"Every syllable, word and sentence of the poignant theme Tom Coughlin presented yesterday as he arrived at Giants training camp made crystal clear that in order for this team to learn the lessons of its Super Bowl triumph, Jeremy Shockey had to go.

The former Giants tight end was shipped this week to New Orleans, not because he's no longer a viable player but because the franchise - from the front office to some in the coaching staff to many of his teammates - grew tired by his diva act.

Coughlin's message yesterday was simple and resounding - "Team over self is why we win" - and, asked if Shockey's inability to adhere to that mantra was a factor in the trade, he admitted, "I am sure at some point in time that was part of the consideration."

The departure of Michael Strahan from the title team already has been processed and plans are well under way to fill the void left on the field and in the locker room. Shockey's departure was far more abrupt.

"Everything we've done was with the impression that he's gonna be back," offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. "We all felt eventually it will work out, there would be a reconciliation and eventually get him into the fold."

That scenario increasingly became impossible and undesirable. "