ESPN Hashmarks

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

New York Giants GM Jerry Reese really wanted things to work out with tight end Jeremy Shockey, but in the end, keeping him wasn't worth the distraction he would've caused. Reese didn't blink when the Saints offered a second and a fifth-round draft choice before April's draft because he thought Shockey was more valuable than that.

Of course, that was before Shockey initiated a shouting match with the normally understated Reese during a mandatory minicamp in June. Though he might not admit it publicly, Reese decided at that point that Shockey no longer had a place in the organization. In the back of his mind, he knew Saints head coach Sean Payton still coveted Shockey, and that's why he was so deliberate.

	Marvin Gentry/US Presswire
	Newly-traded Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey's act grew tired in New York.

He knew the controversial tight end could show up in Albany, N.Y, for training camp Thursday and cause a scene. And with the team already fighting symptoms from a Super Bowl hangover, it was a risk he wasn't willing to take. Shockey's close friend Plaxico Burress recently voiced his support for Shockey staying with the Giants, but I don't think most players will be terribly upset about the trade. Shockey lost leverage when his teammates made a Super Bowl run without him. He then took the childish route of showing up for a minicamp and hiding out in the locker room.

Shockey is a fierce competitor who could very well help lead the Saints back to the playoffs. But he'd burned too many bridges with the Giants. And don't think this is all based on his recent actions. While brilliant at times, Shockey has always been a lightning rod. His ridiculous remarks about Bill Parcells (which I won't repeat) in a magazine story five years ago spoke to his immaturity and his on-field tirades weren't a good match for the mild-mannered Eli Manning.

My colleague Pat Yasinskas says this trade makes the Saints a "great" offense, but I respectfully disagree. It certainly gives the Saints more firepower, but I'm not assuming that Deuce McAllister will come back strong from a knee injury and that Reggie Bush will suddenly become a game-changing player. The Saints are also missing a viable No. 2 wide receiver at the moment. Second-year player Robert Meachem is essentially a rookie after being inactive for all 16 games last season and David Patten is a stretch as a third receiver.

I realize that the best team in the NFC South can change on a dime because that's what has happened recently, but it seems strange that everyone is jumping back on the Saints' bandwagon. On Monday, New Orleans definitely became a better offense. But the reason this is a win-win trade is that the Giants are a better team without Shockey. If that were not the case, they'd put up with his nonsense for another season.

How is this playing in New York? Well, the Daily News is currently going with a "So Long, Shockey" headline, which seems pretty tame. Columnists such as Gary Myers of the Daily News have been saying Shockey should be traded for months, so I don't think Reese will experience much backlash in the media. I also think most Giants fans had resigned to the fact that the team was better off without Shockey in the long run.

Reese was notably brief in his statement about the trade:

"Jeremy Shockey was a great competitor and contributor during his years with the Giants," Reese said in a statement released by the team. "We wish him well in New Orleans."

Coughlin was much more effusive in his praise, and that's to be expected.

"Jeremy is a very talented football player who always played with great enthusiasm and great effort," Coughlin said in the same statement. "He was excited about playing. Jeremy always enjoyed being a physical football player and a tough football player. He's an outstanding football player who plays the game full speed and plays the game the way it was meant to be played. He is a physical blocker who is a gifted athlete with the ball in his hands after receiving the ball down the field. I wish him the best."

The New York Post is going with "Saint Shockey" on the front of its home page. Here is Paul Schwartz's story on the trade. Schwartz ends the story with this baffling line:

"When healthy, Shockey reportedly did not like how his role in the Giants' offense had been changing from pass-catcher to blocker."

So that's why he was so disgruntled? The Giants were trying to turn him into a blocking tight end.

Deliver me!

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

Shockey

The New Orleans Saints went from having a pretty good offense to having a great one this afternoon. The trade for New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey makes New Orleans' offense complete.

The Saints already had a very good No. 1 wide receiver in Marques Colston and the potential for a strong running game with Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. They also have one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league in Drew Brees.

With Shockey, they've tied everything together. New Orleans needed someone to take some of the attention away from Colston. Defenses won't be able to roll the Cover Two on him all day because Shockey will take coverage away and cause matchup problems for safeties and linebackers.

He's a natural fit in the New Orleans offense because he can make things happen over the middle and down the field. That will open things up for Colston along the sidelines and it should help whoever is playing the No. 2 receiver spot (Robert Meachem and David Patten are among the candidates). Shockey also is going to make Brees much more effective because he gives him a tight end who is as dangerous as most wide receivers.

Shockey isn't noted for his blocking, but his presence still will help the running game. Defenses are going to have to account for Shockey with linebackers and safeties and that's going to open things up for Bush and McAllister. Opposing defenses won't be able to use eight men in the box and they won't be able to devote all their coverage to Colston.

