Sidelined with injury during the Giants’ Super Bowl run in 2007, Jeremy Shockey finally reached the goal line, propelling his adopted team to its first Super Bowl win in franchise history.

The Saints trailed by one with 5:46 left on the clock Sunday when quarterback Drew Brees pitched the ball to the veteran tight end, the one whom he welcomed with open arms two years ago after a trade brought him to New Orleans.

“I know when I got traded, he gave me a book and wrote a special message in the book about the career that I’ve had with my former team and looking forward to [playing together],” said Shockey, a four-time Pro Bowl selection. “He went out of his way to basically tell me he wanted to help me out in my career, in the last stage of it.”

A successful two-point conversion and an interception return for a touchdown sealed the win, but it was Shockey’s 2-yard touchdown catch that clinched the lead. His teammates appreciated the significance.

When asked what he said to Shockey following the touchdown, running back Reggie Bush responded: “I said, ‘Man, you don’t even know what you’re a part of right now. God had a bigger plan for you a couple of years ago when you were sitting in the box when the New York Giants were playing in the Super Bowl, and here you are two years later catching a touchdown in the Super Bowl. That’s special, man.’”

“He’s a great teammate,” added wide receiver Devery Henderson. “Just to see a guy like that go out there and catch a touchdown in a big game like this, it means a lot to the team. We feed off that type of stuff.”

They also feed off his leadership and swagger – something his teammates feel was missing before the highly controversial, tattooed star became part of the picture.

“Shockey has brought so much to this team – he’s brought an attitude that we definitely needed on our offense,” Bush said. “We’ve been called a ‘finesse’ offense for a while and we needed a guy like Shockey to help bring that aggressiveness to our offense. He’s been nothing but special for us.”

Humbled by his team’s victory and the outpouring of support from teammates, Shockey said, “It’s gratifying to even be in the game playing, much less catch a pass for a touchdown. A lot of hard work has been put into this since I was in seventh grade. It’s something that you dream about playing in. It worked out for a reason. Everything worked out for a reason.

“I don’t just do this for the money or anything. I got metal in my leg. I’ve got broken bones. I’ve got ligaments that are torn. I do this for the love of the game. The passion I have for it –- it’s still there. I don’t play it for just being selfish. It’s a great feeling that I can definitely be a part of this.”

-- JENNA LAINE
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