Fujita defends Shockey

Saints linebacker Scott Fujita is never one to hold his tongue. So Fujita's emphatic support of tight end Jeremy Shockey is pretty telling.

"He's great, and I know he's struggling right now because he's been injured and that's frustrating for him, you know because in terms of numbers and things like that this is probably shaping up to be one of his worst seasons overall," Fujita said Monday on The Monty Show on Sporting News Radio. "But it's also been a tough year for him injury-wise, you know coming back from that broken leg last year and then with the sports hernia and now with the sprained ankle, so it's got to be frustrating for him.

"I know he's a big play maker kind of guy and he wants to make plays, so it's just been frustrating. but in terms of the stuff about him being a distraction, that's all just a bunch of crap. I mean he and Drew (Brees) get along fine, they're both explosive types of personalities, they're both really competitive and any kind of altercation or run in on the sideline is just about them being competitive and trying to make plays. So I don't expect any problems from Shockey, I just think we need to get him healthy and making the plays he's used to making."

Last week, a report on profootballtalk.com said some members of the Saints organization hate Shockey and are fed up with him. Fox's Jay Glazer also reported Saints coach Sean Payton met with Shockey to basically tell the tight end to shape up.

I think Shockey is starting to get it in New Orleans and his best performances are in front of him.