Sterling Shepard celebrated his place in the Giants’ record book only to have it briefly taken away.
The third reception he needed Sunday to eclipse Jeremy Shockey for No. 5 in franchise history (372) was changed to a 6-yard carry in the official box score, so he had to sub back into the game late in the fourth quarter and add another catch that otherwise looks like a footnote in a 27-10 victory against the Eagles.
“It wasn’t easy, but my career hasn’t been easy,” Shepard said. “So, I didn’t expect it to be any other way, but it was a great feeling.”
An explosive route-runner when healthy and an accountable and popular teammate, Shepard’s eight-year career has been too often derailed by injuries.
He played sparingly in this final year under contract, after his previous two seasons were cut short by a torn Achilles and a torn ACL.
“I knew that this was probably going to be my last time being in this jersey,” Shepard said. “I just wanted to take it all in with my brothers and enjoy every moment of it, and that’s exactly what I did.”
Shepard was the last one out of the pregame tunnel when the offense was introduced.
When he first reached 372, teammates flapped their arms for fans to give him an ovation and they responded, with Shepard acknowledging the appreciation.
He was hugged on the sideline by offensive play-caller Mike Kafka and longtime teammate Saquon Barkley.
Shepard’s place on the team’s all-time list was announced over the public address system during a break in the action.
“He epitomizes what it means to be a Giant,” Barkley said. “That’s why you see him get the love that he gets from the fans, from us. Every single day the energy he brings in, no matter if we lose, win, I’ve got nothing but tremendous respect for that guy and I think I can speak for the whole locker room.”
Shepard was part of the Giants’ playoff run last season as the biggest hype man on the sidelines and “the heartbeat for our team,” as quarterback Tyrod Taylor put it, during his rehab.
It ingratiated him to head coach Brian Daboll, who repaid the favor by making sure that Shepard got his due in the final moments.
“Especially the love that Shep was able to get, that means a lot to us as players,” Barkley said. “We go out there, we put our life and body on the line every single time we step on that field.”
Shepard hasn’t announced his retirement, but his commitment to raising two daughters in the area is a complicating factor. The former second-round draft pick hopes fans remember him as a gamer.
“Whether I was hurt or out there on the field,” Shepard said, “I always gave it my all.”
Credit: Source link
