So the New York Giants rid themselves of Jeremy Shockey. My question is: What took so long?

The club gained second- and fifth-round choices in next year's draft for Shockey, which is what they were considering before this year's draft. They didn't pull the trigger then, but they did Monday.

Shockey wasn't always good for Eli Manning's development. (Getty Images)

It's not that Shockey can't help them. He can, but not as the sulking tight end who was all but invisible at the team's June minicamp and who punctuated the session by reportedly chewing out general manager Jerry Reese.

He was a distraction. Worse, he was a disruption, and while I can abide by distractions I can't tolerate disruptions. Apparently, the New York Giants can't either.

Shockey had to go, and if there's a surprise it's only that it took the Giants this long to figure it out. I mean, three months earlier the Giants seemed this close to pulling the trigger, then backed off -- with a three-way deal involving Miami and New Orleans reportedly considered.

Since then, nothing changed except Shockey's attitude. It was worse, and if you don't believe me you weren't at the team's June minicamp. Shockey couldn't practice because he was recovering from leg and ankle injuries, and I understand that. But when coach Tom Coughlin was asked why Shockey wasn't on the field with other injured players he couldn't -- or wouldn't -- produce an answer.

"That's between Shockey and me," he said.

Two days later, it was no longer between Shockey and Coughlin. It was between Shockey and the Giants as the tight end reportedly aired out Reese.

It's one thing to be unhappy. It's another to show up the head coach. And when you start trashing the entire organization -- working your way up to the GM -- you can start packing your bags.

Maybe that's what Shockey intended all along. It's no secret he wasn't happy in an offense where he had become more of a blocker than a receiver. All I know is Shockey did a marvelous slash-and-burn on the people who matter, and he did it in such a way that the Giants had no choice but to get rid of him.

He didn't show up at the team's ring ceremony. He wasn't at the Giants' victory parade following Super Bowl XLII. He skipped the White House ceremony. In short, he was part of nothing that celebrated last season.

That doesn't sound like someone who wants to belong, and if there were lingering doubts Shockey made sure to erase them at minicamp.

I'd be stunned if the change of scenery didn't benefit Shockey. Not only is he reunited with former offensive coordinator Sean Payton, he's in an offense where the Saints throw an average of 40 passes a game. Some of those balls have to go in his direction.

But the change will benefit the Giants, too. Coughlin doesn't have to spend time answering questions about Shockey's absences or his dissatisfaction or his injuries or whatever the topic du jour is.

And Eli Manning doesn't have to watch Shockey flap his arms in disgust or listen to him complain about not getting the ball; some close to the organization believe he intimidated the young quarterback.

I don't know if he did or didn't. What I do know is the Giants won a Super Bowl without Shockey and that Manning seemed more comfortable and confident without him during his playoff run.

Sure, Shockey is talented. Yes, he's tough. And, yes, he's relentless, bullish and competitive.

But if that energy isn't channeled in the right direction -- and it wasn't lately -- Shockey becomes a problem somebody has to deal with. With the Giants, I always had the feeling nobody could handle the guy, and if that's true, then he had to go.

As I said, it's about time.