey said. “Sure looks like they know how to use him. He’s a good friend, and I wish him the best as well. I hope all of  Miami cherishes him and respects him as the running back he is.”

Shockey and Bush have fond memories of Sun Life Stadium. It’s where they won a Super Bowl with the Saints a little over a year and a half ago.
Shockey spent the past three seasons as Bush’s teammate, so he knows better than most what the all-purpose threat is capable of doing.

“He’s a very special person running the football,” Shockey said. “No one wants it as much in the league as he does. You know he’s going to work and get it and achieve the things he wants to do in this league. It’s good to start over sometimes. I have no doubt he’ll do well this year.”

Shockey and Bush didn’t get a chance to talk after Friday’s game — “He blew me off again,” Shockey joked — but his old friend will be watching from afar to see what Bush can do in his first season in the AFC.

What should people know about Bush’s ability to take over a game?

“There’s not a guy in the NFL that could do it as good as him,” Shockey said. “It’s a health issue, like you said. It always is in this league. It’s very hard to find people that are 100 percent healthy year-round. He can control a game at the drop of a dime, man. I’ve seen him do that so many times. I’m just excited for him.”



(sun-sentinel.com)

It's been since Wesley Walls that the Panthers had a good offensive tight end. Now they have two if Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey can stay healthy, which is no gimme. Shockey signed as a free agent; the Panthers dealt a third-round pick to Chicago for former first-rounder Olsen the other day. Saw Shockey in the student union after lunch today, hunkered down with tight end coach Pete Hoener, working on learning the playbook. I like what they've done there.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s or Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cnnsi.com)

A new deal between NFL players and owners will be completed by Thursday according to veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey, who signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers prior to the lockout, was also told to be in Charlotte for a three-day camp beginning Friday.

“Obviously the details have to be completed, but this deal is done,” Shockey told Busted Coverage.

Shockey also stated the Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams was also given the green light. If that proves to be the case, the league would be successful in averting any lost games–preseason or otherwise–due to the labor impasse. Moreover, all games would start on time.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(footballnewsnow.com)

Jeremy Shockey says he feels as healthy as he has in years this offseason.

"I feel like a different person compared to what I was doing last year in New Orleans and the year before in New Orleans," he said. Shockey missed nine games during his three years with the Saints, and was almost never at 100 percent health. Although it's nice that he is now, he's as unlikely as anybody to stay that way whenever the 2011 season finally gets under way.

Shockey said one of the factors in him signing with the Panthers was that he has a close relationship with offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Chudzinski was Shockey's tight ends coach during his college career.

Shockey also said he will not be attending the start of the team's player-organized workouts next week but plans to attend some of the workouts. He has been working out in Miami with several former University of Miami players.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(kffl.com)

While some NFL players have gathered for workouts with their teammates during the lockout, Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey took his training to a different level.

Shockey and three endurance race veterans from Texas took fourth place in the 2011 Drambuie Pursuit, an outdoor adventure race across the wild terrain of the Scottish Highlands that concluded Sunday, The Miami Herald reported .

The two-time Super Bowl champion and teammates Steven Fonrigrnao, Jeff Odell and Shane Duffy comprised Team USA in the three-day, 100-mile event, which included rounds of archery, rock climbing, white water rafting, downhill mountain biking, kayaking and buggy racing.

"This was one of the most challenging, exciting and physically demanding experiences of my entire life, and coming from a professional football player, that says a lot," Shockey said. "I'm proud of the way Team USA competed, and while it would have been nice to come away with a victory, I'm glad I was able to participate in this historical tradition. It was also a great way to spend the offseason."

A team from the Netherlands won the event, in which teams race across the Scottish Highlands between Inverness and the Isle of Skye, in celebration of Bonnie Prince Charlie's legendary escape from the British government forces after a failed attempt to regain the throne. In gratitude for his loyalists' help in escaping, the prince passed on the top secret recipe for his personal elixir, which became Drambuie.

As part of his participation in the 2011 Pursuit, Shockey has pledged to make a donation to former New Orleans Saints teammate Heath Evans' foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nfl.com)

Jeremy Shockey grunts and snarls a bit when he hears the first results.

"Third place?" he asks when he's told how his team fared in the first leg of the Drambuie Pursuit 2011 race through the Scottish Highlands, "that's not good. We have to come stronger tomorrow."

Shockey -- and if you know anything about the tight end, then you're aware that archery isn't exactly his sport -- is as competitive off the gridiron as he is on it. In the wake of the NFL lockout, the Super Bowl champ signed up to lead Team USA through the 100-mile race that retraces the journey of Bonnie Prince Charlie across Scotland as he escaped British government forces in 1745. The race included a number of competitions, like white-water rafting, kayaking (Shockey capsized a couple of times), mountain climbing (he sat that one out considering that he doesn't have health insurance right now) and dune buggy racing. In addition to leading the team, Shockey forked over $10,000 to benefit the the Heath Evans Foundation, as part of his participation.

Legend has it that as a present for hiding him, Bonnie Prince Charlie left the only thing he had to his name -- the secret recipe for Drambuie, which to this day is still kept under lock and key.

Shockey can relate. He's doing a bit of escaping himself. Now that his recreation of the Highland Games are over -- Team Shockey finished fourth out of 10 teams (a team of young guns from the Netherlands repeated and won it all) -- he and his trainer T.J. Prunty are exploring Ireland to discover a bit about Shockey's roots.

"I'm Scotch-Irish. A lot of my family members have been over to this country and to Ireland and I had never been," he says after finishing driving his dune buggy over a gritty terrain course. "I've been working hard in this offseason, so ... I wanted to come over here, see Ireland and Scotland and see where my bloodline comes from and see relatives. And see if I can get my EU card."

He laughs about that last bit, but gets serious when talking about the lockout. When he finished the entire race with his team (teammates Steven Fonrigrnao, Jeff Odell and Shane Duffy -- all distance runners from Texas) he was met by a group of American football fans. Their favorite team is the Philadephia Eagles, but they came armed with Shockey jerseys, hoping to get him to sign them.

The young guys hoped that the lockout didn't delay the start of the NFL season -- they all play American football and say they have to drive hours in Scotland to find a group of kids to play competitively with them.

"This football lockout, to be honest with you, it's not very good for the business of our game. But a lot of people like myself and a lot of other smart people don't have offseason workout bonuses. The owners knew what they did when the CBA expired, when they signed the TV deal, so as players we wanna go back to work," Shockey said. "That's the whole point. We understand the fans are probably ... aggravated by hearing it all the time. I just want the fans to know that there will be a football season, but as far as the players taking an 18 percent pay cut and adding two games and the health insurance is not as what it should be in the most dangerous sport there is in the world? That's not gonna happen.

"We're just not doing this for us right now, we're doing this for older players that's played before us, we're doing this for players that play ahead of us. Right now it's the attorneys that's making all the money and that's a shame. We need to really get the players in one room, as Mike Vrabel said, and the owners in one room and get it solved, because the longer it waits, the worse it looks for free agency."

Shockey acknowledges that he lucked out, considering that he got released from the New Orleans Saints and signed to play this upcoming season with the Carolina Panthers right before the lockout.

"I'm ready to work with my new teammates. I got my playbook -- I studied it here in Scotland. I'm fortunate enough in that aspect, but a lot of guys aren't," he said. "It's a sad situation about the NFL and the lockout, but it is business and I'm sure both sides will be coming to an agreement. If not, I will have to stay here in Scotland and keep doing cool events like this all around my Scottish-Irish ancestors."

And as far as the Panthers go?

"I'm feeling great. I called it intriguing for a reason and I didn't really elaborate on that, because my tight end coach and my offensive coordinator in college, Rob Chudzinski, is there and he's the offensive coordinator. Cam Newton is gonna be a great addition. I'm very familiar with some of the guys on the team on defense -- University of Miami guys. So it's going to be fun," he says. "It's gonna be a challenge for me -- I've really never been in a place for more than a couple of years, besides New York, and I knew it was about time for me to leave New Orleans. I had done everything I wanted, to go back to the Super Bowl and did more by winning it and made some great friendships and gave the city a lot of hope. I'm going to bring experience to Carolina. The experience of winning. Everywhere I've went, it's proven fact. In college, high school, any team I've played for I've won a championship. So that's my next desire."

And while he's not counting on adding archery or white-water rafting to any of his training, he did pick something up in the Scottish Highlands that he wants to incorporate in his game.

"I did a favor for a person just not too long ago and he goes, 'I love you like a dog,'" Shockey says laughing. "So I'll be using that one. As we're leaving the field back home, I'll go: 'I love you ... like a dog.'"

Kelley L. Carter is a Los Angeles-based entertainment freelancer.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Welcome to our 1st annual and long overdue proCane Rankings where we look back at the 2010 NFL season and rank the 43 proCanes that took snaps in 2010 (except for Sinorice Moss who was placed on IR before the start of the season).

Stay tuned as we countdown from number 43 to number 1. Our rankings are based on each player’s performance last year. In August we’ll go ahead and re-rank the player’s based on our 2011 expectations. For now read our review of each player’s 2010 season and where they rank overall. Enjoy!

To read our rankings of players 43-35, click here.

To read our rankings of players 34-26, click here.

25. Jeremy Shockey TE New Orleans Saints/Carolina Panthers: In Shockey’s nine-year career he has not once been able to play all 16 games in a single season and unfortunately 2010 was no different. Shockey was only able to play in 13 games which ultimately led to the emergence of fellow proCane TE Jimmy Graham and Shockey’s release in the offseason and signing with the Panthers. Shockey accumulated a career low 408 yards receiving, and career lows in receptions (31) and yards per reception (31.2). Shockey will be reunited for the 2011 season with proCane offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski in Carolina. If he can stay healthy and the Panthers can find a quarterback, Shockey could have a big season because Chudzinski’s offenses emphasize the TE.

24. Bryant McKinnie LT Minnesota Vikings: After making the Pro Bowl in 2009, but not being voted to the Pro Bowl in 2010, most would think McKinnie did not have as good of a 2010 campaign, but on the contrary McKinnie according to himself and coaches played more consistently in 2010 while protecting Favre’s backside as well as Tarvaris Jackson’s. McKinnie still needs to lose some weight this offseason to improve his quickness versus edge rushers and vowed to do that with a personal trainer, especially since he will be seeing Julius Peppers twice again this season.

23. Willis McGahee RB Baltimore Ravens: McGahee the last two seasons has been stuck behind Ray Rice as the number two back for the Ravens. As a result in 2010 McGahee had his worst year statistically with only 380 yards rushing and 5 TDs on the ground and 1 TD through the air on only 100 rushing attempts. McGahee in 2009 had totaled 14 TDs as he was the main red-zone threat for the Ravens, but wasn’t featured as much inside the 20-yard line in 2010. McGahee can still be a starter in the NFL and is approaching free agency this year where it looks like he will not be resigned by the Ravens. Look for him to have a bigger impact in 2011.

22. Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints: After not appearing in the first two games of his rookie season, Jimmy Graham slowly made his presence known for the Saints as he topped 70 yards receiving in two games and finished the 2010 season with five touchdowns as he subbed for fellow injured proCane Jeremy Shockey. Graham performed so well in 2010 and showed so much potential that the Saints released Shockey this offseason and plan on using Graham as their feature TE in 2011.

21. Rocky McIntosh LB Washington Redskins: McIntosh had his best season statistically with 73 tackles despite playing for the first time in his career in a 3-4 defense as the RILB. McIntosh has had a solid and somewhat underrated career and turned many heads by showing his versatility and playing so well in a 3-4 defense as well as versus the pass. Most seem to think he won’t be with the Redskins next year, but look for him to have no trouble signing with another team and picking up where he left off.

20. Kenny Phillips S NY Giants: Phillips played in only two games in 2009 because of the need of microfracture surgery on one of his knees. Many at the time said Phillips’ career was over and he would never be able recover after such a serious injury and surgery. Not only did Phillips come back, but he had a solid season in his first season playing beside fellow proCane Antrel Rolle. Phillips played in all 16 games and started 15 of them. Though he only recorded one interception he had career highs in tackles (77) and pass deflections (5). Phillips did admit that it took him a while to feel 100% physically and mentally but he did stay healthy and put up good numbers which leads us to believe he is in for a big 2011 season.

19. Antrel Rolle S NY Giants: In his first season with the Giants, Rolle was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and had a solid though not spectacular season for the Giants. Rolle started all 16 games and the fact that he had only one interception may be misleading as he played a lot closer to the line of scrimmage than most safeties. Look for Rolle to become more comfortable in the Giants’ defense and as long as he continues to play well on the field and create less headlines off of it, he and Phillips could become one of the best safety tandems in the NFL.

18. Eric Winston RT Houston Texans: The only explanation we can come up with for Winston not making a Pro Bowl yet, is that he plays for the small market Texans. Winston has been stellar at RT for the Texans and 2010 was no exception. Winston played at an All-Pro level during 2010 with one exception versus the Tennessee Titans where he was beat for two sacks. Look for 2011 to be an even better season for Winston and the Texans, and look for him to make his long overdue first Pro Bowl.

17. Brandon Meriweather S New England Patriots: Meriweather made his second consecutive Pro Bowl after a good 2010 season, though he was inconsistent at times. Meriweather started 13 of the 16 games and in three games only record one tackle while versus the Colts, for example, recorded 7 tackles and an interception. His inconsistency led to him sharing time with the other Patriot safeties as his numbers did slip from his 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Patriots do expect more from Meriweather, and look for him to step up in the 2011 season with the increased competition at the safety position.

16. Chris Myers C Houston Texans: Despite having a solid 2009 season Myers did take a lot of heat in the offseason from Texan fans mainly because of the lasting image of Kris Jenkins throwing him to the turf towards the end of that season. Myers followed up his solid 2009 campaign with a stellar 2010 season where he was ranked as the #3 center in the league by ProFootballFocus.com and anchors a Texans offensive line which at one point featured three proCane starters; Myers, Eric Winston, and Rashad Butler. Look for Myers to continue his stellar play in 2011 and hopefully make his Pro Bowl debut.

Check back tomorrow to see which proCanes were ranked 15th through 8th!

NEW ORLEANS -- Jeremy Shockey has been a controversial figure throughout his career, but he got a glowing sendoff from one chapter Tuesday morning.

