Giants get picky over Jeremy Shockey

Eli Manning called it "a stupid theory" when he was asked during the week before Super Bowl XLII if the Giants were there because Jeremy Shockey wasn't. Most of his teammates and coaches agreed. But not all of them.

According to various team and NFL sources, there were more than a few people inside the Giants organization who at least wondered whether the absence of Shockey - who broke his leg in Week 15 - was beneficial to Manning's development. The sidelines were suddenly quieter and less volatile, and Manning did not feel he had to get Shockey the ball early so his tight end wouldn't stomp and sulk. Continue