A FAMILY GUY
With new wife, child on the way, Giants’ Shepard growing up fast
I T ALREADY has been a special year for Sterling Shepard. He married supermodel Chanel Iman in an elaborate ceremony in March and the couple is expecting their first child, a daughter, on Aug. 19. Real life has arrived in earnest for the 25-year-old Giants wide receiver.
“Big steps in my life, that’s for sure,” Shepard told The Post on Thursday. “It’s difficult at times. You see some of your boys that are your age going out and doing some of the stuff you can’t do. But I think it’s a change for the better. I can’t wait to see my daughter and I love my wife, so I’m loving where I’m at right now.”
Shepard still has the baby face and boyish grin that reminds you he’s among the younger players in the NFL. It serves him well as an ambassador to the NFL’s apparel, accessories and home goods initiative centered on “This is How You Fan.”
Being a Giant always has it perks, but as Shepard begins his third training camp next week, he must become a mature voice of leadership amid a revamped offense that needs to jell as quickly as possible.
That might be a lot to ask of Shepard, who has played in just 27 games, totaling 124 receptions, 1,414 yards and 10 touchdowns. But if not Shepard, who? Odell Beckham Jr. is the best player on the team, and a leader on his own terms, but his emotions, especially during games, aren’t always under control. Soft-spoken tight end Evan Engram is entering his second season, while running back Saquon Barkley is just a rookie. Eli Manning can’t be the only one on offense to say what needs to be said when it needs to be said. It’s time for Shepard to do some of that, a role he began grooming for last season after Beckham and Brandon Marshall were lost for the season in early October.
“I felt like I handled it pretty good,” Shepard said. “I had a lot of guys looking up to me and I wasn’t used to being in that position especially that early in my career. With those guys going down I was forced to play that role and I think I did a good job with it. It was difficult to just be thrown in that situation.”
It was almost too easy his rookie year, when the second-round draft choice out of Oklahoma played in all 16 regular-season games and caught 65 passes for 683 yards and eight touchdowns. The Giants went to playoffs and seemed set for greatness.
But ankle injuries and migraines caused Shepard to miss four games during last year’s dreadful 3-13 campaign. If there was a silver lining it was this: After playing predominantly on the inside during the early part of his career, Shepard saw more time at the outside spots once Beckham and Marshall were gone.
“It’s a lot different playing on the inside than the outside,” Shepard said. “You have a lot more real estate on the inside and you have two ways to go. Outside, it’s a lot more confined space. I felt like I caught on to that toward the end of the season. I’m looking forward to playing outside this year and mastering my craft out there.”
Shepard will be helped by a healthy Beckham, whose broken ankle was fit enough in March to highstep into Shepard’s wedding reception. Beckham was a groomsman and didn’t hold back on the dance moves.
“The way he came in, I knew his ankle was right,” Shepard said. “We’ve been in [Los Angeles] training and I’ve gotten a chance to see him. He looks even better than what he looked before. It looks like he’s coming back stronger.”
Shepard is looking to have a strong season, too. With a wife, and baby on the way, there’s added motivation.
“The priority now is taking care of my family,” he said.
Welcome to the real world.