The Worst: Too easy here, The New Orleans Saints in 1999 traded away every pick they had in this draft and a 1st and 3rd rounder the following year to acquire Ricky Williams at #5 overall.  This is not an indictment of Williams, but to trade away that amount of picks for one player that never won you a championship must be considered a bust.  Maybe the only saving grace for the Saints was that Washington, although getting such players as Champ Bailey, Jon Jansen, and LaVar Arrington, and winning the division title in 1999, didn’t return to the playoffs until 2005.  This is quite clearly the worst overall draft in history.

The Best: 2007 New York Giants.  Jerry Reese in his first draft as a G.M. had 8 picks in 2007, and here are the names: Aaron Ross. Steve Smith, Jay Alford, Zac DeOssie, Kevin Boss, Adam Koets, Michael Johnson, and Ahmad Bradhsaw.

I know I will here about the fact that only two of these players are still on the team 5 years later, but the contributions of all these men were instrumental in a very improbable Super Bowl Championship.  In the age of hold-outs, and free agency just getting everyone signed and on the roster is an accomplishment.  All 8 players played for the Giants that season and I’m sure we can all recite the impact they had on the magical 2007 season.  Kevin Boss stepping in for the injured Jeremy Shockey and making big catches against Dallas and New England, Steve Smith making third down catches and being left alone by the Patriot secondary on the final drive of the Super Bowl, Aaron Ross playing in the Dallas game with an injured shoulder, but still making big tackles to finish the game, and of course the sack by Jay Alford of Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.  Ahmad Bradshaw almost single handedly got the Giants into the playoffs with his performance in Buffalo the final week of the season, and of course Zac and Michael Johnson contributed greatly and are still with the team.

Those are my picks…What do you have as the best and worst full drafts?

December 11, 2011; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey (80) catches the ball and scores a touchdown while playing against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

As we awake on this Saturday morning, nearly six days removed from being freshly crowned NFL champions, the twitter world is a buzz. I was going through my twitter feed there wear nearly 10 plus tweets from various Giants websites talking about the possibility of bringing back Jeremy Shockey. In case you did not know, the “shock” as License Plate Guy referred to him as, is a free agent this year.

As we know the Giants will be in the market for a TE come this off-season. It is highly likely that both Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum will start the season on the Physical Unable to Perform list (PUP List). That leaves only Bear Pascoe on the active roster as true tight-ends. Jerry Reese will have to address the position along with numerous other positions throughout the off-season.

As a Giant, we know Shockey had HUGE difficulties with Manning in his last injury plagued season with the Giants. Shockey was a strong personality and at that time, Eli was a young UN-PROVEN player. Things have changed. Eli is now a two-time Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl MVP. Shockey is a aging veteran who has largely shut-up and just played the game recently.

While with the Giants Shockey put up good numbers. He played in a total of 83 games, had 371 catches for 4,228 yards and 24 touchdowns. Whether you like him or not he was very productive while in the Giants blue. Also, do not forget that Jermey Shockey was one of the Giants players who went and visited Wellington Mara while he was dying. It is much documented how much Shockey loved Wellington and considered him a father. Last year with the Panthers, Shockey played in 15 games and had 37 catches for 455 yards.  Those are not bad numbers at all. The Giants are looking to replace 43 catches and 694 yards (with Beckum and Ballard out).

I have been thinking about this for about the last two-to-three hours and I’m torn. Shockey was my favorite Giant when he played with

Feb 5, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard (85) limps off the field with crutches after being injured in the game against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

the team. I know him and Eli had their problems. But times have changed. Shockey has grown up and significantly matured and well we know Eli is now a top five if not a top three QB in the league. If Eli, Shockey, and Coughlin can sit down and have a productive meeting and the price is right (a one year deal for deal for the 2-3 million range) I say bring him back.  We are going to need help at that position. Pascoe can block fine, but we need a receiving threat. Especially if we loose Manningham.

