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Vick's woes mean Shockley's shot?

• Long before Michael Vick was indicted Tuesday for dogfighting, former Bulldog and Falcons backup QB D.J. Shockley has been waiting for his chance, and now he might get it.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — Now that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been indicted on dogfighting-related charges, the team’s quarterback situation is beyond uncertain.

Questions surround the team such as: What if the indictment affects Vick’s play on the field? How will the distraction affect the team as it prepares for training camp? And perhaps, most importantly, what will happen with the team if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspends him?

Meanwhile, while questions like those are being asked, former Georgia quarterback-turned Atlanta backup D.J. Shockley waits for his chance to play for the Falcons, just like he did with the Bulldogs.

That familiarity is not lost on Shockley.

“I know what to expect, how to carry myself while I’m waiting, ” Shockley said last month at Leonard Pope’s All-Star Weekend in Americus. “I work on what I need to do to get better, so when my time comes, I’m ready to play.”

At Georgia, Shockley waited behind David Greene, who led the Bulldogs to the 2002 Southeastern Conference title and 2003 conference championship game. In Shockley’s one year as the full-time starter, he led Georgia to the 2005 conference crown. In Atlanta, Vick has been the starter, and newly signed Joey Harrington likely will enter the season as the No. 2 backup. At the No. 3 position, Shockley could compete with former Baltimore starter Chris Redman.

Shockley has yet to play in a regular-season game with the Falcons, but he saw playing time last preseason. In the 2006 preseason, he was 17-of-26 passing for 186 yards and a touchdown, and had 62 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

He remembered his first time stepping onto the Georgia Dome turf as a Falcon.

“It was big,” Shockley recalled. “When I got in the game, the Bulldog fans were barking. It was a great feeling to do that in your hometown. I enjoyed it.”

After Shockley was asked last month if he thought about the possibility of seeing playing time because of Vick’s possible suspension, Shockley tried to stay positive.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” he said. “I don’t think about the negative part of what can happen.”

But there are negatives, like the fact that Vick will miss the opening of training camp in Flowery Branch because he has to appear on federal court that same day. Considering that the Falcons have a new coach, Bobby Petrino, and one of the team’s receivers, Brian Finneran, will miss yet another season because of his knee, the team might turn toward Harrington faster than anticipated.

Harrington, however, has had an inconsistent career, and that could force the coaches to turn to either Shockley or Redman.

If that happens, none of Shockley’s former Georgia teammates who are in the NFL are worried about how Shockley will perform on center stage.

“D.J. is a great guy, Shock was a great leader on and off the field,” said New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant, a senior at Georgia in 2001 while Shockley red-shirted, during Pope’s event. “He’s going to be a great quarterback, and when he gets his chance, it will be outstanding for him to be able to do what he has to do to be successful.”

Pope, now a tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, was Georgia’s leading receiver in 2005, making 39 catches for 541 yards and four touchdowns.

“Shock was a great guy,” Pope said at his benefit that helped raise money for Sumter Regional Hospital and the city of Americus after tornadoes landed there earlier this year. “He’s a teammate kind of guy. He always helped me, and was really a great quarterback.”

Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis, who played at Georgia through 2003, feels all Shockley needs is a chance.

“The guy is a tremendous athlete,” Davis said at Pope’s event. “When he gets an opportunity, whether it’s with Atlanta or with another team, I think he’ll make the most of it like he did at Georgia.”

Grant, however, does have a warning for Shockley if he gets to play.

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