One of my favorite things to do on the first day of the draft other than making fun of Ted Thompson is to project what impact each player will make. Fair or not, we expect at least 80 percent of these players to make a significant impact.

And as we prepare for Week 7, I think it's high time we take a look at which first-rounders have made the most significant impact. If you disagree with any of our selections or feel like lavishing me with well-deserved praise, please utilize the "comments" section at the bottom of your screens:

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota
Overall Pick: 7
Hash rank: 1
Side dish: His 224 yards and three touchdowns in Chicago was spectacular. Before Sunday's breakout performance, Peterson had rushed for 383 yards and a score through his first four games. 
 
Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco
Overall Pick: 11
Hash rank: 2
Side dish: The early leader in the race for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Has 50 tackles in five games.
 
Amobi Okoye, DT, Houston
Overall Pick: 10
Hash rank: 3
Side dish: Four sacks in six games for the Texans -- and he came to my defense when a Houston TV reporter cut me off in the middle of a question. 
 
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City
Overall Pick: 23
Hash rank: 4
Side dish: He's put up strong numbers (26 receptions for 415 yards and three TDs). Had eight catches for 164 yards and a score in a 30-16 win over division rival San Diego.

LaRon Landry, S, Washington
Overall Pick: 6
Hash rank: 5
Side dish: Had 22 tackles (13 solos) and a half sack through the Redskins' first three games. Has a faded a bit since, but still a great complement to Sean Taylor.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit
Overall Pick: 2
Hash rank: 6
Side dish: Nice start with eight catches, 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first two games. Since then, he's missed a game with a back injury and doesn't have any touchdowns. 

Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland
Overall Pick: 3
Hash rank: 7
Side dish: He's started every game for a Browns offensive unit that ranks third in total points (167), fourth in points per game (27.8) and eighth in yards per game (354.5).  

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo
Overall Pick: 12
Hash rank: 8
Side dish: He's put up solid numbers on a team with very few offensive weapons -- 373 rushing yards and three touchdowns through five games.

Aaron Ross, CB, New York Giants
Overall Pick: 20
Hash rank: 9
Side dish: Improving each week and has three interceptions (one for a TD), 13 tackles and nine pass deflections.

Jon Beason, OLB, Carolina
Overall Pick: 25
Hash rank: 10
Side dish: Despite moving to middle linebacker last week, his production remained steady with eight tackles. 

Reggie Nelson, S, Jacksonville
Overall Pick: 21
Hash rank: 11
Side dish: Has started in four of the first five games and has put up nice numbers: an interception, a sack, forced fumble and 16 tackles.

Greg Olsen, TE, Chicago
Overall Pick: 31
Hash rank: 12
Side dish: After a preseason injury set him back, he's now coming on strong. Had a team-high five catches in the 34-31 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.

Leon Hall, CB, Cincinnati
Overall Pick: 18
Hash rank: 13
Side dish: Has started two games and has a pair of interceptions and six pass deflections. 
 

Gaines Adams, DE, Tampa Bay
Overall Pick: 4
Hash rank: 14
Side dish: Recorded first sack of the season last week against the Titans and his production is slowly improving. After being credited for six tackles through four games, Adams has made nine in the last two games. 

Anthony Spencer, DE, Dallas
Overall Pick: 26
Hash rank: 15
Side dish: Has a sack and 20 tackles, but his presence is helping DeMarcus Ware find favorable matchups.  

Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
Overall Pick: 14
Hash rank: 16
Side dish: Had nine tackles and broke up a pass in a loss to the Eagles last weekend. He's still waiting for his first pick, but has tallied for 42 tackles in six games.

Levi Brown, OT, Arizona
Overall Pick: 5
Hash rank: 17
Side dish: He started the first three games of the season for the Cardinals and they lost two of them. He hasn't played the in the last three games (because of a sore ankle) and the Cards have gone 2-1. Coincidence? Probably, but worth noting. 

 
Joe Staley, OT, San Francisco
Overall Pick: 28
Hash rank: 18
Side dish: Has started every game, and may be the 49ers' most consistent offensive lineman. 

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis
Overall Pick: 32
Hash rank: 19
Side dish: He has 13 catches for 178 yards, but seven of those receptions have gone for first downs. Needs to find the end zone at some point.

Ben Grubbs, G, Baltimore
Overall Pick: 29
Hash rank: 20
Side dish: Has started the past two games for the Ravens -- both wins. 

Jamaal Anderson, DE, Atlanta
Overall Pick: 8
Hash rank: 21
Side dish: Has started every game, but hasn't recorded a sack. Has 14 tackles. 

Adam Carriker, DE, St. Louis
Overall Pick: 13
Hash rank: 22

Side dish: He's the starter, but he hasn't been all that impressive with nine tackles.

Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Miami
Overall Pick: 9
Hash rank: 23
Side dish: He's started one game and has three catches for 83 yards. The Dolphins are hoping the departure of Chris Chambers creates more opportunities for Ginn. 
 