It came from New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who made the decision to release Shockey before the lockout.

“It was probably more difficult for me because of my relationship with him going back to New York,’’ said Payton, who was an assistant coach with the Giants in Shockey’s rookie season. “He’s one of my favorite players ... and he plays with passion. He brought a swagger to what we do.’’

Shockey signed with Carolina and Payton was happy to give a detailed scouting report of what the tight end can bring to the Panthers. And continued raving about Shockey’s swagger.

“It’s an aspect of his game where it’s almost calming to everyone around him because he can kind of take on that role and make the big catch and be ready to come up with the big play,’’ Payton said. “I think it’s a little contagious as well. He has got strong hands in traffic. He’s bigger than anyone ever thinks until you see him and you’re up next to him and you realize this guys is big. He’s a big target with strong hands and he has got that ability to, fourth-and-four, to win the game, he has that ability and sees himself making that play and that has never changed.

“To his credit, he’ll come into training camp in great shape. He’s something. He’s a rare athlete and someone, and I’ve seen Year 1 to where he’s at now, and there are aspects of what he does and what he brings to the table. I also think he’s a great teammate.’’

Payton said he’s happy he’ll still get to see Shockey twice a year.

“What was best for him, even if it wasn’t as good for the Saints, made me happy,’’ Payton said. “He’s in our division obviously, and you respect him and you understand the threat he presents. But more than anything else, I was happy mostly for him.’’

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton said the team's decision to release tight end Jeremy Shockey was especially difficult for him because of their close relationship that dates back to their days together with the New York Giants.

"He's one of my favorite players before and he plays with passion. He brought a swagger to what we do," Payton said Tuesday. "The one thing that's interesting when you win a Super Bowl, it can really validate any decision you've made up until that point in regards to free agent moves, players drafted, coaches hired. That doesn't mean there aren't mistakes on the road to a Super Bowl. But that game and after the game seeing him and his mother is pretty strong.

"Any time you end up parting ways with a player like that it's difficult. His case with my history it was hard."

One of the reasons Shockey became expendable was the emergence of rookie tight end Jimmy Graham in 2010. Although Graham is still developing as a football player after playing just one season in college at Miami (Fla.), he clearly has the talent to be a game-changing offensive weapon. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound former basketball player caught 31 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns in 2010, with four of those TDs coming in his final three games of the season.

"I felt like, most importantly, none of it was too big for him. I think he saw himself as someone who should excel in this game now. We began to see that especially the last third of the season," Payton said. "I think he has got some work to do in regards to the running game. But he has a lot of ability. We've got to look closely to what we want to do within the framework of what runs while he's in there and how do we want to utilize him while he's in there. Certainly he and (free agent tight end) David Thomas are built differently and will have different roles. But we obviously saw enough of him as the season progressed and feel real good about his development. Jeremy had a lot to do with that as a veteran player helping him. The future is bright for him."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has a reputation as being a hard-liner in the labor situation that is bogging down the NFL right now.

But Jeremy Shockey, who signed with the Panthers shortly after his release from the New Orleans Saints, had no problems going to Carolina, where he signed a one-year contract.

“I met the owner, Mr. Richardson, he was a straight-shooter, he looked me in the eye and was real sincere in the things he had to say,” Shockey said on WFNZ in Charlotte, N.C., according to sportsradiointerviews.com. “Coach (Ron) Rivera has some great things ahead of him as a head coach, obviously the offensive coordinator, Rob Chudzinski, I knew him from Miami as a tight ends coach and as an offensive coordinator at Miami.

“It just made sense. It is something that I had a chance to meet with a bunch of teams and meet with a bunch of owners and things like that but to me, I had this thing, sort of a gut feeling and it is exciting, it is a young ball club compared to some of the other ball clubs I have been in and it is a very intriguing situation for me.”

We’ll see how intriguing Shockey finds things once the Panthers select a quarterback for this coming season. If things bog down – and if veteran wide receiver Steve Smith is still there – that could become a potentially awkward situation with a couple of players who are vocal when they’re not getting the ball.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

Tight end Jeremy Shockey's one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers is worth $3 million, with $1 million guaranteed, a league source said Monday.

The deal also includes a $812,500 roster bonus and no signing bonus, making it team- and salary-cap-friendly.

Shockey, who was released by the New Orleans Saints last week, also received interest from the Miami Dolphins. He signed the contract with the Panthers on Thursday.

Shockey will be reunited with Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who was his position coach at the University of Miami.
"Time for the Next chapter," Shockey wrote on his Facebook page after signing. "This is a great opportunity for me, and I am excited to play football."

Panthers coach Ron Rivera put an emphasis on acquiring a pass-catching tight end immediately after he was hired in January to replace John Fox following Carolina's 2-14 season. The flamboyant Shockey could be that guy, although the nine-year veteran has been slowed by injuries the past few seasons.

Shockey, who's 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, made the Pro Bowl in four of his first five seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants, but he also was known for brash comments and feuds with coach Tom Coughlin.

Shockey was traded to New Orleans before the 2008 season and caught a key touchdown pass in the Saints' Super Bowl victory one year later. But Shockey labored through injuries in all three seasons in New Orleans, and the Saints cut him loose with $4.2 million due to him in 2011, the final year of his deal.

If he can stay healthy, Shockey, who had 41 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games last season, will provide a target at tight end not seen in years in Carolina.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nfl.com)

Jeremy Shockey, the tight end, who recently waived bye-bye to the Saints, was seen skulking in fabulous Miami, where he is rumored to be pursuing a new career as a swimsuit model. Or pursuing a swimsuit model. We'll get back to you as soon as we have some reliable information.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(cnnsi.com)

CHARLOTTE - The Panthers have signed Jeremy Shockey, one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL over the last decade, the team announced Thursday.

Shockey, who was released by the New Orleans Saints on Feb. 22, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who ranks fourth among active tight ends in both receptions with 510 and receiving yards with 5,688. He also has caught at least one pass in 121 consecutive games played, the second-longest current streak among tight ends.

"We are very pleased to add Jeremy to our football team," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said. "He is a highly competitive player with a good skill set and a wealth of experience. He should make a solid contribution to our offense."

Rivera has emphasized the importance of having a pass-catching tight end. The Panthers' tight end trio of Dante Rosario, Jeff King and Gary Barnidge combined for 51 receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns for the league's last-ranked pass offense in 2010.

Shockey had the quietest statistical season of his nine-year NFL career in 2010, but he still produced 41 receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns as a part of a tight end trio in New Orleans that combined to catch 105 balls for the NFL's third-ranked pass offense.

The move reunites Shockey with Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who was offensive coordinator at the University of Miami in 2001 when Shockey was one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award, given annually to college football's top tight end.

The New York Giants picked Shockey in the first round of the 2002 draft, and he made his first Pro Bowl that year after recording the second-best numbers for a rookie tight end in NFL history with 74 catches for 894 yards.

Shockey earned Pro Bowl honors in four of his first five years with the Giants. After his sixth season in New York, during which time he caught at least 48 passes for 500-plus yards each season, the Saints traded for Shockey.

At the end of the 2009 season, Shockey helped the Saints to their first Super Bowl title, catching a touchdown pass that put New Orleans ahead of the Indianapolis Colts for good in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIV. It was the second ring for Shockey, who won Super Bowl XLII in his final season with the Giants.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(panthers.com)

Jeremy Shockey is headed to Carolina. Now that the news is official, it’s worth looking into what type of player the Panthers are getting.

Shockey, who will be 31 at the start of next season, has never played a full season and missed 10 full games during three seasons with the Saints due to an assortment of injuries. The fact the Saints chose to let Shockey go, even though he has a long history with head coach Sean Payton dating back to his rookie season with the Giants, should be telling. But it wasn’t seen as a surprise given the variety of factors — age, injury history, cost and the development of Jimmy Graham.

NFL Network analyst Solomon Wilcots checked in for a quick scouting report:

“He’s not the player he once was, and he’s not a full-time player. But I think on a limited basis he can still be an impact player. He’s probably not an every down, every game starter. But he will be great to pair with a younger tight end, because he was great with Graham last season in New Orleans. I won’t take anything away from his overall abilities, I think he can still play his game on a limited basis. Shockey can still catch the ball in tight spaces and still knows how to work defenders on his routes.”

Even in a situational role, Shockey could still provide a suitable compliment (or at least the threat of one) in the passing game for Steve Smith. Panthers coach Ron Rivera has been vocal about the Panthers featuring one tight end instead of a rotation, and perhaps Shockey is still that player. That the Panthers were able to sell Shockey on Carolina and his role in the offense also leads to some between-the-lines thinking that he won’t have a rookie quarterback throwing passes his way next season (see Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer, et. all).

Keep in mind Shockey will also be reunited with his position coach from the University of Miami, new Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nfl.com)

With every passing day, the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl victory becomes more and more of a distant memory. As a lifelong resident of New Orleans, it is difficult to convey how special the Saints championship was for me and everyone else in New Orleans. And the players who helped lead us to the Promised Land will forever be Saints in our hearts. Unfortunately, the NFL is a business and one by one, our Super Bowl Saints are feeling the march of Father Time and the economic realities of the league. The latest casualty was TE Jeremy Shockey who was released.

Jeremy Shockey's legacy in New Orleans

When Jeremy Shockey joined the New Orleans Saints in 2008, I was "shocked." On the surface, Shockey did not seem like the kind of player that Sean Payton wanted in the Saints locker room. When Payton arrived in New Orleans, he cleaned house and cut or traded those who were not team players and were not 100% committed to winning. And Jeremy Shockey's reputation with the New York Giants was that of a loose cannon with an attitude problem.

But then I realized that Payton had coached Shockey when they were together in New York. I hoped that Payton knew something about Jeremy Shockey that I did not. Quickly, I realized that what others saw as a loose cannon was really a player who gave maximum effort with a thirst for winning. And the only attitude that I saw was his sheer joy at helping his team win. Most importantly, New Orleans Saints fans will never forget his pivotal TD catch in Super Bowl XLIV. We will never forget you, Jeremy and we will always thank you.

For Jimmy Graham(notes), the future is now

I don't know if a third round draft pick qualifies as a steal. But to hear experts and NFL insiders talk about Jimmy Graham, you would think that he's got more potential than the energy stored in a uranium atom. Despite everything that Jeremy Shockey brought to each and every game in which he played, he did seem to be injured quite often. And if he was destined to be the second option at TE, the Saints could not be expected to pay him $4.2 million in 2011.

But if Saints offensive guru Sean Payton trusts the skills of football novice Jimmy Graham, I should have faith in him as well. As the 2010 NFL season wore on, I could see Drew Brees(notes) go to Graham more and more often. To truly be effective though, Graham will have to continue to improve as a run blocker. In three years, NFL fans may be talking about Jimmy Graham in the same breath as the likes of Tony Gonzalez(notes). But for now, I would prefer to reminisce about the great times I had watching Jeremy Shockey help lead the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory.

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s or Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sports.yahoo.com)

The NFL and the players’ union may not ink a new contract by March 3, but free-agent tight end Jeremy Shockey has every intention of doing so.
Per a league source, Shockey plans to sign with a new team before the expiration of the current league year, and in turn the possible commencement of a lockout.

At this point, however, no deal is imminent with the two teams that have shown interest in Shockey:  the Dolphins and the Panthers.  Even though Shockey has said he’d like to play for the Dolphins, we’re told that Shockey prefers the Panthers because of the presence of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who worked at the University of Miami while Shockey played there.

Shockey was recently cut by the Saints.  Before spending three seasons in New Orleans, he spent six with the Giants.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

While most of the football world remains holed up in Naptown, Jeremy Shockey will be meeting with the Carolina Panthers.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Shockey will visit the Panthers on Sunday.  The timing of the move indicates that Shockey will take a physical for the team, but we can’t imagine they’d be prepared to offer a contract yet.  Most of the team’s key decision makers will still be at the Scouting Combine.

Shockey also met with the Dolphins and reportedly is interested in playing for the Titans.  So far, it has been difficult for recently released veterans like O.J. Atogwe, Shaun Rogers, and Shockey to get acceptable contract offers.

They probably will have to wait until a new collective bargaining agreement before they get paid.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

Former Miami Hurricanes tight end Jeremy Shockey passed a physical for the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting, citing a league source.

It is not known, however, if the sides are negotiating a contract.

Shockey, 30, was released Tuesday by the New Orleans Saints after three seasons. He spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the New York Giants, who drafted him in the first round in 2002 (14th overall).

Shockey's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has said that Shockey -- who owns a home on South Beach -- would welcome playing for the Dolphins.
Shockey has been plagued by injuries during his career and has never played a full NFL season. He has caught 510 passes for 5,688 yards and 33 touchdowns in his NFL career.

Rosenhaus said: “I can’t speak for the Dolphins but I will tell you Jeremy does have an interest in Miami,” Rosenhaus said on the air. “Jeremy lives in Miami, has always been a big fan of South Florida, obviously, going back to his great days at the University of Miami. … From our standpoint we are very interested in the Dolphins but I cannot comment on whether that feeling is mutual at this time.”

Shockey caught 41 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games last season. The Dolphins' starting tight end, Anthony Fasano, caught 39 passes for 528 yards with four touchdowns.

After he was released Tuesday by the Saints, Shockey told ESPN's Rachel Nichols: "It's a business, I understand. I'll just go play hard for someone else. Whoever gets me, it's going to be a steal."

Ironically, with Shockey gone from New Orleans, another former UM standout, Jimmy Graham, is expected to take over the primary tight end duties.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(miamiherald.com)

The Saints haven’t closed the door on a possible return to the team by Jeremy Shockey, according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.   But they would only want him to return as a backup to Jimmy Graham.

Translation: The door is only open a crack, and only if Shockey was very desperate.

As Duncan points out, the decision to cut Shockey was more about Graham’s emergence as a future star than Shockey.

It’s worth wondering, however, how many starting jobs Shockey will be offered.  His speed has diminished rapidly the last few years and he’s always fighting through injuries.  There is very little chance he will make close to the $4.7 million he was scheduled to earn in New Orleans.  He has the reputation of carrying himself like a superstar without the production to match.

Speculation immediately started regarding whether Shockey could end up with the Dolphins.  Shockey would surely like to play in his college town and Sean Payton is close to a lot of Dolphins staff members.

