HomeBoyzNetwork sits down with Shawn Andrews

fanofphilly from HomeBoyzNetwork had a great chance to interview Shawn Andrews and ask him some questions.  Shawn really is a class act guy that a lot of typical Philadelphia fans (you all know who you are) sterotyped him and threw him under the bus.  Hopefully this interview can shed some light to the people that actually cared about the player, the teammate and the man that Shawn Andrews is.

(HBN = HomeBoyzNetwork and SA = Shawn Andrews)

HBN = As a kid what did you want to be?
SA = As a kid I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be until my oldest bro (who was like a father figure) went into the army, & I said that’s what I wanted to do. My p.e. Teacher who was later my o-line coach in H.S. Talked me into to playing football.

HBN = Who was your favorite NFL player when you were a kid?
SA = I was a very hyper active kid. I grew up @ the Boys & Girls Club, but I can’t recall watching a pro football game until I was in jr. h.s.

HBN = What was your favorite NFL team as a child?
SA = I grew to like the Miami Dolphins only because of the dolphin on the helmets & their fun colors…

HBN = Who’s been the toughest player to line up against while in the NFL?
SA = There was actually a backup defensive lineman for the Seattle SeaHawks that gave me fits. I can’t recall his name…

HBN = Do you believe that the Eagles gave you a fair shot at getting back to health?
SA = I do believe the Eagles totally we’re fair in my situation. It did come as a shock somewhat as to the timing of my release, because they had decided to bring my bro. Back for another year & I thought I’d be there as well.

HBN = During your Eagles career who was the “VOICE” on and off the field on both sides of the ball?
SA = I have to say Brian Dawkins is that guy on & off the field. He is a very upstanding all around guy. I have so much respect for him I can’t even put it into words. He leads by example.

HBN = From a fan perspective it seems as though Andy Reid is player friendly – was that true for you?
SA = I can only speak about Coach Reid from my own perspective, & I grew to know coach off the field he is a very funny guy. Its too bad not everyone gets to see the type of person that he really is away from football. I have all kinds of respect for “Big Red”

HBN = What’s your honest take on the Eagles front office? Are they committed to winning at any cost or does cost play a serious handicap for winning the ultimate prize- the super bowl?
SA = 🙂 In my very best Drew Rosenhaus voice “Next Question”

HBN = What do you feel your value is right now as a NFL player? Are you Healthy enough to play?
SA = I have so much football left in me granted my back holds up. When healthy I have gained respect around the NFL. I am rehabbing @ max & should be ready before long.

HBN = If you could choose, who would you want to land with in the NFL?
SA = I wouldn’t mind playing for a team close to my home state. It really doesn’t matter to me. I just want to be healthy and kick some butt again.

HBN = When you publicly came forward and talked openly about depression, was that difficult?
SA = Dealing w/ depression was a very tough thing. I had know all along that something wasn’t right w/ me. I was a very angry rebellious person. I held in so many things from my past, & sure enough they came back to haunt me. I thought money would take away all of my problems, but that was so far from the truth. What makes it all worth it in the end (coming foreward w/ the depression) is the heart warming letters from people that tell me I helped them in such a major way. My often overused phrase is “Everything Happens for a Reason”

HBN = Which battle has been harder, depression or the series of injuries you have had to overcome?
SA = I would have to say the depression definately was by far the toughest thing I have ever had to deal w/ in my life. It has truely molded me into a much better person. The people that I have been able to help along the way is PRICELESS..

HBN = Did the Eagles sign your former Arkansas teammate JASON PETERS and your brother (Stacy Andrews) with you in mind?
SA = I believe 100 percent the Eagles signed my brother & Jason Peters because they felt as though they could contribute a great deal to the team. The Eagles are a football team not a daycare.

HBN = When the eagles signed your brother last off-season did that help motivate you to make a full return to football with the possibility of playing with him?
SA = When the Eagles signed my brother I couldn’t believe it. We had talked about the possibility of playing together for many years before that.. It was crazy seeing him in the locker room. It was like bro. Aren’t you supposed to be in Cincinnati. It was a great short lived experience, but as I always say everything happens for a reason.

HBN = Man I still dream about it, you and your brother on the same line.  Have you and your brother talked about this much?  If so what was discussed?
SA = I still think about the short time me and my brother spent together in Philadelphia. I am greatful for the opportunity to have been that close to living another dream. Me & Stacy have talked about it briefly, but we don’t elaborate on it too much. We share the same over used motto (see q & a # 11)

HBN = I know family is everything to you, how happy did this make your Mom feel, having both children going PRO?
SA = I don’t think it hit my mom right away when we we’re in Little Rock at out NFL draft party. It took a while to sink in for me. I can say we we’re all a bit overwhelmed. My mom is very proud of us for not just being members of the NFL, but for the way that we have held on to the values that she’s instilled in us growing up. I LOVE THAT WOMAN!!!!!!

