Sports - We'll miss you Shockey, but there's a new Boss in town

As the New York Giants practiced, I looked around the sidelines for No. 80, but he was nowhere to be found. No, Jeremy Shockey - a stalwart of this team since he was drafted in the first round in 2002 - was far away in New Orleans. Though I agreed it was time for Shock to move on, it was hard not miss his presence at camp.

My father is especially taking his departure very hard. Shockey has been his favorite player since that first season and he bought his jersey a few years back. He has even threatened to not watch the G-Men this season, though I think he will soon get over it if the Giants start the season winning.

Though no one can deny Shockey’s amazing talent on the gridiron, some of his antics grew old, especially when he questioned his quarterback and coaches every game if he wasn’t getting the ball.

Sadly for Shockey, he missed out on one of the all-time greatest playoff runs last year when he went down with an injury. Rookie Kevin Boss filled in admirably and showed ownership that Shockey was replaceable if he came into this summer with the same attitude. He did and he’s gone.

Look for Eli Manning to have a breakout season statistically, not because of Shockey’s departure, but due to a veteran offensive line that is as good as any in the National Football League, an improving running attack featuring Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, and a potentially lethal receving corp. with Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Steve Smith and Boss.

The latter might never be as good as Shockey, but he’s impressed many doubters so far at camp. I predict that trend continues as camp progresses.

Camp schedule: Aug. 1 (8:40 a.m., 6:10 p.m. sessions); Aug. 2 (no practice); Aug. 3 (8:40 a.m., 6:10 p.m.); Aug. 4 (2:40 p.m.); Aug. 5 (8:40a.m., 6:10 p.m.); Aug. 6 (10:30 a.m.); Aug. 7 (at Detroit Lions in preseason contest at 7 p.m.)