Shawn Andrews: I owe Reid, Philly
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Shawn Andrews: I owe Reid, Philly
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Since the Eagles put Shawn Andrews on injured reserve in the preseason, we haven't heard much from him, aside from his very active Twitter account.
But he opened up last week in a radio interview on the Sports Bash with Mike Gill on 97.3 ESPN.
Andrews said he's about four-and-a-half-weeks removed from back surgery. The next step is to get cleared for rehab. Once that happens, it will be (ideally) a six-month process, but he said he hopes to be ready for training camp.
Andrews talked at length about being motivated to pay back Andy Reid, who has stood by him the past couple of seasons.
"When I came out to LA after my back issue, I had to look coach Reid in the eye and tell him I owe him," Andrews said. "It’s bigger than football with me right now. If nothing else, I just wish that I could get just one more season just so I can pay coach Reid and just prove to the fans that I still have it, I still want to be a part of this organization. And for coach Reid sticking by me with my situation in 2008, and I definitely owe the city of Philadelphia so hopefully lord willing, I can get back to 100 percent and get to mashing people again."
Andrews added that things are going well, but he acknowledged that things were going well last year before his back flared up on the first day of training camp at Lehigh.
He was asked the question that is brought up constantly when Andrews' name is discussed: Does he want to play football?
"Well, see, that’s the thing," Andrews said. "The depression thing and everybody’s like ‘that’s a bunch of bull.’ Everybody has their thing. I think a lot of people are upset, and I guess rightfully so, but everybody has high points and low points in life, and everybody makes mistakes. And it just so happens at an unfortunate time that I went through my debacle, and I’m over that now. I have a new-found love and respect for the game. I’ll say 110 percent if there’s such a thing. I really look forward to getting back to football."
Here are some other notes from the interview:
On his love for music: "You have to have something to fall back on, and whenever my football career is over, I’m going to go to recording school and I will be a Grammy producer so it’s just one of the things I've been blessed with."
On Donovan McNabb: "If you look at Donovan’s track record, he’s obviously one of the best, if not the best, quarterback in Eagles history. And the guy is a leader. And he has this personality that if you’re not around him, you won’t get that feel. But he leads by example, and I think he should be with the Eagles for as long as he wants to play, or he’s able to play."
On watching the Eagles' playoff loss to the Cowboys: "It was so frustrating to know that that’s my unit. That’s the guys that I have worked hard with over the past few years whenever I’m healthy and whenever I’m there. And then just to see those guys struggle alone, not so much alone, but just without me being out there. If they struggle, I want to struggle with them."
depression is a disease,no different than any other,its real and its treatable,the back surgery was also very very real,give the man a break— soliteryman- "The best QB in Eagles history"? Now that's saying something. He's right up there with John Reaves, Pete Lisk, Roman Gabriel........— Luriesucks
- "Q: Do you want to play football? A: Well, see, that's the thing..." He's done. If it takes a paragraph to get to his passion for the game, he's done. Blame the back, blame the depression, blame his lack of heart, the cause doesn't matter, he's done. I wish him a full recovery as a person because as a football player, he's done.— Joe Funk
- Mark1npt: the last time I checked, he had the operations for HIM not us. He is the one with the fat bank account for playing a game. Not us. I like Shawn as a player and hope he comes back healthy, but he isn't doing it for us.— SecondToNone
- Mike Gill Should have gotten hired to do mornings for WIP.— ktdb05
- if he says he owes us then play the 2010 season for free...— mainstreet
- Cant wait to have him back. This dude is dominate. He just needs to be on the field. Get healthy my man!— jaydes
- If he's faking, he's really committed to faking... after all, he's actually had two back surgeries. So there's really two possibilities here: either this is a man who sufferred mentally and physically and is working to recover from that ~OR~ he wants to get paid to "do nothing" so badly that he's willing to put himself through more pain and risk by undergoing another painful and risky back surgery. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that all of his maladies are real. It doesn't mean that he really will ever want to or have the chance to play for the Eagles again... but either way, the guy has some real problems, and I hope he gets better. As others have said, even at 90% of full strength, this guy will be a monster. I hope to see him be that monster for the Eagles again. Stranger things have happened - see: Buckhalter, Correll (and his three knee surgeries).— knighn
- IF he comes into training camp 100% healthy, in shape and in the right state of mind I'll be 100% by him. He was a beast and I'll take a shot that he can be again.— Mike977
- I didn't even have to read the article without saying "yup"...— Philly Fan in Kuwait
- No way he even watched the Eagles/Dallas game. He was getting another pedicure at a Korean nail salon. Million $$$ body, ten cent head. Cut this loser today.— dragoon6
Comment removed.- The Shawn and Stacy Show has got to go... you defendas out there...keep dreaming...the only humans this kook will be pushing around will be the images in his mind. As for Stacy, baby bottle holding and diaper changing is done, please return the money and go away. Some people disgrace the eagles uniform.— nobodycares
- Comment removed.
- I agree it's all upside. But don't call him lazy and fat and all. If you saw him at camp he was stout and looked like he was in shape and ready to go. He was reported at 330. That's Shawn Andrews ready to roll. Hopefully he's ready to go again after rehab. I'll actually say a prayer that it happens. Get well Shawn.— Murrayman
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
