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No one around the Giants expects to see Jeremy Shockey much or at all until the June 11-13 mandatory veteran mini-camp and his working out in Miami is no longer the source of any legitimate controversy.

But whether Shockey returns for his seventh season with the Giants has been a point of conjecture ever since the Giants won the Super Bowl without him -- and the chatter has picked up in intensity this week.

"There's always rumors about everything," Eli Manning said when the team cranked up their off-season conditioning program on April 11.

While Manning wants Shockey back next season, New York Daily News staffer Ralph Vacchiano first suggested earlier this week the real question is whether Shockey wants to be back. Now, in an article published Saturday morning, Newark Star-Ledger beat writer Mike Garafolo takes things a step further.

In fact, Garafolo advised readers that Shockey made the first move toward a separation -- before last season's playoffs even began.

According to Garafolo, Shockey told the Giants in December he wanted a changed role in the offense or a trade to another team.

Citing an unnamed source close to the situation, Garafolo added that Shockey threatened to sit out the upcoming season if neither request was granted.

Apparently, Shockey feels his career is being cut short by all the blocking he has been asked to do since Tom Coughlin became coach of the Giants in 2004.

While blocking is an integral part of a tight end's job description, Shockey believes he was more effective as a receiver under former coach Jim Fassel and offensive coordinator Sean Payton, now the coach of the New Orleans Saints, who are interested in Shockey.

The Saints reportedly offered a second-round pick plus safety Roman Harper for Shockey last month, but the Giants wanted more.

It's worth noting that GM Jerry Reese left himself considerable wiggle room when asked about Shockey's status on Thursday.

Indeed, Reese said "everybody's tradable" and "anything can happen personnel-wise," even though he doesn't have any plans to trade Shockey at the moment.

Reese confirmed that he's had some conversations about the possibility, but insisted he's not actively shopping him.

"Right now, all I can say about Jeremy Shockey is he's our starting tight end," Reese added.

On Friday, Shockey's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, addressed the trade rumors during an appearance on ESPN's "NFL Live."

"In terms of Jeremy's feelings as relating to the Giants, that's something that we've communicated to the Giants and the ball's going to be in their court," Rosenhaus told host Trey Wingo, later adding: "We've had discussions with the Giants about Jeremy. I'll leave it at that.

"And you hear what Jerry Reese had to say. It's going to be up to the Giants to decide whether or not they want to trade Jeremy."

Or need him. ... Shockey on Dec. 16 fractured his left fibula and suffered ligament damage to his left ankle. And while he was mending from surgery, the Giants staged one of the most remarkable postseason runs in NFL history.

But the situation has been percolating for some time.

As Garafolo pointed out this morning, Shockey has complained about his role several times since Coughlin arrived. Late in the 2004 season he griped about being turned into "an average player" by the new coach's offense. This came three months after he complained about pre-snap motion, which made him "tired before I get to my final spot."

In addition to neutralizing his receiving ability, Shockey believes the number of injuries he has suffered over the past few years can be attributed to all the blocking he has done. He has battled several ankle sprains, including one that nearly sidelined him for the game against the Redskins in which he broke his leg.

Garafolo went on to remind readers that under Fassel and Payton, Shockey was used as more of a downfield threat.

In those two seasons, Shockey averaged 5.1 catches per game while averaging 12.1 and 11.1 yards per catch respectively. Those are the second- and third-highest averages of his six-year career.

In four seasons under Coughlin, Shockey has caught 4.2 passes per game and has averaged more than 11 yards per catch only once -- in 2005 when he had a career-high 13.7-yard average.

Adding to Garafolo's report, Vacchiano advised readers earlier this week there are rumors -- "lots and lots of them" -- that Shockey is unhappy and would welcome a trade. An unnamed friend confirmed the former first-round pick has been frustrated with his role in the offense, but also told Vacchiano that Shockey isn't happy with how it's been portrayed in New York that the Giants' Super Bowl run started when he got hurt.

Former Giants backup quarterback Tim Hasselbeck during Super Bowl week ripped Shockey, saying he was a major distraction to Manning (a claim Manning does not support).

Shockey is said to be worried that if the offense tanks upon his return this season, people will blame him.

And Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio suggested on Friday that Shockey's issues aren't limited to issues with his role and the perception created by the team's success while he was sidelined.

He might also be angling for a new contract.

Unfortunately -- at least for Shockey, he lacks the leverage necessary to force the Giants to redo his current contract or trade him.

Shockey is due to earn a reasonable $1.9 million in 2008, so the Giants can afford to keep him. That might change, however, in 2009. Shockey's base salary surpasses $3.5 million and reworking his contract might be of more interest to the team.

As for a trade, Shockey is 27, coming off a serious injury and has failed to make it through a full, 16-game season in his six-year career. Those facts are likely to keep trade offers low enough that the Giants won't be tempted -- despite his threat to sit out.

The Giants certainly don't look like they're preparing for a Shockey trade.

Someone familiar with the team's draft plans told Garafolo that tight end isn't one of the positions they're targeting next weekend. The team hasn't brought in any tight ends projected to go early in the draft and haven't made a play for any free agents at the position.

All that being the case (and assuming Shockey remains a Giant), the chances he'll be any happier with his role are slim indeed.

Last year's late-season development of Kevin Boss all but guarantees plenty of two-tight end alignments in '08. As New York Post staffer Paul Schwartz recently reminded readers, Boss gained valuable experience starting down the stretch and proved himself as a great downfield pass-catcher.

While he might not like doing it, Shockey has emerged as an excellent blocker; Boss also is developing in that area. At 6-6, Boss in some ways is hurt by his height in terms of his blocking but he gained nearly 20 pounds of muscle in his rookie year. With another full offseason in the weight room, he likely will be much improved in that area.

Still, both are capable enough receiving threats to give the Giants interesting options in the passing game.

And that, of course, is the last thing Shockey wants to hear. ...

So. ... Go ahead and put this story just below Chad Johnson's effort to talk his way out of Cincinnati on this year's list of stories we'll be discussing more than anybody wants to this offseason.

Buckle those chinstraps boys and girls; we're in for rough rides on both guys. ...

One last note here. ... Reese also said on Thursday that Shockey (broken leg), Plaxico Burress (ankle/knee/shoulder) and Derrick Ward (leg) are all on schedule with their rehabs and should be ready to participate when training camp opens in late July.