In running back Saquon Barkley, the New York Giants possess a well-respected weapon that the rest of the NFL has to account for. When healthy, he is as “beast-mode” as they come in this game.
But when it comes to being a beast in the NFC East, no Giant offensive player was more feared — or successful — than tight end Jeremy Shockey.
When the Giants selected the Miami star with the 14th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, general manager Ernie Accorsi didn’t look at him as just another tight end.
”I look at him as a weapon, something that we really needed,” Accorsi said.
Shockey turned out to be as special as the Giants had hoped. He would make an immediate impact on the Giants, becoming the standard for today’s pass-catching, physical tight ends and qualifying for the Pro Bowl in four of his first five seasons with the club.
But Shockey was a lighting rod of a player that angered his own team and fans with too much swagger and lacked focus both on and off the field. There were times when he had no peer. Then there were the times that had us all shaking our heads. He was traded after the 2007 season.
One thing is for certain, though. He made the Giants a team to respect, especially in the NFC East. In Shockey’s 10-year NFL career (six with the Giants), his teams had a 21-13 record against the Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles.
Here is a signature play where Shockey outdoes future Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins for a touchdown.
To most NFL observers, this is a play between two players that were hated around the league. It was especially gratifying moment for Giant fans, though, who had a particular distaste for Dawkins.
As great a competitor as Dawkins was, all of his bravado wasn’t enough when it came to dealing with Shockey. Dawkins earned himself a place in football history with his aggressive play, but on this particular play, it was Shockey that got the last laugh — and word.
