You wondering about all the noise centered on the Giants possibly trading away Jeremy Shockey, who not long ago was considered the most popular player on the team among fans?
You’re not alone.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese, today during his pre-draft press conference, stated at least one aspect of the Jeremy Shockey trade rumblings has been accurately reported: The Giants have not sought a trade of Shockey and have not called anyone initiating a trade of the tight end.
“You guys got that right,” Reese said.
What Reese did not say, at least not unequivocally, is that Shockey will not be traded, either prior to next weekend’s NFL Draft or prior to this season. League rumors continue to circulate that Shockey could be traded, and there’s already been strong chatter that the Saints came up with an offer for Shockey that the Giants turned down.
“Right now all I can say on Jeremy Shockey is that he is our starting tight end,” Reese said. “There is always a lot of chatter going on during this time of the year. There is not enough to write about and the draft is coming up, so that is giving them something to write about, but during the offseason there wasn’t a lot to write about.
“Right now Jeremy is our starting tight end and that is really my stance on it.”
Reese admitted “there have been conversations” with another club or clubs about Shockey, conversations the Giants did not initiate.
“Anything can happen in personnel, guys,” Reese said. “I always say that. Anything can happen in personnel, but right now, like I said, Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end and we are looking forward for him to be back on the field for us this fall.”
Reese said Shockey’s rehabilitation from surgery to repair a broken left leg and ligament damage in his left ankle is on schedule, and he expects Shockey to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
As for Shockey’s desire to remain with the Giants – he missed the entire Super Bowl run then heard speculation how Eli Manning in particular and the entire team in general was better off without him – Reese said he isn’t worried.