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Jeremy Shockey has switched both teams and numbers this week.  I have waited for him to comment on his trade from the Giants to the Saints and I have located his first interview post-trade.

In it, he sounds very angry and delusioned with the media and NY papers.  At one point he states the "Enquirer."  I'm guessing he is referring to Rupert Murdoch's New York Post.

Furthermore, he is very conflicted about his love for the Giants and his desire for a fresh start.  He mentions the contrasts of training camp in Albany (the only one he has knew) and Jackson.  "They won a Super Bowl last year and they really deserved it. I'm going to miss my teammates, my coaches, the owners, everything about that organization."  Shock, throw us the fans a frickin' bone here.

Some of the finer points are: 

• When asked if he thought he would be traded after Draft Day passed, he responded, "It was always in the back of my head, even after the draft."  What he meant to say was that it was in the front of his mind as Tom Coughlin also did today when he stated, "Team over self is why we win" - and, when asked if Shockey's inability to adhere to that mantra was a factor in the trade, he admitted, "I am sure at some point in time that was part of the consideration."  The Truth & Rumor posted on this read between the lines and said, "Good Riddance."  (NY Post, Er I mean Enquirer)

• I believe Shockey is right when he states "If I had gone back to the Giants no matter what it would have been a circus. I'd have went up there if they kept me, there would have been all of the rumors if they were better off without me, this, that. The last thing I wanted to do was be a distraction. That's one of the reasons I didn't want to go to the Super Bowl. I wasn't healthy. They did a great job. I didn't want to be a distraction to that team."

• Finally, this gem which totally contradicts Shockey's recorded interview in Queens with a group of youngsters interviewing him for Newsday.  Shockey vowed to make whomever traded him "Pay" for trading him. Q: Can you respond to a quote that said you were seeking revenge on the Giants?A: Where was that quote? I said that?

  Q: Would you look forward to playing the Giants which you are scheduled to do next year in the regular season or if both teams qualify for the playoffs this year?

   

  A: I look forward to playing every team. Obviously if you've been on a team for so long and play that team, that's just natural. I look forward to practicing against the Houston Texans in a week or so. I don't have any personal vendetta against the Giants.

The entire interview can be found at:

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Articles/2008/7/Smiling%20Shockey.aspxx

"G":  Thanks for asking, I would love to shoot a 44 on the front 9 of Mill Pond this Sunday or any other time!