NFL Game of the Week: Eli Returns Home While Shockey Looks for Payback

NY Giants 5-0 (Road: 3-0) 1:00pm ET

New Orleans 4-0 (Home: 2-0) TV: FOX 

In June 2008, a month before he was traded to the Saints, Jeremy Shockey told a group of young reporters (see interview below) that the Giants would be sorry if they ever had to face him.

"If the team trades me, I promise you I’m going to make them pay. If I ever get a chance to play against a team that trades me, it’s not going to be a pretty site."

New Orleans TE Jeremy Shockey will have the opportunity to face his old teammates for the first time in a battle of undefeated teams as the Saints host the Giants in the BetUS.com Game of the Week.

Shockey still has a chip on his shoulder from the way he felt the Giants treated him after he broke his leg late in the 2007 season. That year the Giants went on to win Super Bowl XLII and a large number of pundits said Shockey’s injury helped remove distractions and unite the team on their way to a phenomenal end to the season.

 "I did some things to help the organization, marketing-wise," Shockey says. "I know they made a lot of money off of jersey sales and the things I’ve done for them. Going to the Pro Bowl four out of six years is a very big accomplishment, and I was expecting a little more respect than I was receiving."

Shockey who was known his brash manner, hard nose style of play and for demanding passes from any quarterback has mellowed out somewhat in New Orleans.  He has two TDs so far this season but both were in the first week against Detroit and he has been mediocre at best since.

NFL Week 6 Game Odds:

NY Giants +3
New Orleans Saints -3
O /U 47

This week, Shockey isn’t the only story line in New Orleans as hometown kid QB Eli Manning returns to face his father’s former team for the first time in his career.

Eli’s father Archie was drafted in the 1971 by the New Orleans Saints with the 2nd overall pick. Archie played for the Saints for ten full seasons.

In 1972 he led the league in pass attempts and completions, and led the NFC in passing yards, though the team's record was only 2–11–1. In 1978, he was named the NFC Player of the Year by United Press International after leading the Saints to a 7–9 record. That same year, Archie was also named

All-NFC by both the UPI and The Sporting News.

Archie went on to play with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings but still calls New Orleans his home.  Both Peyton and Eli were born there.

Eli followed his father’s footsteps and played college football at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) after attending prep school at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans.

“It is always fun to go to your hometown and play a game, especially since I was a Saints fan growing up," Manning said. "I've seen many games in the Superdome. So, I am excited about the opportunity to go in there and get to play in the Superdome and expect a big game going against the Saints. They are playing extremely well this year, two undefeated teams; it should be a great atmosphere."

NFL BETTING TIP:  Eli is 6-1 in domes including the 2007 Super Bowl played in Arizona.