New Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey, with the dark New York clouds, the Giants, and disgruntled player reputation behind him, joined his new Saints team and met the media for the first time on Thursday in Jackson at Millsaps.
He is recovering from a broken leg, but caught two passes in the morning workout. He sat out the afternoon drills.
Q: Can you talk about joining the Saints?
A: I'm really happy to be a New Orleans Saint. Obviously, a lot of people didn't see this coming, There were a lot of rumors. I want to thank Mickey (Loomis) and Sean (Payton) for believing in me, bringing me here and giving me the opportunity.
Q: What happened with the situation in New York?
A: I just think that Mickey and Sean wanted me more than New York. I think New York got a fair package. Hopefully, New Orleans will have a really good package. It's a very good situation.
Q: Did you think this would happen after a deal was not consummated after the draft?
A: Leading up to the draft, you hear a lot of rumor and speculation. My mother lives in Texas, so reads all the papers. I didn't give up hope. Really at that time, I was just trying to get healthy. I had never had a really serious injury before in my life. I never gave up hope. I want to thank my agent Drew Rosenhaus. He obviously helped make this happen as well. I wouldn't say that I ever gave up. It was always in the back of my head, even after the draft.
Q: Were you surprised when it finally happened?
A: I was relieved. I wasn't surprised. There were a bunch of rumors. If I had back to the Giants no matter what it would have been a circus. I'd have went up there had 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 to 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. If I went, I'm a distraction. If I didn't go, I was a distraction. It's the same thing if I had gone up to play with the Giants. I'm just very happy to have the opportunity I have in New Orleans and with this team.
Q: Can you discuss what you feel is misunderstood about you?
A: The people that know me as a person like Jon (Vilma) and several other guys on this team that I know, they'll tell you that I'm not as wild and rebellious as some people say, but that's the media. They build you up to knock you down and if you know me, you know me. If not, the rumors fly. You've probably heard it all. What you see is what you get. I wear my emotion on my sleeves and I'm a true person. I'm not fake or fabricate to anybody.
Q: Are you happy to be in a little more media friendly and less media intense environment than New York City?
A: I knew that question was coming out sooner or later. Actually, I think my family is. They're the ones, my mother especially that read the newspaper. I always about it from my brother and it doesn't really bother me. Obviously, I'd like to just concentrate on football besides looking to be a distraction, being in the paper, being out here, going over there, this city, whatever. It get s a little out of control a little bit. Obviously, I'm happy. I'm happy in the situation more than anything else.
Q: Did you come out like a little kid today on your first day of school?
A: I really did. I was telling some of the guys, I just really excited to go out there and practice and start all over again. I'm starting at ground zero and working my way up as if I'm trying to make the team. That's the mentality I have in this camp, working at things I'm not so good at, trying to get better and healthier and since it's a little bit hotter here than Albany (where Giants train), I'll work on my conditioning and everything else as well.
Q: What are your impressions of this Saints offense?
A: Statistics speak for it. You can see that they're top three every year, offense, the red zone and other intriguing statistics. It speaks for itself. It's going to be a fun year and I'm excited to be here.
Q: Can you talk about some of your best memories of New York when Sean Payton was there?
A: Sean drafted me. He did a great job of helping me learn to be a pro. Playing everyday in in the NFL is to come to work and be ready to work. That is what he really preached. He talked a lot about paying attention to the small details. It hasn't changed.
Q: Did having to sit out the Super Bowl run last year give you a new perspective or new appreciation for the game?
A: Sometimes it's good to sit back and watch. You want to be out there. The things that were written that was unhappy, I never said anything in the paper, they just wrote their own thing, their own synopsis. I'm very happy for those guys up there, coaches, everyone. They did a great job and they deserved everything they got.
Q: Not knowing Drew Brees personally, what did you think of him when you came here?
A: He was one of the first guys that called me and congratulated me. He said there were a bunch of rumors and stuff. The Giants got a good deal, a fair deal. Hopefully the Saints got a great deal.
Q: What would you like to tell Saints fans that they're getting in Jeremy Shockey?
