Posted: Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 10:49 AM | 71 comments |
 

The end for Andrews?
options
 

Nothing is certain when it comes to ballplayers and bad backs. Nothing is certain, either, with a football franchise that throws emotional haymakers on the hour, it seems. But you really have to wonder if this is it for Shawn Andrews.

The news that the Eagles have placed Andrews on injured reserve, ending his season, in order to make room on the roster for newly-arrived quarterback Jeff Garcia is nothing short of stunning. This is a team that is carrying seven wide receivers for some unknown reason, yet it gives up on Andrews for the 2009 season. It is just breathtaking.

When you think about the career Andrews should have had, you cannot help but shake your head at the misfortune, at the depression, at the back injury, at the rest of it. It is all tied together, this uniquely free-spirited player and this uniquely awful set of mishaps. But it leaves us here today, wondering.

Are the Eagles done with him? Has there been some new medical revelation? Has the fine play of Winston Justice in the first game of the season accelerated a move that was probably coming anyway? And what of the future?

No one knows. At the same time, none of us would be surprised, not now, if we never see Shawn Andrews in an Eagles jersey again. Football is the cruelest game that way. You have two choices in the NFL: get up or get out of the way, lest the whole gargantuan train run you over. Everybody who plays in the NFL learns very quickly that nobody stops the train -- and certainly not somebody with a bad back.

Again, his downfall has been stunning. And with the Eagles, in this season of tumult, we can only wonder what the news might be tomorrow.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 10:49 AM  Permalink | 71 comments
71
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:23 AM, 09/15/2009
    Looks to me as if the Eagles just reached their breaking point with this guy. It's like they are saying, "you don't know if and when you can play? ok, now you know". Shawn will take his millions and sit around on youtube and playing Madden. Hope he gets help, he really needs it.
    — mibrze
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:24 AM, 09/15/2009
    I think the Eagles gave this guy more than enough chances to correct his situation, but they obviously need to move on. I don't blame them for being secretive either; it's not like they gain anything by showing all their cards to other teams in the league.
    — Eaglez
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 AM, 09/15/2009
    Looks like the 1st round pick next year is an OT.
    — HandNik
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 AM, 09/15/2009
    Reid decided to do this during his film evaluation of the game. Message to the Big Kidder - Go get your Michael Phelps on with another team, Justice is our RT
    — Denali
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:31 AM, 09/15/2009
    I know what the issue is. It's a financial problem. He needs more money to pay for his Shrink. He will be gone next year. 6/13/2006: Signed a seven-year, $40 million contract. The deal included a $10.5 million signing bonus. 2009: $750,000, 2010: $2 million, 2011: $2.5 million, 2012: $2.75 million, 2013: $3.75 million, 2014: $5.25 million, 2015: Free Agent
    — Angel R.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:34 AM, 09/15/2009
    Rich, the tone of this article suggests that the Eagles have been callous and cruel to him. This is far from the case and it seems like you are trying to make the Eagles the "bad guy" in this situation. They have done all they can for him. They signed him to an extension early and he seemed to have no problem when he was jumping on his big bed. They brought in his brother. They handed him the starting job when he came back off of injury. The fans gave him a standing ovation when he broke his leg that first game against the Giants. This offseason he has been nothing but a mental case. For two straight seasons he has been a nightmare and he has even come out and said he does not like football all that much. Is an attention starved individual who wants to be babied. I'm sorry he brought this on himself and if he is injured, that's too bad but perception goes a long way and the perception he gives off is that he just doesn't care.
    — oharabri
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:34 AM, 09/15/2009
    I wish him the best in his future endeavors. I hope that his back and spirit heal. It is a shame that his career appears to be over, but he is fortuate to be financially secure and has many other blessings. Good luck SA.
    — TheJoker
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:41 AM, 09/15/2009
    I really don't think there is all that much of a problem with his back and that the issue is mostly psyhological based on his actions. He had the whole year to get his head straight when he was recovering from the injury and seems to have done little in that area except for paying some shrink to validate his feelings. If he doesn't like football all that much anymore, fine but right now he gets to sit around doing little of anything while still making a good deal of money. Guess he can now work on his music career.
    — dmac62
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:41 AM, 09/15/2009
    What have I learned from this off-season? Never buy an Eagles calendar again. The only player that is actually on the team is McNabb. I can't believe I had to look at LJ Smith for a month.
    — gho_matt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:41 AM, 09/15/2009
    Andrews needed to focus on football and he failed.
    — CommonSense4Philly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:42 AM, 09/15/2009
    His career is over. He does not seem to have the resolve to play any more. It is time for the Eagles to simply move on. He should simply retire and give us all a break.
    — Horlet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:45 AM, 09/15/2009
    Angel R. You are a moron, it has nothing to do with money
    — Phillywhiteguy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:45 AM, 09/15/2009
    This was a good move for all concerned. The Eagles organization now does not have to answer questions about Andrews. The fans no longer have to wonder whether Andrews will play. Andrews could pursue his rap career and no longer be concerned with football.
    — jimqk
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:48 AM, 09/15/2009
    Time to cut their losses and turn the page. You can't sit around and wait on people...not in football where most contracts are largely non-guaranteed. If he was a basketball player (a'la Tracy McGrady) then your stuck hoping his "back" gets right cuz that money is guaranteed. At least they did him nice and left him on the team to get paid this season versus cutting him outright, which they could've. Nobody's would sign him anyway until he proves that he can play or that he even "wants" to play. Too much risk and no reward for stealing millions 2yrs in a row now...time to go Shawn, C-Ya!
    — scrambler1093


71 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
View comments: 1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5
About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

Join on Facebook    Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here