For those of you wondering what other options are out there, here you go: Jermichael Finley, Fred Davis, John Carlson, and Shiancoe. Finley will most likely sign a long-term deal with the Packers. Honestly the rest of the choices do not wow me and I would rather have someone who always had his heart in the right place. We need someone to hold down the fort until Ballard and Beckum come back. For those of you who say draft a TE, that is an option. However, is that option going to give you almost 40 catches?

This will be a very interesting off-season for the Giants. We have many needs and we were not expecting TE to be one of them. Bringing Shockey back on the Giants terms may be an inexpensive and effective way to fill the gap until the cavalry shows up. The Giants will also probably be looking to sure up at the OL, LB, the Secondary in general and the interior DL.  Stay with GmenHq for the off-season news associated with your Super Bowl Champion New York Giants!

You’re right Drew, Jeremy in no way brought the “bad rap” from the New York media unto himself.  

Sean Payton’s persistence finally won out. The New Orleans Saints acquired Jeremy Shockey for a second- and a fifth-round draft pick in 2009.

“Jeremy is a player that we are excited to have on our roster. He is someone I am familiar with as a player,” Payton said. “He brings a skill set to the position that I feel will be a tremendous benefit to our offense.

Saints Finally Acquire Shockey – WhoDatDish.com

I’m not too high on Shockey as many people are. Yes, he is a great talent and shows unparalleled passion. His emotions get to the best of him, however. He often shows up his quarterback. He also drops more passes than you’d like to see from your tight end. The fact the Giants just flat out took off without him makes me a little leery of what negative things he brings to a team.

(more…)

With reports of Tom Coughlin soon to be signing a long term deal with the Giants, I thought it would be good make good with the coach I have been critical of in the past.Obviously winning a Super Bowl, beating the so-called “greatest” team ever, ruining a perfect 19-0 season, ending Brett Favre’s magical 2008 season at Lambeau, knocking off the Cowboys in Texas Stadium, and dealing with all the pressure of coaching in New York after an 0-2 start will get fans on your side. But I think it is time to apologize to Coughlin for the bashing I have done of him over the course of his tenure with the G-Men.

I still can’t get over the fact of how much Jeremy Shockey was babied and how the players on the team would take undisciplined, untimely, and unnecessary penalties, but with the absence of the most selfish player in the league  and the fact that the penalties dwindled when they needed to in the playoffs, you can’t help but give Coughlin credit for this turnaround.

Everyone likes to talk about how Eli Manning was able to go from goat to hero instantly, but Coughlin was able to do the same when he outcoached his former co-worker Bill Belichick in once again “the biggest upset in the history of football.” He has taken the heat from the media as the head of the Giants, but I guess the front office knew what they were doing keeping him around to win the title.

So I am sorry for the harsh criticism over the past few seasons Mr. Coughlin. But, don’t think it won’t continue if there are illogical decisions made next season and beyond.

Eli Manning was 18 of 52 for 184 yards and a TD, but his 34 incompletitions were the most since Joe Namath. Eli did not have much help if you want to say any at all as the G-Men dropped 10 passes and it seemed as though Brandon Jacobs dropped 59 passes alone.

Todd Collins made his first start in the NFL in 10 years and two days. The backup QB didn’t play well at all (8/25, 166 yards), but he didn’t hurt his team and Clinton Portis picked up the offense. Portis ran for 126 yards on 25 carries including a TD.

Amani Toomer dropped a few balls and one for what would have been a huge play and possibly the turning point of the game. Kevin Boss caught his first NFL TD pass, replacing Jeremy Shockey who left the game with a broken fibula and will have surgery sometime this week.

All in all, the Giants were awful on a night they needed a win. Now, they have to win one of two games to get in the playoffs on their own terms and have to play at Buffalo where anything could happen and at home against the 14-0 Patriots. Not exactly a promising schedule.

Washington holds the tiebreaker on the Giants now and the G-Men are anything but a lock for the playoffs.

Even if the Giants are technically a “playoff” team as of now, they are truly anything but that as their inconsistent play might just keep them out of the playoff picture in the end. The Giants are about as good as their kicker, Lawrence Tynes (who missed a 38 yard FG tonight). A 9-5 record is the most amazing feat a team as poor as the G-Men could accomplish and if they can beat Buffalo next week, playing like this against Tampa Bay, Seattle, Green Bay, or Dallas will get you embarrassed.

