One day after defensive end Jason Taylor was shipped to the Washington Redskins by the Miami Dolphins, tight end Jeremy Shockey has been traded by the New York Giants to the New Orleans Saints.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that the Giants have agreed to send Shockey to the Saints for second- and fifth-round draft picks in 2009, which is believed to be what the Saints have been offering all along. Apparently the Giants came to the realization that no one was going to offer them more for the disgruntled tight end. And it's been obvious for a while now that the Giants did not want to go into the season with him still on the roster.
The pressure now falls on Kevin Boss, who played very well in Shockey's absence down the stretch and in the playoffs last season. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to be effective in that role, however, when defenses start focusing on him more. He certainly showed promise last year, but a few good games don't necessarily mean he is destined to be as good, or better, than the guy he is replacing.
For New Orleans, the addition of Shockey has the potential to take an already-potent offense to a whole new level if he is in the right state of mind. And it is very likely that he will enter the 2008 season feeling he has something to prove to the Giants and the rest of the league.
If Shockey stays healthy, I look for him to have perhaps his best season statistically. From a fantasy standpoint, the move should make him more valuable to team owners.