A: What I've been trying to do the past six years which is just play full speed and play as hard as I can. I can't control injuries. I just play this game with passion and lot of heart.
Q: Sean Payton said you weren't quite 100 per cent. Where do you think you are?
A: It;s hard to tell. I haven't had a broken bone ever in my life like I had right now. You're never 100 per cent in the season. It's July. Time has flown by. I'm not 100 per cent, but I don't need to be 100per cent right now. You just need to learn and that's what I need to do. I need to sit down and learn and sit down with Drew and know his motion, his cadence, everything that he does, I want to be there. I'm not 100 per cent right now, but I will be soon.
Q: Do you forward to this initial media generated attention cooling off a little after today?
A: I'll appreciate the six or seven that are there then. I thought the obligation to talk to the media was only during the football season. Up in Albany, it was like this everyday and you get used it. Obviously, this is a smaller media corps. I'm looking forward to getting to know the bet writers here. I don't know them, but I'm sure I'll know you guys. You're probably different that the people that write for the for the papers up in New York.
Q: One of the things that were said in those New York papers was that you wanted to be the No. 1 option in the offense. Did you ever feel that way?
A: I think they used me as pretty much the No. 1 option. I led the team in receptions a couple of times. I don't know who quoted that.
Q: Do you expect to be the No. 1 option in this offense?
A: I expect to start from ground zero. I'm a walk on here. I'm just trying to make this team and do the best I can to help everybody around me. Hopefully. I bring everybody else's game up to a level that...Marques Colston, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush. I want to help these guys play at a higher level and do as I try to do every year, which is to do the best I can. We have a great core of guys here, a great coaching staff, everyone made the conditioning workout, and everyone made the weights. It's a little different weather from what I'm used to. Up in Albany, everyone usually does not make the conditioning test or the weights. 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.
Q: Can you responded to a quote that said you were seeking revenge on the Giants?
A: Where was the quote I said that?
Shockey told some youngsters that in a video he did for Newsday's Kidsday that if the Giants traded him he would be looking for revenge when he takes the field against his old team. "If the team trades me, I promise you I'm going to make them pay," said Shockey. "If I ever a chance to play against a tam that trades me, it's not going to be a pretty sight."
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 q week or so. I don't have any personal vendetta against the Giants.
Q: Have you ever been to Bourbon Street? Has anybody told you to avoid it?
A: When we played in the Sugar Bowl when I was in college (Miami). It wasn't very good for the Gators.
It was the Sugar Bowl following the 2000 season and Miami swamped Florida 37-20 in a game that was memorable for what preceded it/
The Hurricanes and the Gators got into a massive brawl on Bourbon Street days before the game.
SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: Cornerback Randall Gay made the play of the practice day on Thursday when he broke up a long pass intended for Devery Henderson near the end zone...Wide receiver Adrian Arrington, the seventh-round draft choice from Michigan, was turning heads during opening day with his catches...Shockey showed up clean-shaven and with short hair...Payton liked the way Jonathan Vilma during the workouts. Vilma and Shockey were teammates at Miami. "I believe we lost one game in two years while we there," said Vilma...49ers coach Mike Nolan knows the league rules.This season, he wins early or he is gone. Eight or nine wins may not be enough enough to keep his job...The Brett Favre saga should be over my Monday or Tuesday...After signing a six-year deal with the Rams for $29 million, defensive end Chris Long said, "I've some debts to pay off with my parents."...
Buster Davis, the Chargers' first-round choice out of LSU last season, is competing for a starting job at San Diego. "Coming from LSU and the SEC, I wasn't affected by the crowds or the intensity, so I didn't get stage fright," said Davis. "But the game in the NFL is so much faster. That was the big adjustment." His results were less than spectacular, receptions sporadic, especially after he suffered an ankle injury. He did have the thrill of catching his first NFL touchdown pass at Lambeau Field...I'm out of time....Ed Staton can be reached at Ed Staton at edcoachstaton@yahoo.com.
New Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey, with the dark 
