I think it's safe to say there is enough cash to go around and the Giants should keep Burress. If Shockey doesn't like New York (how do you not attend a closed door ceremony to get a Championship Ring at Tiffany's in Manhattan? -- that's a slap in the face of all New Yorkers because Tiffanys is one of the best, the Giants are the best, so where's the disgruntled TE's respect for the city and the team?) Yes. Shockey is unique -- great spirit -- great leader -- decent hands -- questionable legs -- good blocker now -- good mentor -- we know all this. But this is New York. You know, like the song, make it here you make it anywhere. There have been MANY TEs for the Giants. There is ONE New York City, and there is ONE World Championship football team. Personally, I'd take M. Bavaro or B. Tucker over Shockey any day of the week.
On the field, the defensive backs are going to be a swarming bunch. One thing about Eli Manning is he hates to lose at anything -- he'll be there for the repeat challenge. So will the Coach. So will the offensive line, a group who understands that cohesion brings harmony which brings a better chance of winning a championship. Evidence? Last year's run without the TE who has trained every off-season in Miami at the cost of NOT developing cohesion and fluidity with his QB. The QB's here. Shockey's never going to play with a better one. The dude is under contract and makes a lot of money already. No one forced him to sign his previous contract. Burress: the same.
So, Coach Coughlin and his staff will want to run the football. Stop the run. There will be very interesting battles for the linebacker spots -- watch out for rookie WLB Kehl, he is very very smart and a very good athlete. Also, the SLB position should be fun. Kiwanuka? DeOssie? Clark? Goff? Chase Blackburn?
Everyone should be paid what they're worth. No doubt about it. Demonstrations of good faith on the part of the players, when dealing with a storied franchise like the New York Giants fosters a certain image about the team. Breaking ranks forges another image, inconsistent with the notion that the Giants will need to be firing on all cylinders to repeat, from the front office to the guys who do the laundry. Contract grumblings are understandable at this time of year. Injury rehab is crucial, of course. Bolstering the idea that the New York Giants are a unified and formidable opponent, all the way around? Priceless. Football is a young man's game. Shockey and Burress are no longer young.
Keywords: Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress, Tom Coughlin
