Posted on 08/10/2003 1:54:43 AM PDT by swilhelm73
ALBANY, N.Y. - Most of the New York Giants' offense failed Thursday night to pick up where it left off last season, but tight end Jeremy Shockey continues to show he has not skipped a beat - at least with his mouth.
Minutes after the Giants' 26-6 flop against the Patriots in their preseason opener, the second-year tight end again found himself discussing inflammatory comments attributed to him in a magazine article.
This time it was New York magazine, which quotes Shockey calling new Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells a "homo." After the game, Shockey denied using the word, a slur against homosexuals, saying: "It's something that obviously I didn't say."
Shockey told team officials, however, it is possible he said the word in repeating what friends of his have said about Parcells, and that the reporter misunderstood him. The magazine stands by the story.
Neither Parcells nor Shockey was available for comment Friday. The Giants and Cowboys meet Sept. 15 at Giants Stadium.
"Let's see how much Parcells wins this year," Shockey was quoted as saying. "I'll make him pay when we play them. The homo."
Part of Shockey's problem is that in casual conversation, he often utters throwaway lines intended to be funny. Chris Smith, author of the New York magazine story, said in an interview on ESPN that Shockey used the word "homo" not as an offensive remark about gays but rather in place of a word such as "idiot."
Shockey did not deny other remarks ridiculing Parcells' on-again, off-again coaching career, anger apparently fueled by Parcells saying on ESPN last September that Shockey's level of hype exceeded his level of accomplishment.
"Parcells is not my kind of guy," Shockey said. "He says he quits, then he wants to come back and coach. Do something! Stay in commentary or stay in football or get the hell out of everyone's life."
Coach Jim Fassel, who said he will not tolerate slurs against any group, said he was "not happy" about the comments and planned to have a long talk with Shockey.
"We need to shave off the rough edges," Fassel said.
Shockey's words landed him in hot water regularly in his rookie season, including when he disparaged homosexuals on Howard Stern's radio show. He later apologized. He has continued to make waves in a series of interviews conducted in the spring and published in recent weeks, including ones in GQ, Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine and now New York.
He told ESPN's magazine that he "wanted to kill" the Cowboys for not drafting him last year, adding of Parcells' boss, "Jerry Jones, I wanted to run him over and step on his face.' He also told stories about staying up late and drinking heavily, then punishing himself by working out strenuously.
There is more to come. He discusses sexual fantasies in the September issue of Maxim magazine. One of his milder comments: "If you're hot . . . and you want to get with me on the road, just send your letters to Maxim or the Giants . . . with a picture.' "
When will the Ditzy Chick defenders show up for this guy? Or is he going to get a Rocker special from the press?
Don't expect the "Free Speech" crowd to champion Shockey. He didn't say anything bad about the President.
That said, I'm not exactly wild about Shockey's conduct on the playing field, so I hold little sympathy for him. If memory serves, it was his antics that cost the Giants a sure victory in the playoffs last year.
-Jay
Likely story. Way to take responsibility, Jeremy.
Parcells, of course, isn't a homo, and the Rocker comparison isn't an accurate one. JR was telling the truth about what he observed on the NYC subways. The truth hurt, and people - mostly leftists - freaked. Shockey, otoh, is just shooting off his mouth without thinking. He's a young punk who hasn't done sh/t in this league and he's calling one of the greatest coaches of all time (and a hetero) a homo? He's like a 7 year old kid who just learned the word and uses it inappropriately.
During the Pats Super Bowl season of 1996, Parcells spent the playoffs negotiating a deal with the New York Jets for the next season. His mind was just not with finishing the current season. As a result, the Patriots went into the Super Bowl with Green Bay unprepared and got blown out. Parcells didn't care however. After the game, he abandoned the team and flew to New York to wrap up the deal. I'm only surprised the goofball didn't sneak out at halftime.
BTW, Parcells never won a Super Bowl without Bill Belicheck running his defense. Belicheck is now coach of the Patriots and guess what, they now have a Super Bowl title to show for it.
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You can bet the "Rocker special" is coming down the tracks, because, like John Rocker, Shockey is a white guy from a "red state." Guys like this have to keep their mouths shut. On the other hand, Charles Barkley, Shaq, Alan Iverson, Randy Moss, etc......................
No, but according to friends who have met him socially, he is an a$$hole.
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