We’re not sure whether Payton sharing inside information would help or hurt Shockey’s chances of landing in Miami.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

A day after he was cut by the Saints, Jeremy Shockey says he’s drawing interest elsewhere.

Shockey told ESPN today that he has a physical scheduled for tomorrow with a team that’s interested in his services. Curiously, he didn’t name the team.

Although Shockey is presumably healthy enough that he can pass a physical, he’s been no stranger to nagging injuries that have slowed him down or taken him off the field. He missed three games in 2010 and has never played all 16 games in any season.

Shockey, who will turn 31 in August, had career lows in catches (41) and yards (408) last season.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

Arguably the biggest play of Jeremy Shockey's three-year stint with the New Orleans Saints came on the biggest stage, trailing the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIV.

In this excerpt from a June 22 article by Mike Triplett, Coach Sean Payton breaks down the play:

Now at second-and-2 from the Colts' 28-yard line, the Saints called a run play, but Brees changed it at the line of scrimmage when he saw that only one safety was lined up deep instead of the two-deep zone the Saints expected. He completed an 8-yard pass to receiver Marques Colston.

Payton said defenses will often try to disguise what they're doing at the line of scrimmage -- "they'll sugar it sometimes, " as he put it. But he said the Colts weren't able to disguise their alignments because the Saints' tempo from play to play was so quick.

The next play was also supposed to be a run, but Brees again decided to change it up. This time, instead of calling an audible at the line, he decided to make a quick throw out to receiver Robert Meachem on the far right side of the field, a "smoke" option that was built into the play.
It actually might have been the wrong decision. Payton pointed out that there appeared to be a decent hole available for the run. But Meachem did a great job of fighting off an early tackle and turning the play into a six-yard gain.

The next play was a "simple stick route" to tight end David Thomas on the left side, a nine-yard gain that gave the Saints first-and-goal from the 5-yard line.

"They're coming, but not in chunks here, " Payton said again.

The next play was a three-yard run by Pierre Thomas that did exactly what it was designed to do: get the Saints down closer to the goal line. Payton had already called the next play even before Thomas ran the ball. It was a quick pass designed for Shockey if he got the right matchup.

And sure enough, the Saints got the matchup they wanted. Shockey was lined up outside, and the Colts opted for zone coverage with cornerback Jacob Lacey directly across from him.

"If you listen to the audio, you'll hear me say, 'He's going to throw to Shockey here, '" said Payton, who indeed predicted the touchdown before the ball was snapped, according to the raw footage from NFL Films, which had put a microphone on the coach for the game.

"If this corner, who's short, matches up on Shockey and we feel like Shockey can get inside technique, which Drew sees right now" Payton explained as he highlighted the key players with his coach's clicker. "We've got just what we want. Soft coverage and the big athlete on the small corner. Shockey's just going to run what we call a bullet, and Drew will take one step and he's going to throw this.

"It's just a big player on a small player. The corner didn't play it badly at all. It's like an inbound on a basketball court."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

NEW ORLEANS -- For flamboyant tight end Jeremy Shockey, the party is over -- at least in New Orleans.

Shockey was released Tuesday by the Saints, who appear ready to move on with promising second-year pro and 2010 third-round draft choice Jimmy Graham.

"It's a business, I understand," Shockey told ESPN's Rachel Nichols. "I'll just go play hard for someone else. Whoever gets me it's going to be a steal."

Shockey was no stranger to the Big Easy social scene and also helped give the city a reason to celebrate like never before. He made a crucial touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of the Saints' lone Super Bowl victory over Indianapolis in Miami just more than a year ago.

But with one season and $4.2 million in base salary left on Shockey's contract, the Saints decided the best way to pursue a second championship would be without the 30-year-old, nine-year veteran.

"Jeremy played an important role in helping our team bring a Super Bowl championship to New Orleans," coach Sean Payton said. "He contributed to the success of our offense, both as a pass-catcher and run blocker, and we're appreciative of his efforts."

Acquired from the New York Giants in a trade at the onset of 2008 training camp, Shockey spent three up-and-down seasons in New Orleans and labored through injuries in all of them.

Last season, Shockey made 41 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games.

Shockey's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not answer his phone, but Shockey posted a note on his Twitter page: "Always will remember my time in New Orleans. What a city, you all welcomed me like one of your own, and we had a great run. Onto the next chapter, the Deep Unknown."

Shockey, a former Miami Hurricanes star who makes his offseason home in Miami's South Beach, is an adventure traveler and avid free diver. While he played for the Giants, who made him a first-round draft pick in 2002, he was popular and productive, but also seen as a malcontent and a distraction by the time his stay in New York had ended.

In New Orleans, he rejoined Payton, who had been his offensive coordinator in New York during his rookie season, which remains one of his best seasons statistically, with 74 catches for 894 yards and two TDs.

After Shockey arrived in New Orleans, he often sidestepped reporters and for the most part avoided generating negative headlines.

Not entirely, though. In 2008, he was critical of the team's handling of his sports hernia injury, which he contended was misdiagnosed. Off the field, he made news for being hospitalized after passing out because of dehydration at a pool-side party in Las Vegas in the summer of 2009.

As he looks for a new team, Shockey's resume includes 510 catches for 5,688 yards and 33 TDs in his nine-season career. The questions now are how many good seasons he has left and which teams want to take a chance on him.

In his three seasons in New Orleans, he caught 139 passes for 1,460 yards with six touchdowns in 38 regular season games, 34 of them starts.

Last season, Shockey made an effort to serve as a mentor for Graham, who also attended Miami, but entered college as a basketball player before a lone season of football with the 'Canes.

Graham improved steadily as the season wore on and became a trusted target for quarterback Drew Brees, who raved about his rapid development. Graham finished his rookie season with 31 catches for 356 yards and five touchdowns, with one play going for 52 yards.

Graham routinely credited Shockey for teaching him the NFL game and Saints officials said they appreciated not just Shockey's effort on game days, but his willingness to hasten the development of his understudy.

"I'd like to thank Jeremy for the contributions he made to our team," general manager Mickey Loomis said. "These decisions are never easy to make and we wish him the best."

Shockey through Twitter said: “Always will remember my time in New Orleans. What a city, you all welcomed me like one of your own, and we had a great run. Onto the next chapter, the Deep Unknown.”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Shockey is technically under contract for one more season at about $4.21 million. He missed three games this season with rib injury and a groin injury. He finished this season with only 41 catches for 408 yards and only three touchdowns. He has missed 10 of 48 regular season games in his three seasons with New Orleans. While his blocking is still excellent, the Saints have a mismatch in a younger and cheaper Jimmy Graham. We see him coming back for one more season.

D. Thomas is a free agent who has proven in the past two seasons that he might mean more to the team than the big sticker Shockey does. He’s a sure-handed receiver, a better-than-average blocker and plays the fullback role when needed. Thomas’ stats weren’t as good as Shockey’s, but Thomas does a lot more. We think he, too, will return.

Graham entered 2010 with a lot of question marks –How would he react to the professional game after only one year of collegiate football? Was the athleticism he showed on the basketball floor transferrable to the football field? He exited 2010 as one the bright young players in the NFL with a big upside and good future. He finished the season with 356 yards and five touchdowns on 31 catches.  But four of those five scores came in the final three weeks of the season. He was inactive in the playoffs but after a full season learning the offense, the sky is the limit. He’s back.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s or Jimmy Graham’s proCane Rookie Card.



(wwltv.com)

New Orleans Saints Jeremy Shockey will participate in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit.

DRAMBUIE Pursuit is a legendary, outdoor adventure race across the wild terrain of the Scottish highlands. Shockey, the winner of the first-ever pro football rookie award in 2002 and a two-time pro football champion, is no stranger to rugged and aggressive competition – and looks forward to bringing his skills on the football field to the field of competition in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit.

Seeking to compile an elite team of fierce athletes and modern-day rebels, Shockey will lead a group through the terrain in the footsteps of the legendary Scottish Prince, Bonnie Prince Charlie.

DRAMBUIE – a unique combination of aged Scotch whiskies, heather honey, and a blend of herbs and spices – was created more than 260 years ago exclusively for Bonnie Prince Charlie. After his attempt at taking over the British throne ended in defeat at The Battle of Culloden in April 1746, he went on the run for his life with a price of 30,000 pounds Sterling on his head – about 15m pounds today – before escaping to France and then exile in Italy. Prince Charles left his loyal subjects the recipe for DRAMBUIE, which remains top-secret to this day.

The DRAMBUIE Pursuit is inspired by his flight across the Scottish Highlands and features a once-in-a-lifetime 100-mile race course consisting of archery, mountain biking, boating, and other outdoor challenges. Teams from around the world will meet up to pay homage to Bonnie Prince Charlie and compete with each other in the epic two-day race. As captain of one of the U.S. teams this year, Shockey is currently seeking applicants to join his rebellious team.

Possessing extraordinary athletic talent and known for his abilities to run routes and make crucial blocks, Shockey is also well-known for his competitive attitude off the field. As a star player in college, Shockey first rose to national attention as a sophomore, receiving numerous honors before becoming an integral part of the 2001 National Championship Miami team. The following year, Shockey was selected 14th in the first round of the 2002 pro football draft. He quickly thrived in the professional arena and, in 2005, Shockey signed a five-year contract, making him the highest paid tight end in the game. Since then, he has gone on to win two championships, has been an all-pro selection four times, and also caught his 500th career reception this year – one of only six tight ends to ever reach that mark.

Jeremy Shockey said “The DRAMBUIE Pursuit is an incredible opportunity to showcase athletic prowess and participate in one of the fiercest competitions in the world. I look forward to putting together an unbeatable team to tackle the Scottish highlands and knock out the competition.”
From white water rafting to archery and mountain climbing, TEAM JEREMY will enjoy the experience as a lifetime as they race in the footsteps of the legendary Scottish Prince in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit.

Additionally, as part of his participation in the 2011 Pursuit, Jeremy will be making a donation to The Heath Evans Foundation. Founded by Jeremy’s teammate, Heath Evans, the foundation is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.

Antonio Pujala, Brand Director for DRAMBUIE said “We are excited to see the level of competitiveness Jeremy will bring to the DRAMBUIE Pursuit, as this is the first time we have enlisted a professional athlete. 2010 has been an exciting year for revitalizing and modernizing the brand, and we look forward to continuing that momentum by enjoying the participation of a star from the NFL in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit.”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(satellitetelevisionnews.com)

Q: After reading your 10-step program, I have a question for the mailbag. Could you please talk about Shockey's blocking ability compared to Thomas and/or Graham. I haven't paid particular attention to it, but it could be a reason to keep Shockey around. Catches and yards aren't everything for a tight end, especially for a team that needs to improve the running game. Andrew, Uptown.

A: Shockey is a solid blocker but certainly nothing special. I certainly wouldn't characterize blocking as one of his strengths. In fact, from the tape I have watched, Thomas is a much better and more willing blocker and, along with reserve tackle Zach Strief, is usually the tight end called upon when the team needs a blocking assignment at the position. Regardless, Shockey is not being paid $4.5 million to block. That's elite tight end money and at this stage of his career Shockey is no longer an elite tight end. If the Saints really need a blocking tight end, they can find one in the draft or free agency for a fraction of the salary they are paying Shockey. Jimmy Graham is clearly a budding star at the position. With a full offseason of development, he should win the starting job next season. If David Thomas is re-signed -- and I think he will be - then Shockey is expendable although I do think he could be a candidate to return at a restructured deal.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

The New Orleans Saints may look to renegotiate TE Jeremy Shockey's contract this offseason because he has one year left on his contract for significant money, reports James Varney, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.


Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(kffl.com)

6 proCanes made early exits out of the NFL playoffs after he wildcard round this weekend.

Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles) all lost their respective games and will start their offseason.

Below are the remaining proCanes in the NFL playoffs.

AFC: Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).

Jimmy Graham (ankle) did not participate in Saints practice on Thursday, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Jeff Duncan.

Our View: He's beginning to look pretty doubtful for the Saints' Saturday Wild Card tilt with the Seahawks. Official word should come tomorrow, but don't consider him likely to give it a go this weekend. Hopefully for New Orleans, Jeremy Shockey can get over his own injury, though it looks like he has as Shockey did practice yesterday.

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s or Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rototimes.com)

17 proCanes will participate in the 2010 NFL playoffs. 8 from the AFC and 9 from the NFC. Below is a list of the players.

AFC: Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).

NEW ORLEANS, La. January 3, 2011 — Jeremy Shockey is a leader on the football field, but he’s also a Cult spokesperson.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey, a Super Bowl champion, is the new spokesperson for Cult Energy Activator, an all-natural energy beverage. The campaign, featuring Shockey, will launch on January 4, 2011 with a contest to meet Jeremy in person.

The contest guidelines established by Cult feature taking a photo of the entrant with one of the many life-sized Shockey cutouts with a Cult, visiting the energy drink’s fan page on Facebook at Facebook.com/cultenergy, “liking” the page and submitting their picture for viewing.

The contest winner will receive dinner, an autographed jersey and football and a year’s supply of Cult Energy Activator, all delivered by Shockey.

The winner of the first-ever Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 2002, Shockey has earned four Pro Bowl selections in his career and received a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and with the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.

He was a good fit for Cult Energy Activator, the energy drink uniquely based on natural ingredients. The drink, which can be used to combat exhaustion and mental or physical weariness, lacks Taurine and is instead powered with all-natural Guarana caffeine. It is also available in an All Natural Stevia sweetened version.

“Cult helps me keep my focus and physical edge without Taurine, and it’s all natural,” Shockey said.

Due to the drink being made from natural ingredients, it’s found to be safer on the body. Of course, like all energy drinks, Shockey’s motivation isn’t completely steeped in the healthiness of the product.

“It keeps me going hard as I can, on and off the field.”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(prlog.org)

Saints TE Jeremy Shockey has not done much since returning from injury and could be in for another slow game in Week 16 against the Falcons. Over his last three games, the 30-year-old has nine catches for 82 yards while rookie TE Jimmy Graham has posted 122 yards nine catches, including two touchdowns. Shockey is having a down season all around and has seen his role in the passing game diminish with the emergence of Graham. Both are tall products of Miami (FL) but the rookie has seen more looks over the last few weeks. Shockey had eight catches for 78 yards and a touchdown when he faced Atlanta in Week 3, but a lot has changed since then.

