Sean Payton defends Jeremy Shockey via text message

Jeremy Shockey has a character witness in his corner for “Snitchgate,” but it might not be the best character witness in the world: suspended New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton.

Warren Sapp had earlier said on his Twitter account that Shockey, a former Saints tight end who played for the Carolina Panthers last season, was the one who blew the whistle to the NFL on the Saints’ bounty program. Shockey immediately denied the accusation via his Twitter page, and just a little while ago, offered up more proof.

It seems Shockey texted Payton to assure him he wasn’t the finger-pointer, and Payton texted him back that he had complete faith in him. The messages (and Shockey is quite the potty mouth):

Shockey: “Coach [terrible] to hear the news u know I love u and that ... is unfair! Sapp is saying I was the rat... u know me and u know this is media ..... “

Payton: “Shock your my guy and always will be!! I know you had nothing to do with that stuff sap said!! Hell, you were in the offensive mtgs with me!!! Love ya. Sean”

Of course, the flip side of this is that it is sort of sad that Shockey would have to deny he was a snitch. Whoever the snitch was, wasn’t informing the league of a program set up to purposely injure other players the right thing to do?
Whoever the snitch is, he should be praised, not made to feel he has to defend himself.

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Sean Payton defends Jeremy Shockey via text message