Here is a quote from Clinton Portis showed during the telecast:
“If we don’t win tonight, that’s pretty much a wrap on our season.”
If the Giants had played this way they would be popping the champagne in the locker room right now instead of answering questions about their poor play.

Urgency. Something the New York Giants lacked tonight and something their organization has lacked for a while.

Craig Dahl (ankle) is probable vs Washington.

Plaxico Burress (ankle/knee) is listed as questionable vs Washington.

Aaron Ross (hamstring) is listed as probable vs Washington.

Gibril Wilson (knee) is doubtful vs Washington.

Jeremy Shockey (stomach) is questionable vs Washington. 

I don’t think Shockey will miss the game on Sunday and can’t imagine that he will though Clayton’s words seem to make it a strong possibility.

Clayton also mentioned Plaxico being out of practice, but that is not uncommon news.

Jeremy Shockey didn’t practice Thursday because of an abdominal strain.

Michael Strahan (rest) returned to practice Thursday and will start.

For the second straight day both starting safeties, James Butler (hamstring) and Gibril Wilson (knee), sat out of practice. Backup Craig Dahl (ankle), who didn’t practice on Wednesday, worked with the starters today along with rookie Michael Johnson.

Aaron Ross (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday.

Passing:
The Redskins will be without Jason Campbell after injuring his knee last week against Chicago. Washington will turn to Todd Collins. Collins was 15/20 with 224 yds, 2 TD, and 0 INT in his time against the Bears in Week 14, and is no pushover. The Redskins do have a nice pass rush and will protect Collins well, but the fact of the matter is that the Giants’ defense has come A LONG way since Week 3 when they last faced Washington, and Collins could be in for a long day.

Eli Manning has played well under constant scrutiny his entire career and even more so the previous two weeks after his play against Minnesota. Plaxico Burress finally appears to be healthy, playing the way he was at the beginning of the season as he carried the Giants on his back against the Eagles in Week 14. Amani Toomer has been a great option for Eli, but it would be nice to see Jeremy Shockey get more involved in the offense. With Jacobs’ return to the lineup and his shaky play (two fumbles) against Philly, expect the G-Men to put it in the air a lot of Sunday.

Rushing:
The Giants were unable to contain Brian Westbrook last Sunday and they need to do a better job against Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts this week and make Washington use Collins. The Redskins have had some trouble on the ground at the goal line and the Giants have been doing a great job of holding their opponents to field goals. If New York can prevent Washington from making big plays on the ground, Washington could be in for a long day with Collins getting a look at the Giants relentless pressure.

Brandon Jacobs needs to make up for his effort last week and prevent turnovers. Washington was able to hold the Bears to 60 rushing yards last week, and though I like to think that the Giants are a better offensive team than the Bears, it appears as though Coughlin and Co. will pick their spots carefully on the ground. The Redskins tend to give up points late in games, possibly from defensive fatigue, so if they can keep Jacobs and Reuben Droughns fresh, and keep the Skins’ defense from making stops, Eli will have more time to hit the open man.

Tomorrow a look at the defenses.

Also, check out some stats about the Giants from Michael Eisen of Giants.com.

80 Jeremy Shockey
Shockey (stomach) is listed as active at Philadelphia.

58 Antonio Pierce
Pierce (ankle) is listed as active at Philadelphia.

27 Brandon Jacobs
Jacobs (hamstring) is listed as active at Philadelphia.

17 Plaxico Burress
Burress (ankle, knee) is listed as active at Philadelphia.

In the News:

• Eli knows he can make the big play against the aggressive Philly defense.

• The Giants need to hold the ball and create long drives if they want a win in Week 14.

• Steve Smith is ready to perform the way Coughlin and Co. know he is capable of.

• The G-Men can enhance their playoff chances and ruin the the Eagles’ with a win this week.

• New York needs to play to win today, more than any other game of the season.