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s proCane Rookie Card.



(gridironfans.com)

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey ranks third on the team in catches (37) and touchdowns (three) and fifth in yards (371). Limiting the former University of Miami standout could fall to another Hurricanes alum in Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden, who smiled when asked about the potential matchup.

“I remember Jeremy, and he was a ‘Cane,” Gooden said. “It’s always good to play against a ‘Cane, and it’s going to be Greentree football. Greentree is what we called the practice field out there [at Miami]. We love to compete out there. We played against [Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Hurricanes tight end] Kellen [Winslow] and some of the other guys who play like Jeremy. So we can’t wait to see him. That’s what we do on defense. We love playing against the best. You don’t want to play against someone sorry. That’s nothing to brag on. So we’re looking forward to seeing Mr. Shockey, and hopefully, we get the best.”

At 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, Shockey is a matchup nightmare for many opponents because of his strength and his speed. Gooden, who is no slouch at 6-1 and 242 pounds, didn’t shy away from the challenge.

“We want dictate to people what they can do,” Gooden said. “It’s not about looking at them and saying how to stop somebody or how to do this. They’ve got to watch the tape and figure out what we’re going to do. That’s the name of the game, and that’s what we’re doing defensively. It’s not about trying to stop somebody. If you do that, you put too much pressure on yourself and then you make mistakes. We want to feel what we’re going to do to them. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Shockey has a knack for exchanging verbal barbs with opponents and getting inside their helmets. That didn’t bother Gooden.

“What school do you think I went to? I’m going to talk back to him,” he said. “If he talks to me, I’m going to talk back to him. I do the same thing, I like to get up in people’s heads. I’m not afraid of anybody in this league. Nothing against Jeremy. He went to the ‘U,’ and he’s my boy, and we’re brothers for life. But at the same time, if you’re that weak to let somebody get into your head, you shouldn’t be in the league. If there’s going to be chatter, it’s going to be that. But it’s going to be a good game. It’s a brotherhood. There’s going to be competing going on, just like we did when we were in college.”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s or Tavares Gooden’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltmoresun.com)

Mix one part crazy, one part well-spoken, and one part world class athlete and what do you get? Jeremy Shockey. The New Orleans Saints tight end hasn’t been in the news as much this year. That’s partly a product of him being injured for much of this season, and partly the result of him staying out of trouble in and outside of the game. But he’s still an important weapon on the Saints offense when healthy, and should be a welcomed addition to Drew Brees as the Saints look to continue their winning streak and potentially make a run back to the Super Bowl.

Shockey joined 790 The Zone in Atlanta to talk about the 100-mile adventure race that he hopes to participate in next spring, his health heading into the home stretch of the regular season, how he’s more or less the same person as he was earlier in his career but a more devoted player to his craft, the unique experience of playing in New Orleans and winning a championship for a city that loves the Saints so much, and how he respects the Saints’ primary competition in the NFC South this year – the Atlanta Falcons.

On the 100-mile adventure race across Scotland that he aims to participate in next spring:
“No, no, it’s not a free for all. There are rules.  Scotland is like America, there are rules and laws. But I appreciate you guys having me on this morning. You can get more information on this 100-mile race on at thepursuitof1745.com. All the applications have to be in by the end of December, but the actual date of the event is May 15th. It should be fun, there’s ten teams from around the world. Last year the Netherlands won, Germany won it the year before. The United States has never won it, so I’m trying to get three other rebels and myself to help get this trophy to the United States.”

On his health heading into the home stretch:
“It’s better, a broken rib is no fun, so it’s a painful injury but I made it through the worst part and we won five straight games, so I can’t complain. I can’t complain.”

On if he thinks he’s different as a player and person from earlier on in his career:
“I’m still pretty much the same person as I was earlier in my career. I don’t have any kids, I’m not married, I take my job pretty seriously. I’m obviously playing for a different team, that’s the obvious part. Age – I’ve gotten older. I’m 30 years old, this is my ninth year, I came into the league when I was 21 years old, I didn’t really know the game. You’ve really got to be a student of the game and love what you do to be in the league this long. It’s hard, and each year it gets harder and harder, you don’t get younger as each year goes by.  And you don’t want to be one of those guys who the game passes you. So you’ve really got to be involved, and like I said earlier, you want to be the guy who gets frustrated he can’t play because he’s injured because that shows passion for the game. That’s 90 percent of the game – having passion and loving what you do.”

On winning a championship in New Orleans and the experience of bring the title back to a city that loves and supports the team so much:
“Yeah you know, people in New York, they’re a little spoiled. They’ve got the Yankees, they’ve got the Jets, the Giants,  Knicks they’ve got everyone. And there’s been championships that have come in and out of that city a lot, historically wise I’m saying. Historically, New Orleans has never won a championship and there have been some tough times in this area. It comes from bad politicians, to hurricanes to oil spills. So anytime you make them forget about the hurt and the bad times and put a smile on their face, it makes us feel good as people. Obviously being a part of the Saints is a great experience just to make people feel happy, and let them get through their day a little bit easier, you know?”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sportsradiotinerviews.com)

Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey joined the show to talk about his season and more. Here are some of his takes:

-- Shockey said they know how good the Falcons are, but they're not focusing on the NFC South race. "You can't look ahead because that will get you in trouble and you won't make the playoffs," Shockey said.

-- Shockey isn't happy about the state of his Miami Hurricane football program. "The past couple of years have not been Miami football," Shockey said.

Shockey was pretty clear about who he wanted to take over since they fired Randy Shannon. "I wish it was Jon Gruden, but it looks like he's a professional ball coach.

-- Shockey said he doesn't regret any of his tattoos. "Everything I have on my body is there on purpose," Shockey said. He said he didn't get his first tattoo until he was 25, so he made adult choices.

-- Dan asked which will come first -- another Super Bowl ring or a wedding ring. "Another Super Bowl ring," Shockey said. "I'm not currently dating anyone. I have no kids. This job is my life right now."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(cnnsi.com)

Jeremy Shockey was held to just two receptions for 28 yards against the Bengals in Week 13.

Shockey set up Chris Ivory's 1-yard score with a diving, one-handed catch inside the 5-yard line. With rookie Jimmy Graham emerging as a threat, Shockey's passing-game role is diminishing. There's no reason to carry him in 12-team leagues.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotworld.com)

Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that Jeremy Shockey (ribs) is fully expected to return against the Bengals in Week 13.
The Saints' starting tight end isn't even on this week's injury report. Shockey missed three games with cracked or at least severely bruised ribs. His return will make rookie Jimmy Graham and David Thomas non-options in fantasy leagues going forward. Shockey would be a poor bet in his own right.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

METAIRIE, La. ― Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said the four players who left Sunday’s 34-3 win over Carolina could return as soon as next week when the team returns from its bye week break.

But the one who could be out longer is tight end Jeremy Shockey, who suffered bruised ribs when he was hit from behind on his touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Shockey, though, could be considered the most questionable of the group.

Payton said the tight end was taken to the hospital where he was checked out to make sure he didn’t have worse internal injuries. Though the tests came back negative, Payton said Shockey will have to rest and stay away from getting hit in the near term.

“Resting that is going to be important,” Payton said. “Padding it and avoiding contact to that area.”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(wwltv.com)

Jeremy Shockey's 500th career catch came with a price.

The Saints tight end scored on a seven-yard run, but had to leave the game after that with what was originally announced as a rib injury.

Shockey left the game and eventually walked under his own power into an ambulance, which took him to a local hospital.  We'll update Shockey's status once we know more.

X-Rays on Shockey's ribs came back negative, Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

The Saints are on bye next week, which gives Shockey and his banged-up teammates some added healing time leading up to the team's next game, Nov. 21 against the Seahawks.

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(rotoworld.com)

Saints TE Jeremy Shockey was not listed on the practice report for Monday as New Orleans prepared for Thursday's season opener against the Vikings. Shockey did not play in the preseason finale and was limited in practice that week but is no longer dealing with an injury at this time.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(fantasysp.com)

The colorful New Orleans Saints tight end returned to action in training camp after missing the past seven practices while dealing with knee soreness.

"He's doing well," Saints Coach Sean Payton said. "A lot of it is just making sure we monitor any soreness. But I was encourage with how he worked today."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

Jimmy Graham looks more intriguing every day Jeremy Shockey does not practice. The veteran tight end bumped knees with a teammate in a workout, he said, and is still sidelined.

Meanwhile, here comes Graham, a rookie tight end who played basketball -- and some football -- at the University of Miami and can run and jump and look spectacular for a guy his size.

He has makeup, too. I was at the Miami-Virginia Tech game last season when Graham dropped a key pass that would have kick-started the Hurricanes in the big road game in Blacksburg. Graham never blamed the monsoon conditions. Said he should have made the grab. Graham sat against a wall in the interview room and answered every question about ruining a UM comeback.

That's makeup.

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nfl.fanhouse.com)

Hey Shockey Way:
Jeremy Shockey has always been a fan favorite wherever he is. It’s likely because he’s so volatile, prone to outbursts of frustration and excitement.

Saturday was no different. In fact, it was more shocking that it took late into the team’s third practice for such an occurrence to happen.

It all unraveled for the tight end during team drills. Shockey released down the middle and got behind the secondary. QB Drew Brees released a pass that honestly should have been intercepted, but it went right through the hands of FS Usama Young. Shockey, set up behind Young, had the ball come into his hands and then watched as it popped out. Instead of no less than a 40-yard gain, it was an incomplete pass that the fans groaned at.

Several plays later, Shockey took revenge on the blasted football that caused him so much pain. With QB Patrick Ramsey at the helm, Shockey went low for a catch and was able to corral the ball into his grasp. When the play was over, he wasn’t finished. Shockey punted the ball about 25 yards down the field.

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(wwitv.com)

METAIRIE, La. ― Tight end Jeremy Shockey was dressed Sunday afternoon for practice but the Saints held him back with a sore knee.

“We rested Shockey with a sore knee,” Head Coach Sean Payton said. “Nothing serious. Got it look at today. We’ll get him some treatment and get him back as soon as possible.”

Payton didn’t elaborate on which knee was involved nor what happened.

Shockey missed the final three regular season games of 2009 with a bum right knee.

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(wwitv.com)

At the tight end position, the charismatic Jeremy Shockey is obviously a virtual lock to make the 53-man roster after hauling in 48 receptions for 569 yards in 2009 despite missing the final three games of the season with an injured toe. After eight NFL seasons, Shockey remains one of the more talented tight ends in the NFL, and excels in both the passing and running games. Shockey was limited, however, at the end of last season with a toe injury, and suffered a bizarre fainting incident during the teams OTAs in June. After eight extremely physical seasons in the NFL, it is worth wondering whether Shockey may be beginning to break down.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

New Orleans Saints veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey was back on the practice field Friday -- but not all the way back.

After recovering from a frightening episode last week when he experienced seizure-like symptoms in the Saints' weight room, Shockey was sidelined Friday by an unrelated case of back spasms.

He didn't participate in the morning practice, then he was limited to the walk-through portion and individual drills in the afternoon as the Super Bowl champions kicked off their three-day minicamp.

Shockey declined to comment, but Coach Sean Payton insisted that Shockey is fully recovered from last week's health scare, which Payton said was caused by low blood sugar and dehydration.

"What's holding him back right now is just his back, " said Payton, who described last week's incident as a "fainting episode rather than a seizure."

Shockey, too, previously had said on his Twitter account that the episode wasn't a seizure.

According to descriptions from teammates in the weight room, Shockey was convulsing for nearly a minute before he was revived. He then spent the night at a hospital for testing and observation.

"He had finished practicing, then was in the weight room and was just finishing a set on the bench press and felt faint, " said Payton, who added the only precautions needed for Shockey -- as well as the rest of the team -- is a continued emphasis on staying hydrated and eating enough before workouts. "You know, they got him hydrated, (did) all the tests over the weekend. Fortunately, they all came back positive."
Shockey was expected to fully participate in this weekend's minicamp, but Payton said at some point in the past 48 hours Shockey experienced back spasms.

Payton said Shockey has experienced similar back problems in the past. He described him as "day to day" but said there was no reason to rush him back to the practice field.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

New Orleans Saints TE Jeremy Shockey is expected to participate in the team's minicamp this weekend. GM Mickey Loomis told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Shockey was taken to a New Orleans hospital last Thursday after suffering a mild seizure while working out at the team facility. He pronounced himself 'OK' after being treated.

Last year, Shockey was also hospitalized for dehydration in March. He returned to play in 13 games for the Saints in the regular season and their three postseason games. He caught a touchdown for the Saints in their Super Bowl win.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(usatoday.com)

New Orleans Saints tight end and Ada native Jeremy Shockey was released from the hospital on Friday, according to NFL.com, which attributed a source with knowledge of the situation.

Shockey was hospitalized Thursday after suffering a seizure during a weightlifting session. He told Saints officials that he was released from the hospital on Friday and intends to rejoin the team for scheduled offseason work next week.

Shockey told teammates that he feels great, and he tweeted Thursday that "I will be fine.” Coach Sean Payton also said Thursday that Shockey was OK.

The cause of the episode hasn't been revealed.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(newsok.com)

Saints TE Jeremy Shockey said his status was improved after being taken to a hospital following a team workout on Thursday.

Shockey said on Twitter:

"I am ok, thanks to everyone who has shown their concern don't worry about me I will be fine.. WHO DAT!!"

Saints safety Darren Sharper said Shockey seemed to suffer a seizure.

"It was scary," Sharper told the AP. "We didn't know what was going on."

Coach Sean Payton said Shockey was likely to remain hospitalized for the night for observation.

"I talked to Jeremy from the hospital and the good news is he's feeling better and everything looks real good,'' Payton told NewOrleans.com.
Payton said there were no details yet on why Shockey was hospitalized.

"They don't know if it was dehydration or what," he said. "That's what they're going through right now. They just want to make sure it's nothing more significant than that.''

Shockey was also hospitalized in March 2009 for dehydration in Las Vegas. He played in 13 games for the Saints last season and their three playoff games. He caught a touchdown in the Saints' Super Bowl win.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(usatoday.com)

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey said Wednesday at Heath Evans' charity softball game at Zephyr Field that he intends to be a frequent participant during the Saints' offseason program again this year after spending most of his offseason in New Orleans last year, too.

