Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey expressed his frustration after the Giants lost to the Seahawks in Week 3.

Coughlin to start tight end despite recent blowup

Posted: Tuesday October 3, 2006 4:47PM; Updated: Tuesday October 3, 2006 5:42PM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey is not going to be benched for comments that the New York Giants were outcoached in a recent loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

After first refusing to answer the question, coach Tom Coughlin said on Tuesday that Shockey would start against the Washington Redskins this weekend if his sprained right ankle was OK.

"We'll see about his health and his condition," a miffed Coughlin said Tuesday after practice. "If he can go, he'll start."

Shockey hurt his ankle in the final preseason game, but he has appeared in the first three regular season games for the Giants (1-2). He got a chance to rest the ankle this past week with a bye, but there was some question about his status for Sunday's game because of his post-game comments after a 42-30 loss to Seattle on Sept. 24.

The volatile five-year veteran had a temper tantrum on the sidelines late in the game and he blew up in the locker room afterward, saying the coaching staff did not prepare the team for some things the Seahawks used.

Coughlin spoke to him the day after and Shockey apologized. At the time, Coughlin refused to say whether any disciplinary action was taken.

In the 2005 season, Coughlin benched receiver Plaxico Burress for the first quarter against San Diego for reporting late for a meeting during the week.

Coughlin refused to answer a question on Tuesday whether being late for a meeting deserved the same treatment as ripping the coaching staff after a brutal loss.

Shockey was not available for comment.

Running back Tiki Barber, who criticized Coughlin after a playoff loss to Carolina last season, was certain that Shockey would not be benched, even before the coach spoke.

"I don't think there were any tensions between Jeremy and the coach," Barber said. "I think Jeremy said some things that he probably regretted and that were not accurate, and it was done after it was done."

Burress was very savvy on the topic. He was benched in the second half of the Seattle game after back spasms led to a fumble and an interception on a bobbled pass.

He said that his back is fine and that he has put all his problems behind him, the ones from last year and this year.

"We're focused on winning football games and getting guys back on the field healthy," Burress said. "It's a sport where frustrations and tempers are going to flare every now and then. Some things should not be said or done. As adults we learn from them and keep going and just go out and answer all the criticism by going out and playing hard."

Barber said the recent controversy will not affect the team, which felt it was a Super Bowl contender coming out of training camp. He also understands the difference between Coughlin's decision to bench Burress and not Shockey.

"It's about responsibility," Barber said. "If you are not accountable for meetings and things of that nature, you shouldn't be granted the right to play. I think coach Coughlin follows that to a T."

Despite his injury, Shockey is tied for third on the team with 11 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Barber said that the bye came at the right time for the Giants, whose only win came when they rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Eagles in overtime.

"We are not playing good football so it was good to separate that first quarter of our season from what we need to do next, which is play big at home, beat a division rival and go 2-0 in our division," Barber said.

Burress agreed.

"We're not worried about what coach is going to do to anybody," he said. "We just need to go out and do our job and be accountable and don't blame other people, look ourselves in the mirror and be honest with ourselves."

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