Jarvis Moss, DE, Denver
Overall Pick: 17
Hash rank: 24
Side dish: In limited action, the athletic Moss has a sack, forced fumble and 11 tackles.
 

Brandon Meriweather, S, New England
Overall Pick: 24
Hash rank: 25
Side dish: Through six games he has nine tackles. Very versatile player who will eventually see a lot of time in the Patriots defense. 

Craig Davis, WR, San Diego
Overall Pick: 30
Hash rank: 26
Side dish: Started one game and has nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Seeking more production, San Diego traded a second-round pick for Dolphins receiver Chris Chambers on Tuesday. 

Michael Griffin, S, Tennessee
Overall Pick: 19
Hash rank: 27
Side dish: Off to a slow start because he's trying to convert from safety to corner. No interceptions or pass deflections, but he's coming around. 

Justin Harrell, DT, Green Bay
Overall Pick: 16
Hash rank: 28
Side dish: Didn't play in the Packers' first four games of the season, but he's now receiving some playing time.

Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Pittsburgh
Overall Pick: 15
Hash rank: 29
Side dish: He fell behind in the preseason, and has never caught up. In limited playing time, he has six tackles. 

Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans
Overall Pick: 27
Hash rank: 30
Side dish: Had his knee scoped during the offseason, and still doesn't look right to coaches. Has great potential, but he's struggling right now.

Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland
Overall Pick: 22
Hash rank: 31
Side dish: Derek Anderson's on fire. Browns have no use for Quinn right now.  

JaMarcus Russell, QB, Oakland Raiders
Overall Pick: 1
Hash rank: 32
Side dish: After missing all of training camp because of contract negotiations, Russell is now a long-term project who's listed as the third quarterback on the Raiders' depth chart. 
 
 
 

If you want to know why first-round draft pick Robert Meachem can't get on the field, look no further than Lance Moore. Yes, I know he returns punts, but he's also making some great plays in the passing game. That was one of the best catches you'll ever see along the sideline a few minutes ago.

Huge facemask penalty on Titans defensive end Antwan Odom to extend that drive. And Reggie Bush was fortunate they came back to him after the drop.

Oh my, Vince Young has left the game. Say hello to Kerry Collins. It's been awhile.

If you measure an offense's success by the size of its playbook, the Redskins are in excellent shape. You may recall us telling you about offensive coordinator Al Saunders' 700-page playbook, which starts off strong, but loses its momentum about page 307.

Saints head coach Sean Payton wasn't as prolific as Saunders, but his offense clearly produces better results. I'm told the Saints and Colts have two of the most efficient, high-scoring offenses in football, but they go about it completely different manners.

I realize Peyton Manning enjoys creating the appearance of chaos before plays, but in reality, the Colts aren't going out of their way to fool anyone. They use their impressive arsenal to out-execute most of their oppenents.

Meanwhile, Payton is more of a mad scientist. He sat down with Hashmarks correpondent Ed Werder on Wednesday afternoon and pulled back the curtain on his high-flying offense.

Werder has agreed to file hourly updates from Indianapolis as long as I heavily promote his appearances on OTL, Wingo Live and SportsCenter this afternoon.

Payton, who has admitted to reading Hashmarks at least once a month, told Werder that he'll use a dozen personnel groups against the Colts tonight. In order to put that in perspective, I phoned an old friend who's been an offensive assistant in the league for over 15 years. He said he can't recall ever going into a game with more than five personnel groups.

And by the way, none of those 12 groups includes first-round draft choice Robert Meachem, who is expected to be inactive. The former Tennessee wide receiver hasn't been able to crack the Saints' top five.

Folks, there's plenty more where this came from. Werder will be with us throughout the day. Back in Bristol, we call this synergy.

Len Pasquarelli broke down Saints rookie wide receiver Robert Meachem's probable contract numbers in his latest (Insider) Tip Sheet. He also points out that Meachem hasn't made the best first impression on the club, and can't afford to miss any part of training camp.

The good news for Saints fans is that Meachem has begun running again after undergoing surgery to repair meniscus damage in his right knee. His agent, Jeff Griffin, said earlier today that Meachem would be running full speed in two weeks.

I don't sense that the Saints are that worried about Meachem's status heading into training camp, but another setback would increase their anxiety level.

Folks, we are five minutes away from the Friday chat.

In case you need some talking points, I have news on the Lions' running back situation and Martin Gramatica's offseason.

I'll see you here in a second

In case you're wondering why so much is being made of OTAs this offseason, it's because reporters are now able to attend some of the sessions and make wildly speculative observations.

In fact, I read one blog entry last week that Saints rookie Robert Meachem had been overshadowed by a rookie free-agent and a 2006 practice squad vet. Moments later, I read that Meachem had an outstanding first day of minicamp.

