shockey interview...

[rayzor]

pretty good read. i'm loving the idea of him being in carolina more and more. it's also apparent that we are probably going to be seeing a much more interesting team than we had with fox. it's just going to be more exciting in what's done on the field and in the people that are playing.

"I know what I can bring to the table. I'm glad that (the Panthers) saw the same thing," Shockey said last week in a phone interview. "I feel great about working out here in Miami. I feel like a different person compared to what I was doing last year in New Orleans and the year before in New Orleans."

.

.

.

"There were a couple of other teams in the mix," Shockey said. "I just kept going back to where I was taught football terminology and had a really good career with Rob Chudzinski."

Shockey said Chudzinski, who was the San Diego Chargers' tight ends coach and assistant head coach the past two seasons, was "like family." Shockey predicted the former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator would re-energize a passing attack that was the league's worst in 2010 in John Fox's final season as Panthers head coach.

"You'll see a difference, I promise you that," Shockey said. "Rob Chudzinski's an offensive genius. He can get the ball in the playmakers' hands."

Saints coach Sean Payton, the Giants' offensive coordinator when Shockey was in New York, believes the 6-foot-5, 251-pound Shockey still belongs in the playmaking category. Payton said Shockey brings a swagger to an offense.

"It's an aspect of his game where it's almost calming to everyone around him because he can kind of take on that role and make the big catch and be ready to come up with the big play. I think it's a little contagious as well," Payton said at the NFL owners meetings in March.

"He has strong hands in traffic. He's bigger than anyone ever thinks until you see him and you're up next to him and you realize this guy's big. So he's a big target with strong hands and he's got that ability (on) fourth-and-4 to win the game. He has that ability and sees himself making that play and that's never changed."

.

.

.

Payton called Shockey a "great teammate," and Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Shockey's passion is a positive when used effectively.

"Energy is good if it's channeled in the right direction, and I think he's certainly a guy that's going to do that for us," Hurney said at the owners meetings.

"I plan on bringing as much (energy) as I can," Shockey said. "I plan on bringing every card I have in my hand to the team, and that's one of the reasons I went to Carolina."

A prior engagement for this week will prevent Shockey from attending the first couple of informal workouts organized by Panthers offensive linemen Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton. But Shockey is planning to participate in as many of the seven scheduled sessions as he can.

"I'm excited," Shockey said. "I've talked to Cam (Newton) a couple times on the phone. I talked to Jordan Gross. I've talked to a bunch of guys - Jimmy Clausen."

.

.

.

When those games begin, Shockey is confident his offseason program, his familiarity with Chudzinski's system and his skill and energy levels will help him bounce back from the worst statistical year of his nine-year career. "It was very frustrating," Shockey said of his 2010 season, when he caught 41 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. "You go through a couple years that you get banged-up and then the football gods give you a gift, and that was the Super Bowl ring.

"Last year I was banged-up a little bit. This year I'm looking for nothing but redemption, and have fun doing it. I'm 30 years old and still feel like I can play this game for as many years as I want. I've got plenty of gas left in my tank, I know that."

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/28/2335369/panthers-welcome-pass-catching.html#ixzz1NpnqWYLj

btw...he says that there won't be any games missed and that a deal will get worked out soon. both the players and the owners want/need football.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Shockey has huge potential of sparking the locker room and helping to engage the fanbase. He also has huge potential of getting dinged up and doing nothing.

Either way I think it was a good get by the panthers.

[panthers55]

I hope Shockey has a great year this season. Still, I am not a big fan of Shockey over his career. Not the stats and catches but the incidents and attitude. I guess I will have to try and separate Shockey on the field and off it. What else is there??

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Every time Jeremy Shockey scores a touchdown, two bald eagles go on a first date.

[YourManInAmsterdam]

I read this one this morning over coffee. He's a wild card. We really don't know what we're going to get out of him, but I'm okay with that. It seems we're taking some risks here and there, and I think that's important given the way things have been handled over the past several years.

If he's a bust, I don't feel like we've lost anything.

[Ricky Spanish]

I read this one this morning over coffee. He's a wild card. We really don't know what we're going to get out of him, but I'm okay with that. It seems we're taking some risks here and there, and I think that's important given the way things have been handled over the past several years.

If he's a bust, I don't feel like we've lost anything.

Wildcard Bitches!!

[CarolinaKat]

You folk are getting to carried away with your risk/bust nonsense. Shockey is a ten year vet. He's played the same way since leaving college. He's had a couple injuries and last couple years but that didn't somehow change him. He's a big tough target. He's a name brand player. Upgrade over all our TE's even though i like King for his back up. Ya'll seem to want a reason to be unsure about someone

[DaveThePanther2008]

Get Shockey to toughen up Barnidge.. Get Barnidge in shape to replace him in a couple of years.

I have always liked Shockey. Seems to me his first play from scrimmage as a Rookie was a TD. It may have been pre-season but I was in awe of how good he looked. He has the toughness and hands of the Great Wesley Walls.

Go Panthers

[jtm]

I am not aware of any issues Shockey has had in the past couple of years. He is a vet and 30 years old at that. I doubt he will be anything but a positive influence. We have him on a one year deal and he isn't an idiot. If this works out for him he will probably get a couple year contract. If not, he will have a hard time finding another team.

This is his last shot at playing football because of his age - he will be very motivated.

[JawnyBlaze]

I hope Shockey has a great year this season. Still, I am not a big fan of Shockey over his career. Not the stats and catches but the incidents and attitude. I guess I will have to try and separate Shockey on the field and off it. What else is there??

I'm the same way. I've never been a fan of Shockey, but he can play and I'm a fan of him now that he's a Panther. He knows the game and should be a good safety net to help Cam's development. We didn't have a consistent target at TE for Clausen. Experience with Chud is a big bonus. Great signing. Worst case scenario, team is out $1mil for the one year, and the hit against the cap (if there is one) is marginal anyway. Even if he goes out for the year, it'll just put Rosario and Barnidge out there getting more experience (King is gone in my opinion...I don't see how people think he can play in any offense other than Fox/Davidson's...or one just like it) and that's probably where we'd be without signing him in the first place anyway.

[CatMan72]

I'm excited about Shockey, I think he's matured a lot and will bring a winning attitude and some swagger to this team. I'm also glad our young QB's will have such an experienced and talented TE to work with.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I am not aware of any issues Shockey has had in the past couple of years. He is a vet and 30 years old at that. I doubt he will be anything but a positive influence.

He was accused of demanding the ball too much and compromising Manning's decision making. A lot of people say that the removal of Shockey and Barber from that huddle allowed the Giants to win a Superbowl. He has said generally said dumb stuff to the media while in New Orleans.

I don't know how truthful any of that is (aside from the stupid stuff he has said) and in his defense: every time Jeremy Shockey gets a first down, a man driving an American brand pickup truck produced before 1993 successfully avoids a DUI.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Seems to me the last TE we got from New Orleans worked out pretty good so I am gonna hope the trend remains the same.

[rayzor]

I hope Shockey has a great year this season. Still, I am not a big fan of Shockey over his career. Not the stats and catches but the incidents and attitude. I guess I will have to try and separate Shockey on the field and off it. What else is there??

i, for one, welcome the attitude. no denying the talent and ability to make big plays. no denying the toughness, either. the attitude, though, is something i think he will be able to back up. i want this team to have a swagger to it. i want it to have an attitude that it is going to be great and dominate.

screw humility and silent confidence. forget that flying under the radar crap. let them hear you coming and then just go out there and kick some ass. let them hate...just give them plenty of reason to do it.