Real reason for TE Shockey to workout with Saints

The New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey has made it clear that he will spend most of the offseason with the team in preparation for the 2010 season. Although he did the same thing during last offseason, his first since leaving the New York Giants to put on Saints jersey, it’s still out of expectation that he would like to take part in voluntary offseason workout programs.

It is out of expectation because Shockey used to have a reputation of skipping offseason workout when he was playing with the New York Giants. Shockey playfully explained that he did not like practicing with the Giants because he hated the weather in New York, while the weather in New Orleans is good for practicing.

"You know, it's hard working out in New York when it's cold outside and you have to work indoors. It's great weather here, and I have no excuse not to be here,” Shockey told Triplett. "We work all the time. Today we worked on routes with Drew (Brees) and everything. So I'm here a lot of the time. And if I'm not here it's for a good reason."

However, weather is definitely not the real reason for Shockey to change his habit. At age of 30 and heading into his ninth NFL season, he needs to practice a lot so that he can keep in the best condition for real game. He needs to make sure that he will begin the new season in good health and tries best to avoid missing games again.

Saints TE Shockey plans to attend voluntary practice

Tight end Jeremy Shockey had a plan to take part in Saints voluntary workouts, in the aim to turn focus on him back to football. About 2 weeks ago, he was treated at a hospital for dehydration after being found unconscious at a pool party at a Las Vegas resort.

Shockey said he has not participated in voluntary practices in his previous seven NFL seasons and did not attend the first four of the team's voluntary offseason practices. But recently he planned to attend voluntary workouts so as to get better acquainted with quarterback Drew Brees and coach Sean Payton's offense.

"If you're halfway intelligent you can read what everybody wrote," Shockey said. "You know what they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. That's in the past. I'm looking forward to the future."

"I still haven't been here a year so I can mature a long way and tune up my game," he said. "The most important thing is to know Drew and know what we're trying to get accomplished and knowing each other's game. It's still a new offense for me. I'm going to treat it as a rookie like anyone else in this locker room that just got here."

So hopefully we will see more appearance of Shockey this coming season.