In past years with the New York Giants, Shockey preferred to stay in his college town of Miami for most of the offseason. But last year he said he wanted to make a commitment to spend more time working with quarterback Drew Brees and the rest of his teammates.

"You know, it's hard working out in New York when it's cold outside and you have to work indoors. It's great weather here, and I have no excuse not to be here, " Shockey said. "We work all the time. Today we worked on routes with Drew and everything. So I'm here a lot of the time. And if I'm not here it's for a good reason."

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(nola.com)

To help Lafayette celebrate the first round of the NFL draft, Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey will be a special guest Thursday night at Nitetown on Jefferson Street downtown.

According to owner George Favaloro, the former Pro Bowl tight end and first-round draft pick will arrive at the club at 9 p.m. to mingle with guests, take pictures and sign autographs. Shockey will not, however, be seated at an autograph table; it’s strictly casual.

The NFL draft will be televised live beginning Thursday night on ESPN and NFL Network. Because they won the Super Bowl, the Saints have the 32nd and final pick of round one; the team is expected to make it’s selection around 10 p.m.

Attendees must be at least 18 years old to get into Nitetown.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(theind.com)

Here is a video Bryant McKinnie broadcasted over UStream of a BBQ he threw at his house. The video features McKinnie, Edgerrin James, Jeremy Shockey, Vernon Carey, Katrina Campins and many more! We thank Katrina for sending us the link to the video.



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If you’ve ever wanted to compete for a shot to date a REAL man, I’m talking tattoos and back sweat, the whole works, then now is your chance, gals. Jeremy Shockey is giving one lucky lady a chance to spend a night rubbing her fingers through his greasy, golden locks.

I can’t make this stuff up, people!

Shockey made the announcement on his Facebook and Twitter pages. Here’s the direct quote from #88 himself.

“Ok LADIES heres the contest.. Post a video on the “just fans” section of my fbk fan page explaining why u deserve to have me take u on a date 1 nite this offseason… Contest ends sun night 4/18 at 8pm est… Lets have fun w this so be creative but just be careful its not too inappropriate where fbk deletes it!! good luck!!!”

Oh, one can only imagine the sort of skantastic responses he’ll get to this one. I’m guessing there will be plenty of lingerie clad groupies, babbling bimbos, and a potpourri of bad football puns of the “I can’t wait to sack you” and the “Will you be my tight end” variety. Anybody wanna place bets on the percentage of video vixens who will show up wearing just Shockey’s jersey and no pants? I’m thinking somewhere in the 90+ range.

The announcement of the contest alone generated more than 300 responses within one day, some of which included debate over whether it’s appropriate for married women to enter the contest.

Sigh

… Some ladies have already lowered the bar sweetened the pot by declaring themselves a ‘cheap date.’ I mean, you’ve got to imagine this is gonna be much less The Bachelor and much more For the Love of Ray J.

If you want to keep up with the contest, you can check out the “Just Fans” section of Shockey’s wall.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(bestbreakingnews.us)

This is the REAL Jeremy Shockey:


Shockey meeting a Saints fan at Newark airport:


Security Doesn't Ask For Shockey's ID:


Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.

Page 6 of the NY Post reports that Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey attended a party for singer-songwriter Sylvia Tosun during the Winter Music Conference in Miami, FL and "got acquainted" with former porn star Traci Lords. Shockey denied any sexual relationship between the two via his Twitter account about an hour ago...

I,m not Wilt Chamberlain nor do I profess to be. I,ve been linked to many women both professional and in the entertainment field While its...ield. While its flattering to my bachelor status they are unfounded and untrue. I have a mother who must read these lies and inuendo,s Right...now understand I am in a relationship with the New Orleans Saints...I met Traci Lords and then page 6 writes this.. wow    

Shockey seems to be the only one making a big deal about this; not the NY Post. While the title of the original article might be a bit misleading, further reading reveals it only alleges the Shockmeister was "chatting it up" with the former porn star. Nothing about any relations. In fact, the article states the real fun was when the tight end picked up Tosun and the party's host, Tom Lorde-Alge, the next day "for a joy ride around Miami in his souped-up vintage Dodge Charger." You know, the car he posted a picture of sitting in front of the Saints facility on Twitter last August. 

Canal Street Chronicles would like to thank Jeremy for keeping this, the most boring off-season in Saints history, slightly more exciting. Even if none of it's true. 

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(canalstreetchonicles.com)

I have noticed that the Saints aren't as explosive with Jeremy Shockey out of the lineup. Do you think the Saints should get a tight end with one of their top two picks?
A: Yes and no, Chris. I think if the Saints do draft a top tight end prospect in the first or second round, he would excel in their offense and develop into a regular Pro Bowler. This offense is made for tight ends, only they've never really had one consistent tight end stay healthy in the years that Sean Payton and Drew Brees have been here. They've gone through Ernie Conwell, Mark Campbell, Billy Miller, Eric Johnson, Shockey and David Thomas, among others. And all of them have performed well when they're in the lineup. I think if the Saints had, for example, drafted Greg Olsen in Round 1 in 2007, he'd be an absolute star in this offense. ... And I think with Shockey's physical style and the fact that he's getting older, a young tight end would make a lot of sense in the draft. If the Saints go with an offensive player early, I think that would be the position to target.

But all of that being said, I don't think the Saints NEED a tight end in the draft. They've proven that all of those fill-in guys can work just fine, and David Thomas is still a young player with the potential to develop into a top tight end in this league. So it's a position where they can have success without making a real big investment.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

Here is a photo Bryant Mckinnie tweeted this past week showing himself and Jeremy Shockey fishing in Miami during their days at the U.



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Recently released New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant and current Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against their former teammate, Kevin Houser, alleging Houser duped them and other current and former Saints players and coaches into investing more than a million dollars in a film tax credit scam.

Houser is the former special teams long-snapper who was the longest tenured Saints player when he was cut by the team before the 2009 season as news of the tax credit fiasco emerged. Grant and Shockey say Houser, who was a licensed securities broker, convinced them they were buying state tax credits for Louisiana Film Studios, but later it turned out LFS had never applied for the state tax credits.

In all, nearly two dozen former or current Saints players and coaches, including quarterback Drew Brees, Coach Sean Payton and Saints legend Archie Manning, invested $1.7 million to buy what they thought were tax credits for the film studio project in Elmwood. Grant and Shockey's lawsuit is labeled a class action on behalf of the rest of the investors.

Houser's attorney, Jimmy Castex, said Monday his client and his wife were themselves victims of a scam by the film studio's former CEO, Wayne Read. Several local news outlets reported in January that Read had received a target letter from federal investigators and had asked a magistrate judge to appoint a criminal lawyer to defend him. Read's bankruptcy attorney, Robert Marrero, said he had heard that and believed it to be true, but couldn't confirm it for sure.

A federal bankruptcy judge ordered the film studio's assets liquidated last month.

Grant and Shockey's civil action alleges Houser engaged in unfair trade practices and, alternatively, unjust enrichment. The unjust enrichment claim is based on accusations about Houser's involvement in the film studio project. Grant and Shockey allege that Houser actually kept a portion of their money as a commission or finder's fee. Also, they say that Houser kept secret the fact that the film studio owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to 47 Construction LLC, a company co-owned by Houser and his wife.

Houser's jersey number with the Saints was 47. He played for the team from 2000 to 2008, exclusively snapping the ball on punts and placekicks.

Houser had brokered previous tax credit deals with his teammates, so Grant and Shockey expected Houser to put their money in escrow accounts until the state issued their tax credits, the lawsuit says. That did not happen, however, and the film studio project failed.

Grant and Shockey are asking the court to deem those who invested in the purported tax credits a class. The two suing players estimate that more than 100 people may have invested money with Houser or the investment firm he represented, Securities America Inc., on the deal.

In September, Castex told The Times-Picayune that his client was cooperating with federal criminal investigators who were looking into the case. A lawyer for George Ackel, the owner of the building that housed Louisiana Film Studios, also said he had been contacted by investigators.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey's proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

MIAMI — Jeremy Shockey's own team wouldn't claim him the last time he took the Super Bowl stage. Now, everybody wants a piece of No. 88.

He was an outcast, now he's a hero.

The oft-maligned New Orleans tight end hauled in a 2-yard game-winning touchdown with 5:42 remaining as his Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV.

The victory erased memories from two years ago, when he was shunned by the New York Giants. While the Giants stunned the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, Shockey was confined to a suite.

Shockey wasn't allowed to dress out that day, but did receive a championship ring.

This ring, like all the others he's won at various levels of the game — will go to his mother.

"She's the holder of the rings,' he said.

This one won't be tainted.

"It's a great feeling right now," Shockey said. "I don't care about the catch, I just care about the team. Ever since you start playing football, you're dreaming about playing in this game. I dreamed and prayed all day and night about being in this situation."

The moment was even sweeter because the University of Miami product calls this city his "adopted home."

The 29-year-old frequents South Beach and lives the lifestyle of many single, wealthy athletes. He likes to have a good time. He even admits he'd stay in college if NCAA rules would allow.

The party-boy image is enhanced, or perhaps darkened, by his gaudy tattoos and a tough-as-nails attitude.

Deep down, however, Shockey says most people have it all wrong.

"I work hard on my career and my profession as you guys do. I take a lot of pride in it. I don't do this for the money" he said. "I have metal in my leg and broken bones and I've got ligaments that are torn — I have a love of the game. The passion is still there."

Shockey became emotional at times during his postgame news conference and wanted to clear up some misconceptions regarding his not-so-friendly parting with the Giants.

"A lot of people made it out to be me being jealous of New York winning without me," Shockey said. "It was the complete opposite. It wasn't about that. I just talked to (former Giants defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo this week. "He gave me good words of advice."

In a way, Shockey doesn't want to grow up; well who can blame him. He leads a good life. However, his time with the Saints has done that for him.

He had just three catches for 13 yards Sunday. But it's not about the numbers.

"He's brought an attitude we needed," running back Reggie Bush said. "We've been called a finesse offense for a while. He's been nothing but special since Day 1.

"I told him before the Super Bowl: 'God had a bigger plan for you (than what happened in New York). You don't even know what you're a part of right now.' It's special. He has to appreciate it."

Shockey says he's probably run the route that led to Sunday's game-winner 1,000 times in his career and only scored a couple of times.
Football can be humbling. It can also be rewarding.

"I have great memories from high school, junior high, college and my time with the Giants," he said. "This feeling is as special as it gets."
His message wasn't complete. The man with a bevy of rings is already looking for another; one that goes on his left hand.

"I'm single," he said, showing off a bare ring finger on his left hand, "Wink, wink."

Shockey talking about marriage? Of course, the New Orleans Saints did win the Super Bowl. Anything is possible.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(shreveporttimes.com)

The Miami Hurricanes are good at a lot of things: celebrations, smoke, amateur rap careers.

They're also good at winning on two levels, and got even better last night. With a Saints victory in the Super Bowl, former 'Canes Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma joined 10 other U alum with rings from both a national championship and a Super Bowl. The list includes Bernie Kosar, Michael Irvin, Kevin Fagan, Coleman Bell, Jeff Feagles, Vince Wilfork, Daniel Stubbs, Alfredo Roberts, Russell Maryland, Darrin Smith, and Jimmie Jones.

Shockey, the brashest and trashiest and blondest of tight ends, wasn't targeted a lot but produced when it mattered with a two-yard winning touchdown catch.

Vilma, undersized but savvy at middle linebacker, faced off against a quarterback famous for his crafty goal-line checks and audibles -- and won. New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said the Coral Gables High grad audibled the Saints into "at least 20 calls of the right defense,'' including a crucial fourth quarter play in which he checked out of a blitz to deflect a Peyton Manning pass intended for Austin Collie, forcing the Colts to attempt a field goal up by one. They missed.

Where have we seen this sort of thing from these two before? Oh, right: 2001.

"The feeling is almost the same,'' Vilma said in comparing the Hurricanes' defeat of Nebraska and the Saints' win over Indianapolis. "I think we were so talented [in 2001], it was a blowout game. We knew we were going to win the game by the start of the third quarter. This game was completely different. I think the effort it took, the concentration it took makes it that more satisfying."

In true Miami tradition, there was also a bit of redemption for both after going underestimated and unwanted. Vilma was sent to rot in New Orleans by the Jets after an injury in 2007; the Giants were so through with Shockey he had to pay his own way to watch them win a Super Bowl from a luxury box in 2008.

If New York knew its orange and green history, they might have known the two would play better when counted out. 

"It's a great feeling right now," Shockey said. "I don't care about the catch, I just care about the team... I dreamed and prayed all day and night about being in the situation I'm in right now."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s or Jon Vilma's proCane Rookie Card.



(nbc.com)

The Saints' 31-17 victory over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami added three more Super Bowl Rings to the proCanes' trophy cabinet. Jonathan Vilma, Jeremy Shockey and Glenn Sharpe became the 45th, 46th and 47th Super Bowl Ring proCane winners. To see the full history click here.

Additionally, Jeremy Shockey became the 9th proCane to score a TD in the Super Bowl extending the lead over Notre Dame 9-6. The nine proCanes are: Bill Miller, Oakland (scored 2) Pete Banaszak, Oakland Ottis Anderson, New York Giants (2) Michael Irvin, Dallas (2) Jimmie Jones, Dallas Duane Starks, Baltimore Ravens Devin Hester, Chicago Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis. Jeremy Shockey, Saints.

Congrats to all three Super Bowl winning and proCanes along with Reggie Wayne who had a great season and game.

Jeremy Shockey: 3 catches, 13 yards, 1 TD

Jonathan Vilma: 7 solo tackles, 2 Tackles For Loss, 1 Pass Deflection

Reggie Wayne: 5 catches, 46 yards

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The rest of his teammates had deserted the interview room long before when New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey, freshly showered and clad in a pink tie and a cream-colored suit, arrived more than an hour after Super Bowl XLIV.

If he had been savoring the moment, it would have been hard to blame him.

