Year in Review: Shawn Andrews
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Year in Review: Shawn Andrews
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
On the day when veterans were supposed to arrive at Lehigh last summer, Shawn Andrews arrived in a white Range Rover.
He was sporting a cleaned-up mohawk and had a Macbook Pro in hand. He had traveled to other countries during the offseason and was learning new languages. He said he felt physically right and mentally right. Andrews had never been more excited about training camp, and getting a chance to play alongside his brother.
But the next day, Andrews was not on the field for the team's first full-squad workout. Andy Reid explained afterwards that Andrews' back tightened up during a run that morning.
He wouldn't practice again until Aug. 29 when Andrews started preparing for Week 1 against the Panthers. But the back issues surfaced again the week leading up to the game, and after the Eagles' win, the team placed him on injured reserve.
It's easy to forget that between 2005-2007, Andrews started 47 of 48 regular-season games, earning two Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro honor in 2006.
Now, after multiple back surgeries, and having not played an NFL game in two seasons, Andrews' future is very much in question. But he said in a radio interview last month that he owes Reid and the city of Philadelphia.
"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."
The first question for Andrews is: Will he be able to resolve his back issues and get back on the field?
If the answer to that question is yes, the next question becomes: Where does he fit in?
The Eagles signed Winston Justice to a contract extension after his strong performance at right tackle last season.
Would they try to move Andrews back to guard? That would seem like the most logical option. He'd likely be competing there with Nick Cole and his brother.
But that's way down the road. Andrews said he'll first have to go through a six-month rehab process, which would ideally put him in position to be ready for training camp.
We'll see once again at the end of July whether Andrews is on course to contribute, or whether his career is another step closer to being over.
You can become a fan of MTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
personally I am tired of his rhetoric, but on a certain level I would love to see him back at right guard, back in probowl shape. The eagles will give him one more shot. If he doesnt make it through training camp injury free, he's gone. The Eagles, fear if they cut him now, he'll have a chip on his shoulder and turn out to be 100% and come back to haunt them. It wouldn't hurt to have his brother and Nick Cole as backup guards. With the fear that either Winston or Jason go down, Sean could move to either tackle and his brother or nick could move to guard. Depth at O-Line would be nice. I just hope the Eagles address their Defensive needs in this draft. Trade Vick to the Rams for a 2nd or 3rd Rounder. Release Westbrooke, sign Willie Parker from the Steelers a veteran backup to Mccoy (Andy Reid type slashing back). Sign Peppers for a year or two. Draft a Safety, a lineback, a corner and a "big" interior dlineman. Then fill in the gaps at QB, RB, Oline and secondary with your later draft picks. if the Eagles get a pick or two for Vick they will have 8 or 9 of the first 100 draft picks. They can do a lot of damamge. Oh year, and please resign avant. Dude has hands of glue. You've got Will Witherspoon and Stewart Bradley as your middle and weak side backers...have open tryouts for strong. Omar, Moises, Gocong can fight it out. Fill in behind them...maybe sign Antonio Pierce as a vet backup to Stewart incase the knee isn't 100%?? Gotta beef up the middle or the boys will run all over them again.— jeff7195- Honestly, I kind of expected this recap to be about two or three sentences long. Props to Sheil for making something out of nothing. All joking aside, it'd be a huge boost if he could get back in shape and play guard now that Justice has revived himself a bit. That's a very good O-line with Andrews there, but the tandem of Jean-Giles and Cole weakens it significantly. Remember folks, this was a guy most considered the best right guard in all of football, and probably one of the top 3 in the game along with Hutchinson and Faneca.— moderndaymesh
- last chance— dmanns
Comment removed.- this "Biggie Small" wanna-be is a total fraud. The only thing he owes the eagles and Reid at this time is to just go away(and please take your brother with you)!— jwatson
- not every professional career goes according the the hollywood script...Andrews can be proud of his accomplishments and fans can be grateful. this year was purgatory if not hell...Jackson & Andrews were powerful cogs in the offensive line. Wish the kid well-even if its out of football.— Smashmouth
Fat Pansy! The only thing he will be mashing is food in his mouth.— ZOSO- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- The Eagles are in a bit of a rare position. They are set up to rebuild and have a young, talented nucleus. However, there are clear talent gaps as well. Even if they made wholesale changes (largely release of veterans with waning production), the team is still good enough for a decent season and a playoff slot. Front offices often call this "retooling" - advertising-speak for half-hearted personnel change. With that in mind, retooling can be successful if it accompanied by a change in attitude. This is my primary concern with Andrews - I don't believe his attitude will ever be gritty and bullying, which is demanded by the guard and tackle positions. The time of the "finesse" offensive lineman has really passed, and neither Andrews brother fits the bill of the smashmouth lineman.
- Really? face it - his heart is not in football - knows he's taken the Eagles for a ride and is feeling guilty - should be - time to hang em up and free up this roster spot for a producer- and can we get someone else besides Nick Cole?— Tom Man
- Just got my michael phelps on....yeah, yeah -not bob levy— remyy
- His potential outweighs the risk, it's a business decision. They've already paid him bonus money and yearly amounts, his cost is $2million a year, which is a ton of money to the rest of us, but in the NFL is enough to pay and keep him around SHOULD he get healthy again and return to pro bowl status. They had the depth on the oline to put him on IR, and see what he can do this year. That's why Shawn said he owes AR one, cause he knows the Eagles are giving him at least one more chance.— Bleue
- 335 lbs of twisted steel and sex appeal...— CitizenDick
he did have like 3 pro bowl seasons so if he recoevers and has a good year thats 4 out of 6....I do not think they make the playoffs either way due to the schedule. But he could def. help in 2011 and they could make a run then once all the new draft picks get PT...if even one of them works out its one less high draft pick they have to use on an o-lineman
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.
