MIAMI, Fla. – Shockey roared.
It was a roar that was two years in the making, a loud and wild roar that Giants fans came to know and often love during his rock-em-sock-em days playing tight end for the team that drafted him.
Shockey let out the mighty roar with 5:42 remaining tonight in Super Bowl XLIV. He had hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees that put his Saints ahead 22-17. The Saints never trailed again and went on to upset the Colts 31-17 at Sun Life Stadium.
Two years ago, as the Giants were shocking the world by coming from behind to upset the unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII Shockey was on the scene in Glendale, Ariz. but he wasn’t on the field, as a broken leg suffered late in the season robbed him of participating in the entire playoff run. Shockey was thrilled that the Giants earned a remarkable championship but he eventually found it impossible to deal with not being an active part of the fun. His relationship with the Giants soured, Shockey demanded a trade and eventually he was granted his wish, shipped off to New Orleans.
Two years later he earned his second Super Bowl ring and this time he contributed blood, sweat and tears.
Hampered by an injured right knee, Shockey wasn’t much of a factor in the NFC Championship game two weeks ago against the Vikings with one catch for nine yards. Shockey was able to practice this week after arriving in the city where he starred in college for the Miami Hurricanes, but through three quarters he wasn’t doing much of anything. He had two catches for 11 yards and on his second reception nearly had his face rearranged on a hit by safety Aaron Francisco.
With the Saints trailing 17-16, Shockey got his chance. Brees expertly put his club in position with his pinpoint passing and on second-and-goal from the Indy 2-yard line it was Shockey time. He lined up wide right and across from him was Jacob Lacey, a rookie cornerback. In his prime as a monster pass-catcher, Shockey would eat these sort of mismatches for lunch. Shockey isn’t nearly the same dynamic player he once was but he made his presence felt with one huge play.
Shockey made a sharp inside cut on a quick slant and immediately got advantageous position on Lacey. Brees was quick on the draw and fired the ball into Shockey’s midsection as he crossed into to the end zone. Shockey grabbed the ball with two hands and flexed his tattooed muscled arms, screaming at the top of his lungs as his teammates surrounded him in celebration.
