Though the party line from the defending Super Bowl champs has been that tight end Jeremy Shockey isn’t available, the rumors of a trade to the New Orleans Saints (with even guys like Jim Ross of WWE advancing the ball) have been rampant.

The New York media generally (with a couple of exceptions) has addressed this potential development only in connection with propagating the “we won’t trade him” vow.  But now there’s a report from Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News that makes the possible move seem a lot more likely that many previously realized or believed.

Vacchiano writes that Shockey “has told friends he would welcome a trade” to the Saints, and that Shockey “has been sounding off for more than a month” regarding frustrations with the Giants.  The frustrations, Vacchiano says, have been fueled by the rumors of a possible trade to the Saints.

From the team’s perspective, the basic position — “we’re not shopping Shockey” — remains intact.  But Vacchiano has uncovered some details that make us think that the Giants are pretending to intend to keep Shockey simply in order to maximize his value via trade.

“Anything can happen in personnel,” G.M. Jerry Reese told the media on Thursday.  “But right now, Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end and we’re looking forward for him to be back on the field for us this fall.”

Sure they are.  If by “looking forward” Reese means “dreading the very thought.”

Citing unnamed sources, Vacchiano reports that the Giants have been talking to two teams about a possible deal.  The Saints offered a second-rounder last month; we’ve previously heard from a very good source that the Giants wanted a second-round pick and safety Roman Harper.

And perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Vacchiano’s item is his assertion that members of the organization agree with the theory that Shockey’s late-season injury and absence made quarterback Eli Manning, and thus the team, even better.  That observation is the verbal equivalent of sticking a stubby thumb in Shockey’s eye, and it’s sure to make him only more vocal and/or demonstrative about wanting out.

For now, Shockey has said nothing publicly.  We’ve got a feeling that, very soon, we’ll all be hearing from Shockey, unless he has privately received a guarantee that he will be sent to a new team before the draft.