Saints Aquire Jeremy Shockey

[Louie]

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.

The Saints' acquisition of Jeremy Shockey takes their offense from a good one to potentially a great one, ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas writes.

The deal was first reported by FOXSports.com.

The Saints had been trying since February to acquire the disgruntled New York Giants tight end. First, they offered a second-round pick. Before the draft, they increased the offer to a second- and a fifth-round draft choice, but the Giants felt he was too valuable to lose until a few days before the start of their training camp.

As Payton and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis did their last few minutes of office work before heading to Jackson, Miss., for Wednesday's start of training camp, they received a call from the Giants saying that Shockey was theirs.

Even through the weekend, the Saints tried to broker a deal for Shockey. On Sunday, they tried to get in the middle of the Jason Taylor trade to see if there was a way they could make a three-way deal that brought them Shockey, according to multiple sources. Taylor went to the Washington Redskins for a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-rounder in 2010.

Shockey, 28, a four-time Pro Bowler, has 371 catches for 4,228 yards and 27 touchdowns during his six-year NFL career. He grew disgruntled with the Giants because he wanted to be more involved with some downfield passing. The Giants valued his run blocking.

Payton was an offensive coordinator with the Giants during Shockey's rookie season. He caught 74 passes for 894 yards that season.

Source:
John Clayton
ESPN.com

[donkeypunch]

This doesn't make them a Super Bowl contender overnight because they still have problems on the other side of the ball, but look for a lot of 35-31 games outta this team.

[Louie]

Originally Posted by donkeypunch

This doesn't make them a Super Bowl contender overnight because they still have problems on the other side of the ball.

Ehh, I donno, I know that if I were a Saints fan, I would be excited. They have the potential to go far in the NFC, especially in that division. If they aren't a Superbowl contender, they are as close as one can be without actually being one. They are on the right path toward an eventual great season sometime soon. They did add Jonathan Vilma via free agency and Sedrick Ellis in the draft, who is going to be a stud. They just may put enough pressure on the Quarterback this year to give some offenses headaches.

[bigwinnner8]

John Clayton has a twin. His name is Mr. Mackey, the teacher from South Park. Mmmmmkay?

Shockey definitely doesn't hurt the Saints chances. I'm still not sure how you can do the 180 they have done the last two years. I don't know what to expect from them year after year, they're always a fun team to watch and a hard team to cap. Drew Brees isn't getting any younger but I think this might be Reggie Bush's breakout season. In the NFC, everyone has a chance.

[Louie]

Yea Saints fans keep talking about Bush having a breakout season. They made a lot of bonehead mistakes last year. Remember the one game wherethey just had to run out the clock and Sean Payton called a trick play (reverse pitch)? Then, they fumbled and lost the game. I think it was against Tampa Bay.

[donkeypunch]

Don't get me wrong Louie, I do like this team a lot, especially in the division they play in...but do they have the horses on the other side of the ball to stop Dallas (their biggest threat in the NFC imho). Reggie Bush is not an every down back, he's a phenomenal pass catching RB and when him an McCallister are right, the best 1-2 combo in football. Obviously the injury to Deuce really threw things for a loop and they couldn't figure things out until it was too late.

very early prediction: Dallas over New Orleans in the NFC title game

[Mrtk31]

Is Shockey a TE that can BLOCK? I saw few GTS games.

[donkeypunch]

Originally Posted by Mrtk31

Is Shockey a TE that can BLOCK? I saw few GTS games.

Yes, one of the best in football I think.