Humble Beginnings for Jeremy Shockey!

Getting old in the NFL can be an eye-opening experience. One reason for the humbleness of age is the fact that turning 30 can be a sign of the end of days for a NFL veteran. First, your body breaks down like a 60 year old roofer ready for retirement. Second, your production sets like the sun on hot and humid day. The things you use to do seem harder now. Then last, your organization drafts your replacement, yes that young guy that can come in and do what you use to do. There is no new contract for you; you’re looking at the waver wire soon. We’re seeing a similar scenario play out for Saints Tight End Jeremy Shockey. Shockey is a 4 time pro bowler that has seen his glory days in the NFL since being named, Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the year after his 2002 season. The outspoken and colorful man from “The U” once captured the media’s attention with outlandish comments and boastful remarks. Today, Shockey has become a lot more humble; maybe because the veteran hasn’t started more than 12 games since joining the Saints in 2008. Shockey’s contract ends in 2011 and the chances of him remaining with the Saints may be fading like his career. He’s still a talented tight end but he is loosing leverage with all of the injuries the past few years. In the 2010 draft, the Saints drafted what many people are saying, is the next Antonio Gates in tight end from Miami, Jimmy Graham. We have seen the Saints jettison older players once their production suffered. Remember Deuce McAllister and Charles Grant? Remember Joe Horn? Those players were extremely popular with the fan base and yet the team was ready to move on without them once production suffered. The Saints behavior has become more Patriot-like since Payton took over some years ago. This is how great teams continue to be great. Replace the old and dying with the young and vibrant. The NFL is a young man’s league and Jeremy Shockey is in the midst of finding this out. His body is breaking down, his production is decreasing and the front office has drafted his replacement. The humbleness of age is setting in on a once raucous player. The signs are on the wall and history continues to repeat itself in the NFL. Jeremy Shockey is still talented, but only the fountain of youth will prevent these humble times he continues to see.

Odds Stacked against Bryant’s Resume.

Do you remember the very first job you took in your career? You probably struggled the first few months as your mind drowned in all of the pressure of living up to your resume. You were supposed to make an immediate impact, chances are you didn’t. You had to first learn how to perform on your job. Just like in your situation, it will be extremely hard for rookie Wide Receive Dez Bryant to live up to expectations. The Oklahoma State star missed a majority of his junior season due to the controversy concerning his relationship with former NFL player, Deion Sanders. This means by the time the NFL regular season starts in September; Dez Bryant will not have played a meaningful football game in almost a full calendar year. One has to be concerned about his overall football shape. Remember the video we seen of him bent over in rookie mini camp? Rookies in the NFL are already behind and the lack of playing time this past year will surely hurt Bryant.

The contract negotiations are another problem that can keep Bryant from meeting those high expectations. The upcoming uncapped year is preventing owners from signing rookies to the deals they’ve seen in the past. Many agents see a possible rookie salary cap coming down in the future and they want to ask for as much cash as possible. There is a good chance that Bryant will end up in camp late because of the situations concerning the next Collective Bargaining Agreement. The later a wide out comes into camp, the longer it takes for them to contribute. Braylon Edwards held out during his rookie season and struggled to crack the number 3 wide out slot the entire year.

Dez Bryant must go against history if he wants to be a top contributor for the Dallas Cowboys. Over the past five years, there have been 17 wide receivers taken in the 1st round of the draft. Only one receiver, 2007 1st round pick Dwayne Bowe of Kansas City, had more than 65 receptions. That year Bowe totaled 70 receptions and 5 touchdowns on the year. The 2009 draft class produced last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson was expected to be an absolute beast in his 2007 rookie season but only cranked out 48 receptions for 756 years and 4 touchdowns.

Most receivers have struggled historically in their first season in the league. They are no longer facing corners that will be bagging groceries at Kroger in a year or two. In the NFL, young receivers are facing the biggest, the fasters, and the strongest corners week in and week out. They have to learn that giving 85% will no longer guarantee you 100 yard games. Cowboys’ fans will have to realize that Dez Bryant must go through this learning curve as well. We want him to live up to his resume but like us; he has to learn how to perform on his job.