Sterling Shepard was just as pleased as every Giants fan watching the signings of Kenny Golladay, Kyle Rudolph and John Ross in March.
“Super excited about it,” Shepard told the Daily News Thursday afternoon. “This offense was in need of some more weapons, and I feel like we got that accomplished over the offseason.”
Shepard, 28, said he does not view first-round pick Kadarius Toney as competition for playing time in the slot or out wide.
“No. We’re different players,” Shepard said. “We needed weapons. That’s just another weapon added to the team and to the offense, and he also brings some value in the return game.”
So does Shepard think the 2021 Giants are a playoff team?
“I sure hope so,” he said. “But you gotta put in the work to get there. And we’re not [all] in the building yet, but will be soon. We gotta put in the work first.”
Shepard spoke to the News Thursday on behalf of Walgreens and Comic Relief U.S. to promote the Red Nose Day initiative, which raises money to combat child poverty.
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Now through May 31, customers can donate at Walgreens.com/RedNoseDay to unlock a special Digital Red Nose filter that can be shared on Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat using the tags @walgreens, #NosesOn and #myWalgreens.
“It’s super important for the kids, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Shepard said.
While Shepard supported a great cause, he also was able to dish insight on the offseasons of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, Shepard’s jersey number change, and the excitement of having fans back at MetLife Stadium.
Shepard was in Arizona in April for Giants player workouts organized by Jones. Shepard said Jones showed maturity and leadership in getting players together to bond and work on their timing in Jason Garrett’s offense, particularly significant with so many new faces at receiver.
“It just shows his leadership skills in getting everybody together and trying to get some of the timing down,” Shepard said. “That’s important for offense, especially receiver to QB. Good session. We had a great time out there getting to know each other and bonding with each other, as well. Just shows you [Jones’] maturity level in being able to set something like that up.”
Shepard still might have to put Jones, 23, in his place soon, though, too. The quarterback pranked Shepard earlier this spring by labeling the receiver’s Chipotle order “Little Man.”
Shepard made the mistake of posting the disrespect on Instagram. Now he has to return fire.
“I haven’t got him back yet,” Shepard said with a laugh. “I’m still trying to cook something up ‘cause it’s gotta be pretty good. I actually shouldn’t even have posted it on Instagram because everybody kinda ran with it. But yeah, it’s something he’s always saying, just playing a little joke. And that was actually the second day in a row, because I make him order me some Chipotle. That’s what he decided to do. But I’m gonna get him back, though.”
Meanwhile, there may be no one better qualified than Shepard to comment on the rehab progress of two of the league’s most exciting offensive stars: Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr.
Shepard is great friends with both and has seen them up close.
“They’ve been doing everything that the trainers have been having them do, and they look pretty good to me,” Shepard said. “But I’ll let them speak on their behalf on how they come back.”
Speaking on his own behalf, Shepard’s most significant off-field development this spring was changing his jersey number from No. 87 to No. 3.
With the NFL relaxing jersey number rules, Shepard was able to switch to the number he has worn most of his life in honor of his late father.
Derrick Shepard died in 1999 of a heart attack at age 35. He’d won a national title at Oklahoma and played five years in the NFL, including parts of three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
Sterling unforgettably caught a touchdown pass in his NFL debut at Dallas and dedicated it to his late dad.
“I’ve been number three my whole life. Always wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps after he passed when I was six years old,” Shepard said Thursday. “It’s something that was very important to me. That’s where he made his name at Oklahoma, wearing that No. 3 on his back. That had been a lifelong goal of mine, to get to Oklahoma. And Coach [Bob] Stoops always told me he was gonna save the number three for me.”
“So it holds a lot of significance to me,” Shepard added. “And I wore 87 in the NFL just because you weren’t able to use single digits and I tried to find some significance towards it. My dad wore 87 with my childhood favorite team in Dallas. And so yeah I picked that … [but] I’m happy to get back to No. 3.”
Shepard now can’t wait to help the Giants build a winner in 2021, excited for fans to return to MetLife Stadium to cheer them on.
“Super excited to have the fans, man,” Shepard said. “That’s where the energy comes from. The No. 1 thing that stands out to me from last year is it’s not so much in the game — I’m always really locked in, so I don’t really pay too much attention to the fans.
“But running out of the tunnel is one of my favorite things on gameday, having the fans yell pretty loud. So not having that was something I was missing. And I’m excited to get back to it.”