ALBANY, N.Y. -- When Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi had gone to the Coral Gables campus to watch the workout of the national champion's top prospects, it wasn't just the strength and speed and soft hands of Jeremy Shockey that inspired him. It was the way these Hurricanes turned to the tight end, the respect -- even reverence -- for the country boy out of Ada, Okla., who had come and gone like a plains twister out the University of Miami.

Sometimes, the shooting stars are the most unforgettable.

	Jeremy Shockey caught 40 passes last season for Miami (Fla.).

"There were five No. 1 picks on the field," Accorsi says, "and just 16 months on that campus, the most successful program in America over the past 20 years, and it was impressive that he had become a leader that fast. They don't accept you unless you're going to help them win a national championship."

The Giants wanted him so badly that Accorsi did something completely out of character for a staid, conservative franchise -- he made a draft-day move to No. 14 to get him. They would've been heartbroken to lose Shockey, a talent tight ends coach Mike Pope says "You don't get too many shots to work with," and of whom quarterback Kerry Collins marvels "His talent is off the charts … As good as anyone I've ever seen come along."

This organization is trying hard to ease the public face of his burden, but the understanding is clear. Shockey is needed to catch 80-90 passes per season, unclog space for receivers Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer and transform this fledging offense into something it hasn't been for so long: Dangerous.

After his Super Bowl glory of 2000, Collins had to run for his life a year ago with a collapsing offensive line and far too few weapons to throw the ball to. Shockey changes everything. This is the 21st century tight end, the 6-foot-5, 252 pound body, the 4.6-second 40-yard-dash speed, the incredible sense for finding the end zone, the ability to accelerate past linebackers into the open field. "The athleticism of this kid is beyond what people are used to seeing out of that position," Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College coach Dale Patterson said. "He's the new breed of tight end. This is not the old rumbling, stumbling John Mackey."

The Giants didn't so much take a tight end, Accorsi says, as they "drafted a weapon." Who would believed Shockey could come so far, so fast on the football field? Three years ago, he was barely recruited out of high school. Patterson remembers Division II coaches calling for Shockey, and this wasn't until they heard that Northeastern Oklahoma, a two-year school, had offered him a scholarship. Still, Shockey promised Patterson he had big-time talent and delivered it. Suddenly, his body started to develop and he began to make the most amazing, athletic plays on offense. It was just a matter of time until everyone wanted him.

Still, Shockey wanted to go to the biggest, baddest football powerhouse in the country, the University of Miami, and two seasons there had him climbing the charts as the most complete college tight end since Cal's Tony Gonzalez. After ending his brief holdout, Shockey reported to the Giants training camp this week to find Collins promising to expand his leadership, starting with the tutelage of Shockey. After playing a practical joke on him at the line of scrimmage in his first workout, Tuesday ended with the quarterback extending a hand and reminding Shockey that he is there for him.

For everything that's on the way for the rookie now, this quarterback lived it with the Carolina Panthers, letting the burden come closer to crushing him beyond professional recognition.

"I didn't know what was in store for me," Collins said. "I was just naïve in what it took to be a first-round pick. I hated all the photo shoots and stuff like that. I took it all personally. He has to know that he doesn't have the weight of the organization on his shoulders."

These are the right words, but deep down, everyone knows it just isn't the case. Ultimately, Shockey's talent insists the burden is on him. New York has waited a long time for a serious pass-catching playmaker on offense, and here comes this kid out of Ada, Okla., and college football's national championship at Miami and he sounds so sure he can make an immense, immediate difference.

When he finally made it to training camp in the late hours of Monday night, the Giants official responsible for meeting him and his town car driver couldn't be found at 4:30 a.m. So, Shockey tried to find a hotel room on the strip near the State University of New York at Albany campus, but everything was booked.

Finally, they parked at a truck stop near campus, watched the sunrise and waited until a coach called him at 7 a.m., desperately trying to find him. It was a complete folly. Accorsi and head coach Jim Fassel were livid over the confusion. But whatever the rudeness of the welcome for his late-night arrival to the Giants, everyone in the organization wants it understood: They have been waiting for Jeremy Shockey, waiting the longest time.

Adrian Wojnarowski is a columnist for The Record (Northern N.J.) and a regular contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPNWoj@aol.com.