The defending Super Bowl Champion Giants have had a great deal of unrest
during this offseason and it may only get worse.
In fact, their toughest battles might not be against the opponents on their schedule, but between their top two receivers, wideout Plaxico Burress and tight end Jeremy Shockey.
Burress is unhappy with his current contract, so he’s demanding a new deal and threatening a holdout. He has refused to participate in offseason team workouts.
Shockey simply wants out of New York. He broke his leg last year and had to sit and watch his team win the title without him. In fact, many critics felt his absence made Eli Manning a better quarterback.
In what might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, Shockey got into a shouting match with general manager Jerry Reese at a recent minicamp.
Looking forward, the Giants showed they could win without Shockey, so I think they could trade him if he creates a problem once he gets to camp.
Burress is a different story. His height and playmaking ability make Manning a better quarterback, and quite simply, I don’t think they can win without him.
Much like the Eagles and their situation with Owens back in 2005, the Giants aren’t the same team without Burress. ?Still, they also can’t afford to let him destroy their team chemistry.
If they can make it through that minefield of distractions, the Giants could be better in the regular season this year. Players usually improve significantly in their second year, so I expect that last season’s outstanding rookie class for the G-Men will be much better this time around.
Furthermore, I don’t think New York’s outstanding defensive line will miss a beat following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. They will simply have Justin Tuck take over as the starting left defensive end, then move inside to tackle on third down when talented pass rusher Mathias Kiwanuka comes in to apply pressure from the outside.
Much of the Giants’ playoff hopes will depend on how they work out things with Burress and Shockey. If they mishandle the situation, the negativity will likely spill onto the field and short-circuit any plans the Giants have of repeating.
New York may put a smile on the faces of Eagles fans by self-destructing before the season even begins. I can see it now, Burress and Shockey being suspended and then leading a small army of reporters and cameramen to their homes, where they’ll being doing sit-ups in the driveway.