Though this was technically the second time he'd been a part of a team that won a Super Bowl, Sunday's 31-17 victory against the Indianapolis Colts was meaningful in many ways for Shockey, who caught the 2-yard touchdown that put the Saints ahead to stay. "This is my home," said Shockey, who had starred at nearby University of Miami. "It's my adopted home. Being a part of this here is very special, as special as it gets."

He caught three passes for 13 yards, but his scoring reception was a key moment in the Saints' comeback victory. The hookup with quarterback Drew Brees came with New Orleans trailing Indianapolis 17-16 with less than six minutes remaining.

It was the 32nd and final completion of the game for Brees, who tied a single-game record for completions in a Super Bowl (Tom Brady also achieved the mark on Feb. 1, 2004).

"I've probably run that route a 1,000 times in my career but caught a couple touchdowns off it — and now only one in the Super Bowl," said Shockey, 29. "It was a great throw by Drew and a great call by Sean (Payton).

"It's very special. It's meant a lot for the city of New Orleans; it's had a lot of tough times. This team has put a lot of hard work into this."
A lot of work went into the performance for Shockey, too. He missed the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory two years ago after breaking a leg during the regular season.

"I've got metal in my leg, I've got ligaments that are torn, I've got broken bones," he said. "I don't do this for the money. I do this for the love of the game. The passion is still there.

"A lot was made of me being jealous of New York winning without me. It was the complete opposite. I was very satisfied and happy for those teammates that worked hard."

Just as he was Sunday night.

"It's a great feeling to be part of this," Shockey said.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(usatoday.com)

MIAMI (AP) — Jeremy Shockey wasn't sitting in a suite for this Super Bowl. Instead, he was a big part of the New Orleans Saints' sweetest victory.

Shockey hauled in a touchdown catch for the go-ahead score Sunday night, helping the Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 for their first NFL championship.

And for Shockey, that 2-yard score had to feel like redemption.

"A great feeling," he said. "I work hard in my career, in my profession. ... I don't just do this for the money or anything. I've got metal in my leg. I've got broken bones. I've got ligaments that are torn and I do this for the love of the game. The passion I have for it, it's still there."

Only two short years ago, that passion was in question.

Shockey was with the New York Giants — in name only — when they upset New England in the 2008 Super Bowl. He watched that title game from a suite above the field and felt like an outcast after breaking his left leg and missing their scintillating playoff run.

That essentially set up his trade to New Orleans. This ring, he can say he earned.

"I know there's a lot of people out there that think, I don't know, negative thoughts about me," Shockey said.

But does he feel redeemed as a player now?

"Yes," he said.

The stat sheet will say he had only three catches for 13 yards in the title game. The Saints will quickly say that Shockey did so much more than that on the way to this championship.

The Saints were thought of by some as a finesse team until Shockey came along, with his rough-and-tumble ways and a personality seeming more suited for professional wrestling than professional football.

Just what New Orleans needed, Reggie Bush said.

"I told him, 'God had a different plan for you,'" said Bush, the Saints' flashy running back and returner. "He's got to appreciate it. I know he does. Shockey's brought so much to this team, an attitude that we definitely needed. ... We needed a guy like Shockey to bring that aggressiveness to our offense, and he's been nothing but special from Day 1."

Blond, bold and brash, Shockey came to the NFL from the Miami Hurricanes, where he blossomed into a star.

He caught 74 passes for 894 yards as a rookie with the Giants in 2002. Both of those numbers still represent career highs.

On Sunday, he got the best moment of his career.

"This game is very humbling," Shockey said. "Any chance you get to make a play, a lot of hard work has gone into that. I've probably run that route 1,000 times in my career, probably only caught a couple touchdowns off of it, but only one in the Super Bowl."

It came with 5:42 left in the game, when he caught a pass from Drew Brees and barreled backward into the end zone, putting the Saints ahead for good. Shockey tossed the ball to the sideline, wanting it as a keepsake.

A ballboy picked it up instead.

No matter. Shockey will have plenty of other ways to remember this one.

"To be part of something that's been building, an organization that's never had any success in the postseason and being a part of that is very special. Obviously, always winning is very special," Shockey said. "I have great memories of winning in high school, junior high, college, the Giants and now with the Saints. It's about as special as it gets."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(latimes.com)

proCanes Jon Vilma has been sharing his Super Bowl experience with fans on Playmaker Mobile this past week. For those without the iPhone Playmaker Mobile has been posting much of the content on the Playmaker blog. Here is a link to Vilma/Saints related content. http://blog.playmakermobile.com/blog/jonathan-vilma/

Below check out an exclusive shot of proCane Jeremy Shockey in his old Hurricane Lockeroom, as well as a video tour by Jon Vilma of the Hurricane Lockeroom. Be sure to check out the link above for even more inside content by Jon Vilma.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Sean Payton knows what, and who, he likes. And the New Orleans Saints head coach is a big fan of tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Of course, it helps that Payton and Shockey have a history. They were together with the New York Giants, where Payton served as the quarterbacks coach under Jim Fassel and Shockey was the team's brash, young receiving threat.

Things didn't work out for either one in New York. Payton moved on to the Dallas Cowboys, where he was an assistant to head coach Bill Parcells before taking over in New Orleans. Shockey stayed a little longer but was traded away to the Saints not long after the Eli Manning-led Giants won a Super Bowl title two years ago.

The reunion in the Big Easy has been beneficial for both coach and player.

"I like Jeremy Shockey. I love what he brings to this football team," Payton said recently. "I like his personality a lot. There's something that he has about him that brings a little confidence. You know our receivers are kind of quiet. He brings a little something to the huddle that I like."

According to the Saints coach, the notion that Shockey can be a load for his own coaching staff to handle — both on and off the field — is a misconception.

"I don't know that that's necessarily the case, really. He's a guy that [Monday] night was floating around the meeting rooms and half the team is out for dinner. He's looking at [game] tape and getting ice [on his sore knee]. So I think a little bit of that is mythical. It's fun to write about," Payton said.

"He's a wiser, older player who understands that at this stage, you begin to fight the arrow down. In order to do that, you've got to rest more, hydrate. He's doing a good job progressing with the injury. I think he'll be ready. He's excited about it [playing in Super Bowl]."

In a way, Super Bowl XLIV could serve as a bit of redemption for Shockey. He didn't play when New York beat the New England Patriots due to a broken leg. He had also reportedly gotten into the doghouse with the Giants' coaching staff.

"You want to play in [the Super Bowl]. It's something that coaches have always harped on you as a kid and in college about maybe one day [playing]. You hear stories about, 'I was at a Super Bowl or part of a Super Bowl team.' Thirty years from now, this is something that we can take, which is very special, and all of us that are on this team can talk about this 20 to 30 years from now," he said.

"We've had coaches that have been in this league for 30 years that haven't even been in a Super Bowl yet and we know how much is at stake and how much they want it as much as we do. I can promise you that it's going to be fun."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(tribstar.com)

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. - Since 2002, and for the past 122 weeks in which an NFL game has been played, a player from the University of Miami has scored a touchdown.

For 14 consecutive years, at least one Hurricanes player has been a first-round NFL draft choice.

Sunday evening in Super Bowl XLIV, a handful of former Hurricanes, from Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and tight end Jeremy Shockey will participate in the NFL championship game, a destination most who pass through the football program at the Coral Gables, Fla., school come to expect from the moment they arrive on the palm tree-lined campus through the time their name is called by the NFL commissioner on draft night.

"Those kids who go there expect to be at this level, " said Saints wide receiver coach Curtis Johnson, who held the same position on the Hurricanes' staff when Wayne played there. Johnson coached there from 1996 to 2005. "A lot of places I've seen, just going to different colleges, guys don't have that same expectation. At Miami that is the expectation. That is what Miami is.

"They say, 'We're supposed to go here and win a national championship' then they're supposed to go to the NFL and play for 10 years."

And along the way, pick up a Super Bowl ring or two to supplement the jewelry they won at "the U," to which the university is lovingly referred.
The list of alumni who've prospered in the NFL is long and glittering, from Michael Irvin to Ray Lewis, from Ed Reed to Russell Maryland, from Vinny Testaverde to Bernie Kosar, from Santana Moss to Andre Johnson, from Warren Sapp to the late Jerome Brown, from Ted Hendricks to Edgerrin James.

"There are a bunch of us, a lot of products of the University of Miami here, " said Shockey, who, as his college teammate Vilma, makes his Super Bowl debut Sunday, the next line of succession after the pair won a national championship in the Rose Bowl against Nebraska in 2001, one of five the school has claimed.

"And all I can say to those who do play for the University of Miami now is to enjoy your moment in college. It was the best time of my life. It was a great feeling to win the national championship and be a part of that college."

For Vilma, the return to the area as a member of the Saints' first Super Bowl team also is engendering fond memories.

"We talked about that a little bit at the beginning, " Vilma said of a conversation he shared with Shockey, "and we said, 'We're back at it again.' This is our first time, obviously his first Super Bowl (Shockey was injured as a member of the Giants for Super Bowl XLII), my first Super Bowl, and this is an exciting moment for us. But it only becomes a special moment if you win.

"We felt that way when we were playing in the Rose Bowl against a good Nebraska team. We felt like it was a special moment for us, but it's only special if you go out there and you take care of business."

That has been a mantra that has followed most Miami players into the NFL.

"Everybody who comes to that school works hard, " said Wayne, a native New Orleanian who played at Ehret and counts Johnson as his mentor. "Hard work pays off. This is an opportunity to show what (Miami alums) have been working toward, with hard work and dedication. I just want to go out there and represent the school on a good note and hopefully come out on top.

"My mentor at UM, my receiver coach in college was Curtis Johnson. He has taught me a lot. He's pretty much taught me everything I know. And I'll do my best to not let him down."

At the conclusion of last Sunday's Pro Bowl, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and most of the other former Hurricanes who'd been selected to play in the game, a total of 10, gathered near midfield for a group photo.

"It was like being with your brothers, " Johnson said that night. "A lot of those guys I have played with and went through a lot of blood, sweat and tears with and won a national championship with them, so it was just a lot of fun. We have something that I don't think any other school has. A camaraderie that I can't really explain. We're always together in the offseason, training together back at the school. So just to be out here with all these guys is just a lot of fun."

Andre Johnson said he believes the bond between former Miami players is stronger than at other schools.

"Sometimes you hear other guys talk about it that went to different colleges, " he said. "Evidently it's something that they see. Most of the time, when you see a guy from the U, he has another guy with him that he played with. That's just something that we do."

Curtis Johnson said he believes Miami's regimented program better prepares athletes for the challenges they'll face in the NFL.

"The coaches are no-nonsense, " Johnson said. "Guys get to the NFL and sometimes you've almost got to de-recruit them. Miami doesn't do that. I think you just continue to teach there. They have this progression that they do, starting them off as freshmen. They get them up early in the morning doing the things that's going to make them successful in life. Those guys do a great job.

"It's very much like a professional program. The demands are the same, similar to what we have (in the NFL). It's very much a structured program. In the NFL, you tell them what to do. You don't have options. Miami is the same way. They tell them how it's going to be done. And you've just got to do it."

Such uniformity, Vilma said, made his transition into pro football somewhat seamles, s and the competition he faced in college prepared him for the challenges of the NFL.

"I definitely noticed the similarities, " Vilma said. "And another thing was the talent level. You had guys where you couldn't afford to take a play off, not because you were tired or didn't feel like it. It was because if you stepped out, the next guy was coming in and he was going to probably take your job. It was just that way. It really created a good atmosphere, a very competitive atmosphere, when we played."
The pro-type offenses and defenses to which players at Miami are exposed, said Curtis Johnson and Shockey, also are advantageous.

"Ultimately, " Shockey said, "being a part of the University of Miami helps you once you get to the NFL. Unlike some kids who go to some schools, we had a complex offense and we were already polished when we got to the pros.

"That's why you see so many University of Miami guys in big games like this and the Pro Bowl. You see them drafted high because they're prepared. A lot of other college guys aren't. At Miami, you're there to take the next step."



(nola.com)

Colts receiver Pierre Garçon wants to save Haiti.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees wants to save New Orleans.

I was hoping that Jeremy Shockey could save the media.

Given the abundance of virtuous, if familiar, storylines, Shockey seemed the last best hope to endow this Super Bowl with even a bit of controversy. I mean, you try getting a rise out of people by quoting Jim Caldwell. It's not easy.

So, in anticipation of a couple ill-advised remarks, a bunch of us parked ourselves at Shockey's table for Wednesday's media session. It was to begin at 11:30 a.m. and go for 45 minutes. Shockey didn't arrive until 11:51 and spoke for only 15 minutes.

And I don't really blame him. He knew the game, and didn't really feel like playing. He was going to be asked about the New York Giants, a team whose name he mentions only grudgingly, and the Super Bowl he watched while drinking beer in the owner's box.

"I have nothing but great things to say about the organization in New York," he said, convincing no one. "I just hope the fans up there understand that I wasn't forced out. It was more of an option. It was just my time to leave."

Like most things about Shockey, the chain of events that sent him to the New Orleans Saints is subject to interpretation. What seems clear, however, is that the broken leg that kept him out of Super Bowl XLII healed faster than his pride.

It's worth reminding you that Shockey wasn't the only Giant unable to play in the great upset of the Patriots. Running back Derrick Ward and defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka also had broken legs. Somehow, they managed to get on the team charter flight and travel to Arizona without incident.

But Shockey, whose matted blond hair and assorted tattoos affect the look of a professional wrestler, has a natural talent for drawing attention to himself.

The big star's absence became a big story. "It was just a miscommunication," he said. "I didn't give them an answer if I was going to come or not. Then, at the last minute, I was like, you know what? It's a special thing. I had a feeling they were going to upset the Patriots."

So he boarded a commercial flight from Miami and sat in a middle seat in coach. The passengers were mostly Patriots fans, who didn't distress him nearly as much as the pressurized cabin.

"My leg's broken, it was a painful experience," he said, before thinking to add that "it was well worth it."

For the record, Jeremy Shockey couldn't have been happier for his teammates. It was the media that ruined everything: "Everybody made it out to be 'Jeremy was unhappy about his team winning,' 'Jeremy was unhappy about the success his team had without him.' It was the complete opposite."

In other words, he was overjoyed to know that the Giants could win a championship with the unassuming Kevin Boss at tight end. That's why he skipped the victory parade and wasn't seen again until training camp, when he had a shouting match with the general manager and, according to Bergen Record columnist Ian O'Connor, marched into the owner's office and demanded to be traded.

