Eagles' Andrews lashes out

By John McMullen

Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The "Big Kid" took aim at everyone's favorite target over the weekend -- the media.

Eagles right tackle Shawn Andrews ripped the assembled reporters for questioning his ongoing back problems.

"A lot of you guys with the ink pens have questioned my mental toughness," Andrews said. "A lot of guys with ink pens who never put on a jock strap and never played any football don't really understand. I know a lot of people are trying to keep their jobs and do good for their paper, so I guess it's OK.

"It's tough when a guy can't defend himself. People just kind of make me out to be a nut case. It's all right. I'm content with myself and where God wants me to be."

For the uninitiated, Andrews was alluding to his well-documented battle with depression, a serious problems for many Americans that remains stigmatized by the general public.

Funny thing is, his "situation" is rarely mentioned by the print or electronic media. In fact, the notoriously tough Philly press has handled "The Big Kid" with kid gloves.

Behind the scenes, rumors have swirled about Andrews for two years, rumors that are far more salacious than any battle with depression. They have nothing to do with football, however, so they have been off limits here and will continue to be.

Sure, talk radio people speculate all the time and question whether Andrews' continued absence from practice is a direct result of his personal problems but that's the nature of the medium and not who Andrews was lambasting.

Andrews' coach, Andy Reid, could always shoot that kind of stuff down in seconds with a substantive explanation of the injury but refuses to do so.

Asked point blank if he thought his back injury was being linked to his depression, Andrews was clear.

"That's what everybody is making it out to be," Andrews said. "I'm really over it and all the outside pressures, I don't feel it because I'm content and I know that I'm doing and have done everything in my power to get back. It's the world we live in.

"It's really funny how people sit back and criticize when they can't even hold one of my shoes, size 17 shoes. It's OK. I'm at peace with myself. For the record, Shawn Andrews is not crazy. Shawn Andrews is mentally strong now and Shawn Andrews is helping other people with their depression."

For what it's worth my thesis on Andrews was, like many star veterans, he hates training camp and feels he doesn't need it. In fact, when Andrews went down during a conditioning drill on the first day of camp, I wrote "don't worry about it unless the team returns to the NovaCare Complex and he is still not on the practice field."

Well, they are back and the All-Pro still isn't ready.

Andrews made no predictions for when he might return to practice, but did declare that he'll "kick butt" when he gets back on the field.

So, should you be worried?

If you are a fan, I guess you have to be.

Let's face it, the Eagles brought in the guy's brother and his college roommate to make things easier for him. It's not like Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters aren't legitimate NFL players but teams rarely bend over backwards to bring in guys that have a rapport with a player, even a star player.

The Eagles themselves don't seem to think all that highly of Andrews' mental makeup so why should we?

I guess it's just easier to blame the messenger.

-You can reach John McMullen at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com