He's not going to catch as many passes here. There's not a lot more to go around.
Actually, Brees threw to the TE quite often last year.
---Per NFL.com ---
Eric Johnson - 48 receptions
Billy Miller - 27 receptions
John Owens - 1 reception
That's 76 targets NOT including a handful of drops. While individualy it doesn't look like much, COLLECTIVELY the TE position had more receptions than anyone but Colston.
Now insert Shockey into that role... With his athletecism, toghness and competetive spirit (which is for some reason a "character issue") I could see close to 1,000 yards. He'd also make us more dangerous in the Red Zone, where we could use a little help.