By then, Shockey said, the damage had been done: "Even if I had my best season ever, it would've been a distraction because of ... all the stories that were being written before the Super Bowl. ... You write a story without a person's quote, it's putting words in other people's mouths. That's the only thing I didn't like about New York, the media and how they twisted words."

This is the guy who was supposed to save me and my ilk? Where's Jim Caldwell when you need him?

In fairness, Shockey -- who attended the University of Miami -- got off a couple decent lines. He railed against the injustice suffered by former teammate Plaxico Burress, who is now serving time for violating New York's gun laws. "Plax is a great guy. He made a mistake like all of us do," said Shockey, adding that the jail sentence would've been avoided "if only if the mayor was a Giants fan."

Another reporter asked, "Having lived here, is it hard to resist the temptations of this city?"

"No," said Shockey, "having lived here I've done every temptation there is."

In fact, he has been apprising teammates of the perils that await them this week.

"I was telling the all the guys: you're gonna be invited to every party, you're gonna approached by every girl, in every club. ... Resist that for one week and then we'll come back here and I'll pay for everyone's ticket."

One assumes they won't be flying coach.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(foxnews.com)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — No hard feelings, Giants, but Jeremy Shockey will play in this Super Bowl.

Shockey, the outspoken former Giants tight end, missed the 2008 Super Bowl with a broken left leg, and did not ride in the ticker-tape parade in the Canyon of Heroes after the Giants upset the unbeaten New England Patriots. Nor did he visit the White House with the team.

Jeremy Shockey said he appreciated his time with the Giants and that playing with Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber helped him become a professional.

But Shockey, who has found new life with the Saints, said he was never angry at the Giants. Rather he was upset that he could not play in the game.

“That was a tough, tough, depressing couple of months,” a humble Shockey said on media day. “Being in a cast, rehab, watching commercials of David Tyree’s catch.”

Shockey, who was traded in 2008 for a second- and a fifth-round draft pick, said he had a great six years playing for the Giants.
“I wouldn’t trade those years for anything,” he said.

He fondly recalled the co-owners Wellington Mara and Robert Tisch.

“When Wellington passed and Tisch passed, it was just rough,” Shockey said. “When they left, a little piece of me did as well.”

Now, Shockey gets a chance to play in a Super Bowl rather than watch one from a luxury suite.

“I’m going to play this game as if it were my last,” he said.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nytimes.com)

Saints TE Jeremy Shockey (knee), FS Darren Sharper (knee) and LB Jonathan Vilma (knee) seemingly worked in every practice drill Wednesday in Coral Gables, Fla., and looked good despite their injuries, according to Super Bowl pool reporter John Czarnecki.

Saints coach Sean Payton wore a Hurricanes visor and coaching shirt as his team practiced for nearly 2½ hours at the University of Miami. Afterward, QB Drew Brees and four of his receivers stayed on the field for 10 minutes to work on passing routes.

“I think we’re ahead of schedule with just about everything we’re trying to get done,” Payton said. “Even the buses and everything are running on time or ahead of schedule.”

Payton said he still has some offensive and defensive installation work to do before Sunday’s game against the Colts, but “two-thirds of it” was done last week in New Orleans.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nfl.com)

For the second time in three seasons, tight end Jeremy Shockey’s team is in the Super Bowl. But this time he hopes to play, after sitting out because of an injury when the Giants beat the Patriots after the 2007 season.

Shockey is still dealing with right knee soreness that limited him in New Orleans’s two playoff games — and kept him out of practice Thursday.
He injured his right knee in the Saints’ first playoff victory, against Arizona, but he said he would be ready on Feb. 7.

“The last two games you guys have seen me play, it wasn’t really me,” Shockey said. “I was out there on one leg. It felt like being on a pogo stick. This week I’ll have two pogo sticks instead of one.”

Earlier this week, Shockey flew to Birmingham, Ala., to get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon, on what Coach Sean Payton described as “more of a bruise.”

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nytimes.com)

NEW ORLEANS -- Of all the people you'd expect to see wearing a cute Burberry bucket hat, Jeremy Shockey isn't one of them.
Jennifer Aniston, sure. Maybe some stick-figure fashion model guy from Finland. I'd even buy, say, George Karl wearing the plaid.
But Shockey? Never saw it coming.

Then again, nobody saw Shockey making a triumphant return to the Super Bowl. Not after the New York Giants put him in the recycle bin and had him, his injuries and his tabloid headlines shipped in mid-2008 to the New Orleans Saints for second- and fifth-round draft picks.
But here he is, standing in front of his locker with a smirk on his face and a designer bucket hat on his head. He still isn't 100 percent healthy, but he's 100 percent happy.

Who dat? Dat your starting tight end for the NFC champion Saints, dat who.

"I'll be playing in this game, unlike the last one,'' Shockey said. "It still hasn't hit me. God works in mysterious ways, man. It's a blessing to be part of this organization and this team.''

He means it, too. When the Giants reached Super Bowl XLII after the 2007 season, Shockey was more off the team than on it. A broken leg suffered in Week 15 turned him into the invisible man. He wasn't on the Giants' charter to Arizona, wasn't in the team hotel and wasn't on the sideline for the game against the New England Patriots.

"He was almost a castaway that year,'' said Saints veteran offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb.

The Giants beat the Hoodies, gave Shockey a Super Bowl ring and then gave him a new NFL address. It's just as well. The relationship between Shockey and Giants general manager Jerry Reese had turned toxic.

"Things happen, but I'm not dwelling on that,'' Shockey said. "I'm dwelling on the fact that we'll be in Miami, my adopted city, so we're all excited about that.''

Shockey, who played college ball at the University of Miami, gave the Super Bowl ring to his mom. He gives all his rings to his mom. But even if he didn't, the XLII jewelry wouldn't have spent any quality time on his finger. That's because he didn't spend any quality time on the field that day.

"The New York media made it out to be I was the villain, that I was, duh-duh-duh-duh-duh,'' Shockey said. "I was very happy for my teammates.''

He picked the Giants to beat the then-undefeated Patriots, by the way. Told a New York columnist that very thing. Shockey wants everyone to remember that.

And if he still holds a grudge against Giants management, he holds it lower and mostly out of sight. He said he loved watching his teammates hoist the Lombardi Trophy, that they "deserved what they got. They deserved that championship.''

But don't kid yourself: Shockey wasn't thrilled about paying for his own airfare to Arizona that year. And he would have rather been in uniform than on crutches and watching the game in a University of Phoenix Stadium suite with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg's daughter, Roger Federer and Giants co-owner and chairman Steve Tisch -- nothing personal.

"[A] lot of people thought I was bitter because I didn't get a chance [to play],'' Shockey said. "Well, hell, of course I was upset. I was hurt. What competitor would not want to play in a game like that?''

For the record, the Giants' position is this:

Shockey wasn't on the team charter to Arizona because he was in Miami, not in New York, at the time. Otherwise, there would have been a seat for him on the flight.

He wasn't in the main team hotel because he was on injured reserve. The Giants housed their IR players at a different, but nearby hotel.

The IR players were seated in the stands for the game. Shockey was the only IR Giant to be seated in the owner's suite.

All ancient football history. That's the official Shockey line now.

"The trade happened,'' Shockey said. "I was happy as hell to be here. Knowing that Sean drafted me, his offensive mind, mismatches and that nature, just to be part of this team. Everyone welcomed me with open arms.''

"Sean" is Sean Payton, coach of the Saints. Payton was the Giants' offensive coordinator in 2002, Shockey's rookie season in New York. Payton is also the guy who took a flier on the Jeremy Reunion Tour.

"I don't know that it was a leap of faith,'' Payton said, "but I think it was a fit for both teams.''

It took awhile. Shockey caught 50 passes last season, but no touchdowns. He also had his usual injury episodes (a sports hernia, ankle).
This year, while battling a toe injury (healed) and knee injury (not healed, but getting there), Shockey had 48 receptions and three touchdowns in 13 regular-season games. As usual, he still plays as if his long blond hair (and bucket hat) is on fire.

"Your first impression is, if he's able to fit in this locker room, he's really going to be something special,'' Stinchcomb said.

Yeah, the Saints players were a tiny bit nervous about Shockey's arrival. Wouldn't you have been nervous? They had heard and read the same stories as everyone else.

"There might have been a little [concern],'' Stinchcomb said. "I think the approach is welcome with open arms. He hasn't caused a single problem. It was more of a 'You're going to have to prove to us that you don't fit,' rather than a 'You're going to have to prove to us that you're one of us.'

"He's proved us right time and time again.''

When healthy -- and Shockey was less than full strength in the NFC Championship Game ("Felt like a pogo stick out there on one leg,'' he said) -- he's a matchup nightmare. Linebackers are too slow. Safeties too small. He wears them out.

Actually, he wears everybody out, including the Saints. He talks from the moment he walks into the huddle, through the play, through the next play and every play after that.

"Talking about checks,'' Stinchcomb said. "Talking about scheme. Talking about how we're going to block it. Talking about what he sees. But I have truly enjoyed playing next to him.''

Shockey got a second act in his career and now gets a second Super Bowl. He returns to Miami, but he said, "If it was in Antarctica, I'd be happy to participate in this game.''

The Super Bowl in 2007 counts, but not really. He was there, but played as many snaps that day as Federer.

This time, at whatever they're calling the stadium these days, Shockey will make his actual Super Bowl debut. He'll be on the Saints' plane, in the Saints' hotel and, best of all, in the Saints' XLIV lineup.

The Bloombergs will have to entertain themselves.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Saints coach Sean Payton is known for protecting his injury information closely.  His players don't always take the same approach.

On Jeremy Shockey's Twitter page Tuesday, the hobbled tight end revealed an interesting piece of information.

"Damn just got back from b'ham," Shockey wrote, referring to Birmingham, Alabama.  "i missed our team diner... Gnight everyone."

Shockey doesn't say what he did during his "long ass day" but Birmingham is the location of Dr. James Andrews' office.  Shockey been slowed in the playoffs by a knee injury.

"I felt like a pogo stick out there on one leg, but I have no doubt in my mind it'll be a lot better in two weeks," Shockey said Monday. "It's probably a three- or four-week injury, but there was no way I was going miss that game. There's no way I'm going to miss the next one, either."

No matter what was found regarding Shockey's knee Tuesday, it would be a shock if he spent another Super Bowl in a luxury box.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

proCanes Jeremy Shockey and Jon Vilma who are playing in next week's Super Bowl as New Orleans Saints will feel at home when the Saints take the field to practice in South Florida. The Saints will be practicing at the University of Miami's Greentree practice field, the same field Vilma and Shockey practiced on throught out their college days at "The U." Also, the Saints will be using the Hurricanes' lockeroom the day of the Super Bowl. DeMarcus Van Dyke on his twitter page said: "whoever use my locker they better leave some gloves in my locker."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s or Jon Vilma's proCane Rookie Card.

Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed that Jeremy Shockey (knee) was on a limited snap count in Sunday's NFC title game.

Shockey caught just one pass for nine yards as David Thomas took over the pass-catching tight end role. With two weeks to rest before the Super Bowl, Shockey figures to be closer to 100 percent when New Orleans takes on Indy.

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

This whole Super Bowl thing isn't completely foreign to New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey. He already has been a member of a team that played for the NFL championship, a team that actually won Super Bowl XLII in an epic upset.

But the similarities cease there.

Shockey's team in 2007, the New York Giants,  played in that game. Shockey, then an injured tight end,  only attended the game. Reportedly,  after a falling out with management, he flew to the game in Arizona on his own dime, wasn't allowed to stay in the team hotel and watched from the press box because he wasn't allowed on the Giants sideline.

His relationship with the Giants had deteriorated, and Shockey was traded to New Orleans in exchange for second- and fifth-round draft picks before the 2008 season, which is why he's bordering on giddy in anticipation of battling the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on Feb. 7 in Miami.

"It's completely different," Shockey said. "I'll be playing in this game, unlike the last one. It's a surreal feeling. It still hasn't hit me. God works in mysterious ways, man. It's a blessing to be a part of this organization and this team. A lot of hard work has paid off.

"Some things happened (with the Giants), but I'm not dwelling on that. I'm dwelling on the fact that we'll be in Miami, my adopted city, and we're all excited about that in this locker room."

Few, of course, are as excitable as Shockey.

He is the peerless towel waver, willing smack talker (to opponents), excitable playmaker. The chance to do all of that, and more, for the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV -- just two seasons after the four-time Pro Bowler was labeled a pariah in New York -- well . . . there's no way the thought can't create a smile.

"I think it's certainly a goal of his to get back in this game and to be a participant rather than to have to watch it,  as tough as that is," New Orleans Coach Sean Payton said. "But people forget how important he was to that team the year they won the Super Bowl.

"When you go back to look at the early two-thirds of the season that year before his injury,  he had a lot of big plays. It's just hard, I'm sure, for any player when you can't finish the season -- and then you see the team that you've played for having success, and you can't be a part of that. I think that is difficult for any player."

You have to figure that even if Shockey can't play against the Colts (he has been slowed by a knee he injured against the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC divisional playoff game, and he didn't do himself a favor while playing against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game), the Saints will welcome him on the team plane,  in the team hotel and on the team's sideline.

"We'll see (with the injury)," he said. "We've got a lot of time. Two weeks in the NFL is like two years for a person. We'll take it day by day and be smart about it, (and) get an early start on (looking at) our opponent. There's no doubt in my mind that everyone in this locker room knows how much is at stake. We didn't come this far just to make a trip to Miami to get a suntan.

"I felt like a pogo stick out there on one leg, but I have no doubt in my mind it'll be a lot better in two weeks. It's probably a three- or four-week injury, but there was no way I was going miss that game. There's no way I'm going to miss the next one, either."

No, you figure Shockey is going to do everything he can to be on the field this time.

That would benefit the Saints, whose offense isn't quite the same when he isn't on the field.

There's a reason New Orleans acquired Shockey, who caught 48 passes for 569 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season. Simply, he was an upgrade and remains the preferred choice.

No one knows better what Shockey can do than Payton, who was an assistant with the Giants from 1999-2002, the last three years as offensive coordinator. Shockey was drafted by New York in 2002 and caught 74 passes for 894 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.