Anyway, a member of the 49ers' organization just called to inform us that veteran defensive end Bryant Young taught rookie offensive tackle Joe Staley a tough lesson during today's practice. Staley, one of the club's first-round draft picks, was apparently feeling pretty good about his performance.

But he came out flat-footed on a play during team drills and Young embarrassed him by throwing him on his rear. Obviously this was an isolated incident because teams would never dream of making contact during OTAs.

By the way, the 49ers could be looking for a new training facility if Santa Clara doesn't pay up.

I'll be back in a moment with news that a Pro Bowl guard will be released tomorrow.

• CNBC's Darren Rovell reports that Mike Golic, Brian Bosworth, Jerry Rice, Johnny U and Barry Sanders will all be featured in All-Pro Football 2K8. And for those of you who've always wanted to play as O.J. Simpson in a video game, here's your opportunity.

• Take heart, Packers fans. WR James Jones is on the scene.

• Panthers guard says players should "suck it up" and play a 17th game.

• Retired NFL players and the NFLPA have been invited to meet with Congress June 26. Commissioner Goodell and the NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw have not accepted the invitation yet.

• Anyone seen running back Chris Brown lately?

• Here's another Chad Johnson everyone should be rooting for.

• Fun Dan Marino trivia with Trent Green.

• Am I the only one who didn't realize Randy Moss was poetic?

• Dan Le Batard says let Culpepper and Green compete for starting job. He also reports that Dolphins rookie quarterback John Beck may be ready sooner than his peers.

• McQuarters finally gets haircut.

• Saints worried about Meachem already?

Yesterday, we told you that Saints rookie wide receiver Robert Meachem was undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this morning. According to his agent, Jeff Griffin, the surgery went well and that doctors are saying Meachem will be out for a month.

"Anytime you're not able to practice and take reps, you get concerned," Saints head coach Sean Payton told local reporters Monday. "I don't know if (the concern) is as much about his durability or just the fact that as a young player he's missing time. It's hard when that happens."

Here's this morning's report from The Times-Picayune.

Mosley just called this in from his hail-damaged SUV:

According to sources, Saints first-round draft pick Robert Meachem will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee Tuesday morning and will be out 3-4 weeks. Meachem missed practices Sunday and Monday.

Len Pasquarelli reports that the Broncos have indeed ordered up a Sam Adams.  

And in a story Hashmarks will continue to monitor, Saints rookie wide receiver Robert Meachem is having that knee checked out. Sean Payton told reporters he was aware of a minor meniscus problem when Meachem was drafted in April.

Meachem tore meniscus in his right knee and had to sit out his freshman season at Tennessee. Vols secondary coach Trooper Taylor said Meachem was a tireless worker, but he didn't do himself any favors by showing up overweight at his first minicamp with the Saints last month.

In his defense, Tulsa does have a highly underrated restaurant scene.

I have to break away for a little while to make some calls. I'll be back with you at some point.

And yes, it's a dark day for the Baylor family. You take a 5-3 lead into the ninth inning against TCU, and you don't expect to yield seven runs. Actually, the sad part is that we have come to expect this.

Bring back Sid Hudson. Sure, it took him like 45 minutes to visit the mound, but the man would've never let something like this happen. Is Sid still with us, by the way?

•  
  • Eric Mangini's stirring performance in last night's "Sopranos" episode has a lot of you guys talking.

  Robert T. writes: "First and foremost, great blog. As a Jets fan, I felt compelled to write you after your Sopranos post. I'm sure Goodell has mixed feelings, on one hand, with the violence policy as it is, to have Mangenious (as he was called on the show) show up. It wasn't the best possible situation. Yet with a show of this magnitude, it's very nice to have a nod to the NFL and adding a more local feel to the show (and it's noted that Gandolfini is a Huge JETS fan!)  As for HBO's new show, John from Cincy, I personally have no interest but will give it a two-week shot to see if it's worth my time.
  

  "Also, in regards to your other post about defensive players and underrated players, how could you guys forget Kerry Rhodes? 
  
  Here's a nice retrospective on one of the greatest television shows ever.
  
  (Photo: Craig Blankenhorn / HBO)

• If you can figure out how to close the Colorado pop-up ad, here's a great story on what happened to Kerry Wood's right arm.

• At least one columnist says to let Tony Romo be. Romo says all this talk about his celebrity getting in the way of his performance is much ado about nothing, and that he's even scaled back on his tee times this summer.

• Did you see who's headed to Denver?

• Saints first-round pick once again struggles during minicamp. If you're a Saints fan, there's a chilling line in here about how free-agent rookie Rhema McKnight of Notre Dame and 2006 practice squad member Dante Ridgeway outshined Robert Meachem before he took an afternoon off with an undisclosed injury. I have a call into Meachem right now to discuss these issues.