The more hungry vets the Giants bring in, the easier it will be to avoid the complacency a championship can bring. This might also be a good reason to keep Shockey. He definitely has something to prove and no one can say he's not competitive.
I can already see some complacency start to creep in. This team is very good, but it isn't so great that I would even say they are a lock for the playoffs. They really need to add hungry players to keep everyone focused and not let anyone think they are just going to cruise this year. Sammy Knght may be a good start, but he doesn't have the impact that - say - Junior Seau had on the Pats. There have been lots and lots of teams that went to and even won the Super Bowl and they are totally irrelevant a year or two later.
They're are also teams like the Patriots (except for when they missed the playoffs in 2002), Cowboys, and 49ers that have players that have won it all but want more than that. Their desire for glory and history outweighs any complacency that might have set in. Hungry veterans are also important, but I would like to see guys like Eli, Plaxico, and whoever else that comes back be motivated because they want to create their own dynasty.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real @ May 2 2008, 02:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They're are also teams like the Patriots (except for when they missed the playoffs in 2002), Cowboys, and 49ers that have players that have won it all but want more than that. Their desire for glory and history outweighs any complacency that might have set in. Hungry veterans are also important, but I would like to see guys like Eli, Plaxico, and whoever else that comes back be motivated because they want to create their own dynasty.</div> They might say that and they might honestly believe it, but it is so hard to accomplish something as remarkable as the Giants did last season and be able to put it 100% in the past. It's just mentally very difficult to do. What I am saying is having some very significant, hungry vets around who were not a part of that success can provide a constant mental reminder that this year's team hasn't accomplished anything.
What's most remarkable about the Giants Super Bowl win is that it comes where most of this team still hasn't reached its prime. Our core is still quite young and what I like most about Reese, is that he's bringing in these hungry vets to fill the gap and act as mentors while young draftees are groomed to take the position. He did it last year with Kawika Mitchell and Sam Madison, and it looks like he's doing the same this year with Sammy Knight, Danny Clark, and possibly Strahan.