No one appreciates more than Shockey what Payton offers as an offensive mind.

"I knew it would work (in New Orleans) because I've worked with Sean before," Shockey said. "He believed in me and drafted me coming out of college. I'd seen the Saints on offense a number of times, and I'd seen (quarterback) Drew (Brees) play a number of years in this league.

"I knew it was going to work. It was just a matter of me staying healthy and being able to be on the field and help the team win. Sean taught me, when I came into the league, about mismatches and about the things that defenses have to think about. Just the personnel matchup. He's the best at that. He instilled that in my brain at an early age in the league,  and I'm just happy that he taught me that."

Together, they'll learn what it's like to experience the Super Bowl, not just attend it.

"It's going to be fun," Shockey said about returning to Miami, where he played college ball. "But first and foremost, we're going there to win the Super Bowl. I'm not going there to have a party. I've had plenty of those there."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nola.com)

Former Miami Hurricane teammates and current New Orleans Saints teammates, Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan VIlma celebrate their win over the Arizona Cardinals in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs.



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METAIRIE — New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey has a new injury and hasn't practiced this week for the NFC Championship game Sunday against Minnesota. Saints coach Sean Payton, however, didn't appear worried on Thursday.

"He's getting better," Payton said of his oft-injured star. "We'll list his status (today). On a guy like him overall, pretty good, though, right now with where he's at. He's making good progress. He knows the offense well. He's been going through the walk throughs."

The Saints host Minnesota at 5:40 p.m. on Sunday with a spot in the Super Bowl at stake.

Shockey missed the Saints' last three regular season games with a toe injury and missed four games in 2008 with a hernia and ankle injury. His toe is not the issue now. Payton said he has a knee bruise.

Shockey suffered the injury on the Saints' first drive in the 45-14 divisional win over Arizona on Saturday when he caught a 13-yard pass to set up the team's first touchdown.

"It was one of those plays," Shockey said Thursday. "It was a little pass on the sidelines I caught. I got hit, and I twisted wrong and had a little setback."

The injury slowed Shockey. On the Saints' next possession, he limped his way into the end zone and made a 17-yard touchdown catch for a 14-7 lead.

Payton, who was an assistant with the New York Giants when Shockey was a rookie with the team in 2002, was asked if Shockey can be his own worst enemy as far as injuries because of how emotional, hyper and reckless he tends to be on the field.

"In regards to his emotion, it's important for a player to be himself," Payton said. "And that is something that I think he's done ever since we had him as a rookie in New York. So we're very comfortable with that. There is a confidence level he brings to the huddle."

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(theadvertiser.com)

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey said he's been excited to watch Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe break out over the past two years in Minnesota. Shiancoe spent his first four seasons with the New York Giants as Shockey's backup before he left in free agency.

Shiancoe (6 feet 4, 250 pounds) had a career-high 56 catches for 566 yards and 11 touchdowns this year, then added an 11-yard touchdown catch in last week's playoff win over Dallas.

"That was from me. That was from being my backup for a couple years," Shockey joked. "He's a great guy. It's good to see the success he's had. He had a Pro Bowl year in my opinion, even though he didn't get voted in. He's developing into one of the best tight ends in the league.

"It broke my heart (when Shiancoe left New York). But I'm proud of the success he's had. He deserves it."

As for his own success since leaving New York, Shockey said he didn't want to dwell on the past.

Shockey didn't exactly enjoy his last Super Bowl run, when the Giants won the NFL championship two years ago. Shockey suffered a broken leg late in the season, then began to feel alienated from the team during Super Bowl week. He felt slighted for having to purchase his own flight and not being able to join his team on the sideline during the game. The rift continued to grow from there, and he was eventually traded to New Orleans before the 2008 season.

"I'm past that," Shockey said when asked if that experience adds motivation to get back to the Super Bowl with the Saints. "I don't really want to talk about the past. I could sit here and talk to you for hours about whining or giving you excuses or what happened. You guys will all read it one day in a book, the truth. But I don't really want to discuss that.

"We need to concentrate on this game. We're not in the Super Bowl yet. Everyone's mentality in this locker room is this is the Super Bowl for us. ... The preparation on this team is as good as I've ever been around from a ballclub. That's key. Everyone is in it. Everyone knows how much is at stake. Most importantly we need to do this for our fans, our owner, this city that desperately deserves a world championship. We're doing everything we can to make that happen."

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(nola.com)

Metairie, LA (Sports Network) - The New Orleans Saints had four players sit out practice Wednesday leading up to Sunday's NFC Championship Game against Minnesota, including tight end Jeremy Shockey and safety Darren Sharper.

Shockey and Sharper are resting knee injuries while cornerback Malcolm Jenkins also sat as he continues to be plagued by a sore hamstring.

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(tsn.ca)

NEW ORLEANS — Before his 2005 death, iconic New York Giants co-owner Wellington Mara summoned two players to his Rye, N.Y., home — running back Tiki Barber and tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey grew up without a father in Ada, Okla., and cherished his bond with the Giants' patriarch, who died of lymphoma at 89.

Shockey feels Mara's encouraging spirit with him still as the New Orleans Saints tight end prepares for Sunday's NFC Championship game vs. the Minnesota Vikings.

"I know he's looking over me now with a smile," Shockey said of Mara. "He was the best.

"We had a grandfather-grandson relationship. After he passed, it was never really the same for me in New York."

Barber understands.

"It wasn't an accident that Wellington's two favorite players at the time of his death were myself and Jeremy," the NBC analyst said. "Despite how different we were, Jeremy might have been my favorite Giant because of his passion.

"Whether he was practicing or playing, he did everything full bore. This playoff run is somewhat of redemption for Jeremy in the public's eyes. But he always gave every bit of himself on the field."

Shockey has regained a trust he felt was broken when he said the Giants didn't fly him to Super Bowl XLII after he broke his leg Week 15, 2007.

His reunion with Saints coach Sean Payton (Giants offensive coordinator, 2000-2003) and University of Miami teammate, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has amounted to a new beginning in New Orleans. Shockey and Vilma arrived via 2008 trades from the Giants and Jets.

During games, Shockey and Vilma seek each other out the way they did during two seasons at Miami, including a 2001 national championship season.

"Jeremy gets me fired up, I get him hyped up," Vilma said. "Everybody knows how good of tight end he is. But he brings that little chip that makes our offense a little nasty."

The 6-5, 251 Shockey's touchdown on an injured toe in Saturday's 45-14 divisional win was the fourth with 48 catches for the four-time Pro Bowler. Vilma was selected to his second Pro Bowl with a team-best 130 tackles.
"Jon and I want to win a Super Bowl for this city," Shockey said. "I want to retire a Saint."

Vilma chafed when then Jets coach Eric Mangini said he didn't fit his 3-4 defense.

"That gave me that little chip on my shoulder, wanting to prove to my teammates, to the rest of the league that I can make plays," Vilma said.

Vilma is Saints quarterback Drew Brees on defense. The starting units go at it every day in practice in either red-zone or two-minute drill.

"It's already competitive," Brees said. "But then Jon and I will put $100 or bet dinner on who wins."

The payoff? The tenacious way Payton's top-seeded Saints play.

" Just like they did at 'The U,' Shockey and Vilma are tempo setters, smart, productive team players," said ESPN analyst Jon Gruden.

A first-generation American born of Haitian parents, Vilma feared for family members after last week's deadly, 7.0 earthquake. "I was fortunate to have my mom and dad get in touch with my relatives and was able to know that everyone was okay," Vilma said. "Once our season is done I'll focus in and decide how best to help."

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(usatoday.com)

Jeremy Shockey caught three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Shockey dragged his leg 17 yards to the end zone for an early touchdown and caught all three passes in the first quarter before leaving with a right knee injury. Though he did return later, he was no longer a factor in the passing game. David Thomas played almost strictly at fullback.

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(rotoworld.com)

NEW ORLEANS — Jeremy Shockey was a member of a Super Bowl championship team in the 2007 season as a tight end for the Giants. But it was hard for him to enjoy it because his season ended in Week 15 when he broke his left leg.

In his sixth season at that point, all with the Giants, Shockey had worn out his welcome and did not watch the game from the bench area. He was traded to the New Orleans Saints before the next season.

Shockey now has another chance to reach the Super Bowl as the Saints prepare to host the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football Conference championship game next Sunday.

But his condition to perform in it is uncertain, and Shockey was not willing to discuss it Saturday after the Saints’ 45-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

“You guys have to stand somewhere else,” Shockey abruptly told reporters who gathered near his locker.
They had hoped to ask him about his health, particularly a possible recurrence of a toe injury after Shockey caught three passes for 36 yards from Drew Brees.

The final catch was on a 17-yard play for a touchdown that put the Saints ahead, 14-7, midway through the first quarter. Shockey had missed the last three games of the regular season — all Saints defeats — with a toe injury.
But after his touchdown catch, Shockey limped to the sideline, sat down and was surrounded for a few minutes by Saints medical personnel. Although he later returned to the game, his limp was noticeable, even when jogging in motion before the snap of the ball.

In the early minutes of the game, after Arizona took a 7-0 lead on a 70-yard run by Tim Hightower on the game’s first snap, Shockey was a factor in many ways. He excited the 70,149 fans with exaggerated body language. After one reception, he exchanged body bumps and harsh words with Antrel Rolle, an Arizona safety.

Shockey pounded his fists into his own helmet. He has never lacked for swagger, having played in college for Miami, when it was the best team in the nation and one of the most self-confident.

At 6 feet 5 inches and 251 pounds, Shockey still has that air about him. On the field, he is a multiple threat because he can block or can catch passes long and short. His presence and potential open up space for Brees’s other receivers.

Against the Cardinals, Brees completed 23 of 32 passes for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns. One of them was to receiver Marques Colston, who had six catches for 83 yards, as the Saints reached the N.F.C. championship game for the first time since the 2006 season, when they lost, on the road, to the Chicago Bears, 39-14.

Like Shockey, Brees is a veteran who started his career with another team, in his case, San Diego. Shockey sometimes wears a T-shirt that Brees promotes to raise money for the city of New Orleans. On the front are the words “Our City, Our Home”; on the back are the words “Finish Strong.” Funds from the shirt sales aid local philanthropic causes.

Brees and many of the Saints players speak often about how the city is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and how they have bonded with their fans.

“This city deserves it,” Brees said of football success. “The ‘Who Dat?’ Nation deserves it. We want to do it for them.”

The Saints have already had the best season in their 43-year existence. But after starting 13-0, they lost their last three games before a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Skeptics wondered whether they had peaked too soon or if they would be stale coming back against the Cardinals, who had defeated Green Bay, 51-45, in overtime the previous week in the wild-card game.

Coach Sean Payton playfully taunted the doubters when he began his postgame news conference. “So much for being rusty,” he said.

But the questions had permeated the locker room. Carl Nicks, a guard, said, “We needed to prove it to ourselves first of all” that the Saints deserved to be favored.

“We’re a No. 1 seed; it hurt for people to say, ‘One and done,’ ” Nicks said. “Now, we’ve shown we’re the same Saints that won 13 straight.”

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(nytimes.com)

METAIRIE, La. – For the past month, Jeremy Shockey has waited on the sideline, wanting to make his mark in Saints games but unable to because of a toe injury.

And while he’s itching to get back on the field, which he’ll do Saturday in the Saints’ 3:30 p.m. NFC divisional round game against Arizona, maybe no one wants to see him out there more than Drew Brees and Sean Payton

Indeed, without the volatile and cantankerous tight end in the lineup, Brees and the offense have struggled.

So much, in fact, that the Saints have scored as many points in the past three games combined (44) that they did in four separate games (45, 48, 48, 46) games this season.

“The importance of a tight end with what we do – both in the run game and the pass game – is significant,” said Payton, the Saints' playcaller and head coach. “Whether it’s in the intermediate routes or down the field more, those are both things that factor in to what we do passing the ball.”

Shockey didn’t see the field in any of the final three games of the season. New Orleans (13-3) lost all three.

Shockey played in the first 13 games of the year. The team won all of them.

Coincidence? Maybe.

But the point is, without Shockey in the lineup, the offense wasn’t as effective.

“You get certain coverages and a lot of things depend on what coverages you’re getting in regards to the progression of the quarterback,” Payton said. “He gives you a threat inside. I think any tight end that is able to get up the field and catch the ball like he can gives you that.”

With Shockey standing on the sideline during the Dallas and Tampa Bay losses – Carolina not included because very few starters played – the offense gained an average of 307.3 yards per game. The Cowboys and Bucs combined for five sacks.

In the previous 13 games, the offense averaged 426.1 yards per game and gave up only 15 sacks.

Without Shockey, in other words, the team lost 119.2 yards per game and gave up a fourth of the sacks the team allowed all season.

Simply put, he’s one of the biggest factors for the Saints offense running smoothly in the postseason.

“He’s a key part of our offense,” left tackle Jermon Bushrod said. “Not having a guy like him in on protection and routes and the run game, it hurts. We have been counting on times when he wasn’t in on other people. He’s a vital part of this offense. We’re thankful to have him back.”

Shockey has caught 48 passes for 569 yards and three touchdowns this season, good for third-best on the team.

But it’s on the line where he potentially helps out the most.

In the 24-17 loss to Dallas on Dec. 19, the Cowboys’ defensive ends wreaked havoc in the Saints backfield. Shockey was inactive for that game and couldn’t help out Bushrod or right tackle Jon Stinchcomb.

DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer combined for four sacks that game and New Orleans rushed for only 65 yards on 13 carries.

“He understands the things offensive linemen go through down there in the trenches,” Bushrod said. “He’s a great blocker. He’s a strong physical guy. He understands (us) just as well as we understand his aspects of the game.”

The Saints can only hope that he stays healthy the rest of the way.

They know what happens when he’s not.

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(wwltv.com)

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey on the playoffs

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(nola.com)

Coach Sean Payton said Jeremy Shockey (toe) was rested as a precaution down the stretch, and he's expected to be fine for this week.

Payton is counting on Shockey's return to give the Saints a boost in the passing game as well as run blocking. Though Shockey hasn't topped 50 yards in a game since Week 8, his numbers could benefit from H-back David Thomas' calf injury.

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(rotoworld.com)