Shock value

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 25, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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JACKSON, Miss. — After six often turbulent seasons with the New York Giants, Jeremy Shockey is happy to be with the New Orleans Saints.

On Thursday, his new teammates were even happier to have him.

From Drew Brees, the first player to phone Shockey after he was acquired Monday in a trade with the Giants, to Reggie Bush to Marques Colston and Jonathan Vilma, the Saints welcomed the four-time Pro Bowl tight end with open arms during their first training camp practice at Millsaps College.

“I’m very happy to be a New Orleans Saint,” a smiling Shockey said. “Obviously, a lot of people didn’t see this coming. There was a lot of rumors. (General Manager) Mickey Loomis and (coach) Sean Payton wanted me more than the New York Giants.

“I want to thank Mickey and Sean for bringing me here and giving me the opportunity I have. I think New York got a fair package and hopefully New Orleans is going to have a really good package. It’s a very good situation.”

Minutes before Shockey met the media for the first time since the trade, Brees, Bush and Colston eagerly talked about what Shockey, who came to the Saints in exchange for second- and fifth-round draft picks in 2009, will bring to an offense that ranked first and fourth in the NFL in total yards the last two seasons.

“I think he’s going to be a huge addition,” said Colston, the Saints’ top receiver in 2007 with 98 catches for 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns. “He’ll definitely be another great weapon in our offense. Hopefully, he can come in and get acclimated and start making some plays.”

Bush said the 6-foot-5, 251-pound Shockey will be a help to the passing game and also to the running game as an extra blocker.

“Obviously, he’s a bigger tight end and he has an edge about him,” Bush said. “He definitely brings an attitude to our offense and to our team, and that’s something I feel will definitely help us.”

Brees said he wasn’t concerned about reports that Shockey has been animated with his quarterbacks, especially when the ball doesn’t come his way enough.

“I’m not (worried) at all,” Brees said. “Certainly, I think all competitive guys play with that passion and fire. I just look forward to the opportunity to working with this guy and get him involved in this offense and get us to the point where it’s like the relationship I had with (San Diego Chargers tight end) Antonio Gates.

“We had a lot of success together and I foresee a lot of the same thing happening with (Shockey).”

Vilma, a teammate of Shockey’s for two seasons in 2000 and 2001 at the University of Miami, said Shockey is often misunderstood.