Hurt knee or not, Shockey intends to play

BY BRETT MARTEL
AP SPORTS WRITER
METAIRIE, La. -- Jeremy Shockey is headed back to Miami, where the flamboyant tattooed bachelor with long blond locks is no stranger to the South Beach social scene.

The New Orleans Saints' star tight end doesn't sound like he's in any mood to party just yet though. For the second time in three seasons, his team is in the Super Bowl, and this time he expects to play.

"We just have to be smart in every aspect (and avoid) guys going out, doing stupid stuff, getting in trouble," said Shockey, who made news last offseason by passing out, dehydrated, at a pool-side party in Las Vegas. "A lot of people put a lot of hours, time in, injuries and so on ... so I think everyone is mature enough in this locker room to know how much is at stake."

Although Shockey is still dealing with right knee soreness that has limited him in New Orleans' two playoff games - and kept him out of Thursday's practice - the Saints hope to have him on the field. Including playoffs, New Orleans is 15-0 when Shockey plays, 0-3 when he doesn't.

With four catches for 45 yards and a TD in two playoff games, Shockey sounds confident he will play in the Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts - and play better.

"The last two games you guys have seen me play, it wasn't really me," Shockey said Thursday. "I was out there on one leg. It felt like being on a pogo stick. This week I'll have two pogo sticks instead of one."

Earlier this week, Shockey flew to Birmingham, Ala., to get a second opinion from noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews on what coach Sean Payton described as "more of a bruise."

Payton and Shockey said the examination left them encouraged.

"There's no holding the reins back," Shockey said. "I'll do everything I can, even it that requires hurting myself, to win the game because you got a lot of time to rehab and things of that nature to get right in the offseason."

Shockey, who starred in college at Miami and has made south Miami Beach his home, watched from a suite two seasons ago as his New York Giants won the Super Bowl.

The four-time Pro Bowler had missed the last month of the 2007 regular season and all of the Giants' climactic playoff run with a broken left leg. He said later that he felt alienated from the organization during the playoffs. He did not travel with the team to the Super Bowl, or stay in the team hotel, or watch from the sideline as most injured teammates would.

Shockey then worked out on his own in Miami instead of attending the Giants' voluntary workouts, hoping for a trade that eventually came when he was shipped to New Orleans days before 2008 training camp.

He still got a Giants championship ring, which he sent to his mother. He said he'd do the same even if he won another ring with New Orleans.

"I don't wear rings," he said, smiling playfully as he held up his left hand. "I'm not married - not married at all."

Shockey was bitter about the way his time in New York ended, but maintains he was delighted to see Eli Manning lead the Giants' to a dramatic victory that ended New England's bid for a perfect season.

"It was a great feeling watching my teammates have success and enjoy it and deserve what they got," Shockey said. "They deserved that championship, Eli and all those guys."

Shockey wanted to come to New Orleans, where he could be reunited with Payton, who was the Giants' offensive coordinator for Shockey's rookie year in New York. That season, Shockey set what are still career highs for catches (74) and yards (894).