Former New York Giants large receiver Sterling Shepard is again on the town. Not as a Large, thoughts you, however as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who’re right here to face the Giants on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
Shepard and the Giants parted methods this previous March after eight seasons. The previous 2016 second-round select of Oklahoma caught on with the Bucs on a one-year deal, which on the time was seen as a depth transfer.
However that ended rapidly because the 31-year-old Shepard was thrust into a bigger position after an damage to star wideout Chris Godwin and Mike Evans’ recurring hamstring points.
Shepard is absolutely conscious of what’s taking place along with his former group, particularly with quarterback Daniel Jones, who he performed 5 seasons with. Jones was first benched on Monday and ultimately launched on Friday.
“I really feel for him, man, as a result of I understand how laborious the dude works. I’ve seen it firsthand and the way nice of a dude he’s,” Shepard advised the New York Put up. “And he can play ball, man, he’s an excellent ballplayer. It’s simply unlucky that is the best way this enterprise goes generally. It’s good to you generally, however generally it goes the opposite method and you bought to navigate by that.”
Shepard additionally mentioned he felt the Giants have been “a few items away from being a very good group” after which was requested in regards to the tradition now that he’s been in one other group’s locker room.
“I believe there may very well be possibly somewhat bit of labor there,” he mentioned. “It’s simply completely different, in so many various methods and so many various ranges. When it goes all the way down to the small issues, what you are able to do within the constructing as a participant, the best way you’re in a position to talk and be hand-in-hand with the coaches, it’s simply loads of various things I kinda picked up on being there for therefore lengthy.
“Even all the way down to the coaching employees or the burden coaches and a number of the completely different stuff that we do right here, it’s a distinction. . . I’m not saying the best way that they do it’s dangerous as a result of it’s not. It’s simply completely different and I’ve gotten to see the opposite facet of it.”
Shepard was not re-signed by the Giants as a result of they needed to get youthful and extra dynamic at large receiver, therefore the additions of Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt.
Shepard didn’t see the sector a lot in his closing season with Huge Blue and commented on head coach Brian Daboll, who’s 8-19 over the previous two seasons.
“I don’t assume you go from being the Coach of the 12 months two years in the past to only being a man that may’t get the job completed,” Shepard mentioned. “I don’t consider that. I want him nothing however the most effective. I really feel like he could be a coach that may produce wins. He’s completed it earlier than and he did it early on so I don’t assume you simply go away from that.”
Whether or not or not Daboll could have that chance past 2024 stays to be seen.