Lots of words might come to mind when you think of Jeremy Shockey: thug, crybaby, and even choker. But lifesaver, trachea-clearer—those are new for Shockey.


When a Panther is called to duty, though, a Panther does his duty. Cindy Boren of the Washington Post explains:

When Ben Hartsock, like Shockey a tight end on the Carolina Panthers team, choked on a piece of pork tenderloin in the team's lunch room Monday, Shockey smacked it out of him. "He said to me a little while ago, ‘I really hope this doesn't get out, but if it does it's going to be a funny story,' " Mike McCartney, Hartsock's agent, told the National Football Post. Hartsock at first sought to dislodge the tenderloin by drinking water. When that didn't work, it became apparent to those around him that he couldn't breathe. "He started to go to the bathroom and I don't know if he collapsed, but he couldn't breathe," McCartney said. "Some new guy came and tried to give him the Heimlich [maneuver]. It didn't work. Then Shockey hit him in the back pretty hard and out came the meat. The Panthers told me it was really scary.


Now, having watched Ben Hartsock for a few years, it's not terribly surprising that he collapsed under minimal pressure. But Shockey endearing himself to his new teammates? This is very much news. Nevin Shapiro taught him well.

Jeremy Shockey saves life of choking teammate Ben Hartsock [WaPo]