HBN = How proud has it made you being able to enter the NFL earlier then expected to help fill not only your dreams but your mothers too?
SA = I am so fortunate for the opportunity to have made it to the NFL. I have so much respect for the game. There are so many young men who would love to be in my position, and though it may seem on the outside that I have taken the game for granted I would say that I am totally misunderstood. I know and respect where I come from which makes me appreciate even the little things in life.

HBN = How has your mother supported you personally throughout High School / College / and the NFL years?
SA = My mom has been there from day one. Coming from a single parent home wasn’t the easiest on her, & there is no amount of money that I can give (her) that would make up for the sentimental times that she has been there for me and my brothers. She made it happen off of about $300 dollars a week. My mom only had 3 boys, but it was like she was feeding 6 w/ the way me & Stacy used to run through food.

HBN = What has influenced both you and your brother to be successful into getting that shot into the NFL that other people can only dream about?
SA = A BIG infleuence on my life personally to make it in the NFL was dating back to growing up single parent home, but when the tub was falling in the kitchen floor was falling in, & the ceiling in our bedroom was falling in. When my mom would get her check on Thursdays I so wanted it to be more than what it was, but she made it work. That’s one of the few reasons I break a leg, or have gone through multiple back surgeries to prove my never say die attitude that she instilled in her sons.

HBN = Do you know anything about your brother’s recovery?  Does he feel he will be starting on the Eagles Line this year?
SA = The only thing I can say about my brother concerning injury/football is that he is set and ready for a very good year.

HBN = Has money affected the way you look at life or your Christianity?
SA = When I got my first big check I felt the need to purchase things to fill a void in my life eg. Rolls Royce, jewelry, big house. I never looked at having money as a tool to make me think that I can treat people any kind of way. I came from not much so I know what its like to want, & not have. I used to walk to school 3 miles w/ talking (busted up) shoes. I have never & will never forget what I come from. I spent a lot of time trying to be who I wasn’t. (It) takes to much energy. I like to think of myself as a seasoned country boy from lil ol’ Camden AR, who loves to laugh & make people laugh….

HBN = My dad’s a minister, and it seems like after games, people from both teams come together and pray – is that really true?  Would fans be surprised as to how many players are Religious?
SA = Not every team comes together to pray. Some guys may meet up @ the 50 yard line. I don’t think fans would/should be surpsrised as to how many guys are religious. I’m more of a lead by example type of dude & the only guy that comes to mind for me is B. Dawkins.

HBN = How long have you been a Christian?  During all these hardships the past 2-3 years has that strengthened your relationship with the man upstairs?
SA = I have been a christian in progress all of my life. My debacle (w/ depression) really brought me closer to the man upstairs. I had some very faith testing moments over the last few years, but it truely has drawn me closer. Nobody said it would be easy, but I know he didn’t bring me this far to leave me.

HBN = Any hints on who might land #73 this year?
SA = I have drawn interests from quite a few teams. I’m not jumping the gun because I would like to be as healthy as I possibly can be before I workout for teams. It all depends on my back. LORD willing I get my back, back on track the first team I visit will not let me leave. 🙂

HBN = What do you hope to do with life when your football career is over?
SA = When my football career is over I plan on a fun professional comedian gig, & if that doesn’t work out I would like to go to School of recording to become a sound engineer/producer (music). If that doesn’t work out I am going to assemble one of the baddest bands in the land around AR, or Travel the world & share the gift of music..

SA talking at the end = I know not in life you can’t please everyone, and we all make mistakes. I know as fans/people its so easy to make snap judgements when most of the media portrays a person in negative light. To sum it all up I would say that I am “Misunderstood” Philly One Love… Go Birds. Respect!!!!!!

Well guys I hope you all enjoyed this.  I want to again thank Shawn Andrews for taking the time to sit down and talk to us over here at HomeBoyzNetwork.  I know that we have made a friend over here and I’m sure that goes both ways.  Hopefully a lot of the Eagles fans and Shawn Andrews fans can soak this in and enjoy it.  Best of luck to you Shawn where-ever it is that you will be landing.  I speak for all fans when I say thanks for 3 amazing years and I wish there could of been more.
– fanofphilly