We knew things were stewing. The ingredients were all there since over the winter. The Giants surprised the world last year, getting to the Super Bowl, and then shocked it again in actually winning it. And some wondered, would all this go to their heads? Some wondered if it was all too good. And everyone knew that something was going to come around the bend. Some rotten stuff was thrown into this years soup, and already it is coming to a boil.
I alluded to it over draft time, as the Giant’s chose to hold onto the maligned and discontent TE, Jeremy Shockey. The trade that was rumored with New Orleans fell through. The result is he has come to camp obviously with several chips on his shoulder, playing off the press, doing what he does better than play football.
But Shockey won’t be outdone by someone else’s ego barely in check, Plaxico Burress, who used yesterday’s practice to contradict the NY Giant brass to why he was out. He wasn’t out with an injury or with a sore ankle. He is sitting because he wants his contract renegotiated. He dropped this bomb during the press conference between practices, sending the Giant camp into a tizzy, and taking the attention away from Shockey. Something I am sure will irk the volatile TE even further.
Burress statement directly smashed into Coach, Tom Coughlin’s earlier statement that day: “He just has a sore knee so he has been held out.”
Meanwhile, though there has been much made of Shockey, added to by himself with strage comments to the press, he did show up this week. However, he has yet to take the field, driving more onus on his dissatisfaction and unhappiness over last year. That’s right, he’s pissed the Giant’s did well without him and won the Super Bowl. How is that for a teammate? And the Giants did not trade him when they had the chance, and his sad little mug sits in the locker room along with Plaxico. Burress, who is now channeling Cuba Gooding Jr., trying to up-sell himself as a premier receiver, despite besides some good clutch play, has never quite lived up to his own hype. But don’t tell his agent that.
All this drama follows what was a long slow deliberation, and finally the retirement of defensive stalwart, Michael Strahan, who obviously knows when to get out. He’s been thinking about retirement and his 2nd career (which will be on TV, and you will see him a lot, let me assure you), for a few seasons now, and got rewarded by playing one more year and a Super Bowl ring. But now, as the good vibes fade into the din of ego and hurt feelings, he clearly knows when the getting is good. And he got out.
Strahan retires at the young age of 36 after a stellar 15 year career. He is 5th on the all-time sack leader chart. He holds a franchise record of 141.5 sacks, ahead of Lawrence Taylor.
His retirement clearly didn’t take the Giant’s by surprise. They had added players via free agency to steel themselves to this reality. However, steeling themselves for yesterday’s media fiasco, well, that is another story. And now, only a day later with so much already aired, they have their work cut out for them to finally address issues head-on, otherwise, Eli Manning will be heading a circus.
It makes one wonder if keeping Shockey was such a good idea. Now the Giants do not have one drama queen raising his hand, but two in tow. And besides adjusting to those changes and working on how to build on last year’s rise, they now have to put out fires and try refocus.
Not a good way to start a camp.
- BD
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Tags: Giants, Jeremy Shockey, Michael Strahan, NFL, Plaxico Burress, Tom Coughlin
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9 Responses to “Soapsuds: Giant Drama!”
Posted: 06/12/08 at 7:58 am
Football players are the biggest group of complainers in professional sports. Do any of them know how to honor a contract? If they don’t like how all their money isn’t guaranteed, then build a stronger union. Every year we go through this stuff, and its usually a few players per team. What nonsense.
Posted: 06/12/08 at 8:56 am
I totally agree with you on this one Joe!
Nice piece BD! Burress and Shockey, let them rot with Chad Johnson in Cincy!
Posted: 06/12/08 at 9:40 am
Well Giants fan will give Burress a slight pass because of last season, lol. But Shockey can go to hell for all I care, lol Or back to The U, which is probably worse.
Posted: 06/12/08 at 4:52 pm
Yes they are complainers. However there are two sides to every story. If Burress was hurt and not performing (which is amazing that he isn’t with the way he plays injured every week) the Giants would cut him. There goes the guaranteed money and contract.
I dont have a problem with what Burress is doing. Coughlin got his 5M/year. So why shouldn’t Burress who caught the game winnning TD in the SuperBowl get more money? He deserves a raise and this is what it comes down to.
Sure you can say honor your contract all day long but if you were him and you saw older players like T.O and Moss getting 9M/year, when you yourself is a nightmare matchup, you would want a raise too. The Giants should open the books and pay their stars. There should be enough money for their core of Manning, Burress, Osi, Justin Tuck (he already got his money), Shockey (if they want) and the o-line. So pay them and work on the title defense for 09′.
Posted: 06/12/08 at 8:18 pm
Femi I understand what your saying, and it is true if the sides were reversed the owners would be trying to get more money too.
But my point before was this is the agreement their union signed, if they don’t like it, they should never have signed it. Or they should look to solidify their union. The football union is the weakest in professional sports. I mean look how hard it is to gets funds for retired players.
And then there’s the otherside to the point you made. You say the Giants should open their purse and pay their players for their performance. Well if one of these players does nothing all year, do they turn around and give the money back? I don’t think so.
Posted: 06/12/08 at 10:15 pm
Sorry Femi, I am with Joe on this one. But that is what pro sports are all about, great discussion. I see where you are coming from but bottom line is, the athletes hold out and always get they want.
Posted: 06/13/08 at 6:56 am
Unless your name is Chad Johnson…
Posted: 06/13/08 at 9:12 am
Exactly that is what sports is all about, the discussion and talk about the issues. Contract disputes seem to be something that will exist forever especially with the power of the media, making the money players get such big news, thus in turn making players who want a big pay day, like Burress, complain for that new contract.
Posted: 06/14/08 at 1:13 pm
Check this out BD!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3442514