Andrews Battling Depression, Plans Return Soon
Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews told the Daily News yesterday that he is absent from training camp because he has been battling depression, but he is getting treatment and hopes to get the OK to return to the team from a mental health professional in Arkansas after a Thursday appointment.
Andrews Battling Depression, Plans Return Soon
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Shawn Andrews says not to believe any of the salacious rumors about his absence from the Eagles. Don't even believe the more mundane "speculation that I just don't want to go to camp," Andrews said in a phone conversation with the Daily News from his home in Arkansas Monday afternoon.
"I'm willing to admit that I've been going through a very bad time with depression," the Eagles' two-time Pro Bowl right guard said. "I've finally decided to get professional help. It's not something that blossomed up overnight. I'm on medication, trying to get better."
Andrews didn't want to go into the origins of his depression, which he said began a little more than a year ago and steadily worsened. "I really was kind of at my end," he said. "I've really had a lot on my mind, really (been) contemplating a lot of things."
Anyone who has been through such struggles knows the symptoms he is dealing with -- a frantic, anxious feeling, inability to sleep or concentrate.
"In the state that I'm in, (had he reported), I would be at training camp physically, but mentally, I could have gotten myself hurt or gotten one of my teammates hurt," Andrews said. "But I have a meeting with my doc on Thursday, and hopefully, I'll be up that way on Friday."
Actually, if Andrews shows up on Friday there won't be anyone at camp to greet him -- the Eagles play their presesason opener that night in Pittsburgh. Saturday would probably be good for everyone.
Andrews confirmed that he is being fined more than $15,000 per day because his absence is unexcused. He praised the Eagles, though, for being understanding, despite Eagles coach Andy Reid's hints Monday that the longer Andrews stays out, the more danger there is of sub Max Jean-Gilles taking his job.
"Football is important, it's a means to an end, but my mental health, I feel like, is a lot more important," Andrews said. "That's a helluva lot of money ... Money's good, money's a necessity, but it's not everything. I can't put a price tag on my mental state."
Andrews and agent Rich Moran declined to speculate on whether they could make a case legally or through the players' association to have the fines rescinded. They said they just want to get Andrews squared away and back with the team, right now.
Andrews has been reading some of the comments fans have made online about his situation.
"I don't expect sympathy," he said. "I know there are harsh people in this world, but dang, that made me feel low. I do care what people think about me, to an extent."
Andrews, who said he has continued to work out and is in top shape, 335 pounds, said he has spoken with a few teammates. He said he hopes to speak with the team when he returns, "to stop some of the bleeding."
Andrews said he is "a fan of Max," and that "Max deserves what he works for."
Andrews said when he speaks to his teammates, "I just want to look 'em in the eye and let 'em all know -- this wasn't BS, this was for the mental health of me, I could have gone out there and gotten any one of you hurt" by not being focused.
Look for more on Andrews in Tuesday's Daily News.
Comment removed.
Get better soon, dude!— PuPuMan- Give him help, give him support, give him room, and excuse that absense. Let him keep that penalty money for a mental health MD.— tarik255
- Give him help, give him support, give him room, and excuse that absense. Let him keep that penalty money for a mental health MD.— tarik255
- You guys are a bunch of children. People with clinical depression commit suicide, harm others. Don't be so quick to judge lest you be judged.— JeffA
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Get better soon, Big Kid!— gho_matt- Comment removed.
- Hey, that stuff hits everyone, even the rich. Good luck, Shawn.— FMT
- Kudos to Les for getting the scoop. Good reporting. Wish that Jim Salisbury on the baseball beat would start stepping up his game.— shoeshineboy
- Shawn, there are so fans out here that care about the players, and would not be caught making stupid comments related to such a serious situation. Do what you have to do to get yourself better. Football isn't everything man!— lbelljazz
- Shawn is good people. Take your time big man, we need you 100% on the field.— Dave
- Good post Les. I had a feeling this is what was going on. There is unfortunately a callous contingent out there in the world that will make extremely insensitive comments and remarks like, "Oh sure, I am sooo depressed about my Million$" or "Grow up! Don't be such a Drama Queen". Truth be told, unless you walk in a man's shoes you will never know what he is experiencing or going through. Assuming all of this IS TRUE, Mr. Andrews is certainly saying all of the right things when he chooses not to complain about his fines, he thanks the Eagles for their understanding and acknowledges the very likely possibility he will lose his starting job as a result of his absence. As a former offnesive lineman, he is certainly right about the possibility of getting one of his teammates hurt if he wasn't mentally there. I lost multiple games in my career from "friendly fire" because a teammate didn't know what he was doing on a given play or he was just in outer space. Still, this whole thing spiraled much further than it needed to. The speculation has gotten so out of hand but I fault Andrews and his agent for that. I have a saying for this: "In a vacuum of information, speculation runs wild". People tend to be very understanding when they feel like they got an honest story. But the secrecy in this matter was so out of control that I must admit it has left me with at least a little bit of skepticism on my part. All in all, I wish Shawn the best and hope that he is back in the mental place he needs to be. Unfortunately there are many fans that care little about these guys as more than just football players who win games for MY football team so that I can feel good about MYSELF. But I also know there is a significant population of fans that actually do care and if you are reading this, i am thankful for you.— CV
- Depression is tough. Especially, when people so close to you die. It shows how money can't buy everything. Hope he's back in camp soon. He's already out of a quarter mil. People don't waste 15000 a day because they're lazy.— t_dmanns
- Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Shawn. Get better soon. Depression is no laughing matter. It's a serious illness, and it's great that you sought treatment. Listen to your doctor, do what you have to do, and come back ready to help lead us to a championship.— kingsolomonsmind
