Reassessing the NFC East
The NFC East underwent significant changes the previous two days because of trades, with the Redskins obtaining defensive end Jason Taylor and the Giants getting rid of tight end Jeremy Shockey.
The moves might call into question the Giants' presumed status as the main challenger to the Cowboys in the division. Since their Super Bowl triumph, the Giants now have said their goodbyes to defensive end Michael Strahan, who retired, and Shockey, their once-dominant tight end.
It says here that neither departure will hurt the Giants all that much. They are well-stocked at defensive end with Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, who was shifted to outside linebacker last season so he could get on the field. The pass rush won't suffer.
Trading Shockey is addition by subtraction. Eli Manning became a championship quarterback last season with Kevin Boss, not the injured Shockey, in the lineup at tight end, and the Giants still have plenty of options on offense.
The Redskins got better by adding Taylor. The trade makes up for their offseason failure to bolster their defensive line and pass rush. But the Giants still will be formidable, and an already solid division has gotten that much better.
By Mark Maske |
July 22, 2008; 10:07 AM ET
| Category:
Giants
,
Redskins
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Posted by: Johnnie Futbol | July 22, 2008 11:29 AM
It is pretty short-sighted to think that Kevin Boss can replace Shockey based on 2 reg season games & the playoffs. Shockey can be a distraction, but I think the Giants made a mistake of not getting another TE earlier (either through draft or free agency) if they intended to trade him. Eli Manning was mr inconsistent his whole career. He strung together some good performances late last season when it counted, but it remains to be seen if he truly has taken that step up.
I think this is a move that people will point to when the Giants offense struggles this season.
Posted by: Allen | July 22, 2008 11:33 AM
I am a die hard redskins as are most in the D.C. area. I am very happy to see Shockey go he is an emotional player and a leader in the locker room it is going to really hurt the giants but make the saints oh so much better
Posted by: drkeller | July 22, 2008 12:41 PM
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The NFC East will be tough, and the Giants certainly look to be in good shape. That said, as a Redskins fan I'm quite glad Shockey has been subtracted from the Giants, whatever is being said about the Manning-Shockey match.