So after Shawn Andrews didn’t show up for camp and didn’t offer any reason for his unexcused absence of more than 10 days, Andrews has spent much of the last three crowing about his supposed clinical depression.
Think about it. From July 24 through August 3, Andrews said nothing. Now, he’s suddenly talking to anyone who’ll listen about how being made fun of as a kid could be contributing to the emotional problems with which he’s now dealing.
A cynic might think that it was a hand-picked strategy for avoiding two-plus weeks of training camp, and that Andrews, though perhaps weird, isn’t depressed.
A.J. Daulerio of Deadspin tackles the issue head on, pointing out the evidence that could lead to a conclusion that Andrews isn’t cuckoo.
Here’s the kicker, as we see it: Andrews has yet to be evaluated by the Eagles’ doctors. If Andrews genuinely fears that the team physician’s treatment will involve telling Andrews to rub dirt on his bruised psyche, there are other ways to deal with the problem.
Hopefully, Andrews’ agent has retained counsel to advise Andrews of his rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act. If, of course, Andrews truly is suffering from depression, and isn’t merely using it as a way to avoid having to practice in the heat with his teammates.
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Florio,
Check the sales of Zoloft and Prozac in this country. Either millions of people are lying or depression is an American epidemic. I don’t think its fair for any “blogger” (all you are - videos leave something to be desired) to say someone is faking being “cuckoo”. You’ll get your readers claiming hes faking it, you’ll get people ‘hitting’ your site due to your (& deadspins) claims. In the end if it is all baseless and Andrews is indeed depressed I highly doubt you’ll have a cute quip of a retraction. You’ll move to the next rumor baseless or not. Good day.
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Wow, nice low blow there Florio. “Maybe he’s just faking it.”
Depression often doesn’t make sense. People have irrational fears and people change their mind in weird ways. That is part of the problem. The fact that he’s making strange decisions is perfectly consistent with the problem.
Yes it seems odd that one minute he’s quiet and the next minute he’s talking. Maybe he’s gotten medication? Maybe he’s been told this is the best way to deal with it? Maybe he simply is afraid of the Eagle’s decisions now, and thinks this is the best way to lessen the blow? Whatever he thinks, it doesn’t have to be logical. Depression is a disease that is not logical.
Give the guy a break and let him be. He’s already behind, and regardless of what the Eagles do, he’s going to have to make up ground to stay around. How about some more Favre coverage? Or is that so boring that you’ve decided to get into the mental health field now?
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Andrews is fat.
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Ah, the Vinny “The Chin” Gigante ploy….it all makes sense now. Who really knows…
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Fly 1-2-3:
Depression isn’t an epidemic, medicalization of everything down to your mood is. Zoloft and Prozac be damned, they are the problem, not the solution. Why is it we change the brain chemistry before we try to work through the actual issues causing the trama?
Learn to work through your problems … learning to laugh instead of cry takes a level of maturity this nation could use.
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I love the site, but I have a family member that suffers from depression, and I find this posting to be completely offensive. This is one time you should just accept something at face value and let it go.
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Not sure which story I’m more sick of.
Farve- The whiny millionaire.
Or Andrews- The whiny millionaire.
Probably Favre, but Andrews is catching up.
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Listening to him on the radio, he said he didn’t want to come to Philly to be evaluated because he wants to avoid the media circus and ‘out of his element’. He doesn’t want to be laughed at when heading in/out of the psych ward. The guy has no friends on the team, had to actually put in a request to the team to get Dawkins phone #, and anyone who knows him says he’s just different. If that’s not enough proof he’s not faking it, he keeps referring to himself in the 3rd person.
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
ShumaGorath = Tom Cruise
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August 6th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
No one is saying that he isn’t suffering depression, no one is bashing anyone who is suffering from that disease. It just seems kinda convienent for him that this comes out now, he comes back, he doesn’t get fined, everyone is happy….except he forgot to add the team in. NFL football players own their soul (although the NFL seems to try to contain that as well), but thier body belongs to the NFL after they accept that big signing bonus. If they don’t feel well they should talk to they’re coach. That’s what it’s about…
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
He’s “depressed” because he’s not getting paid!!!
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I love the guy, but I too think he’s faking. It’s pretty convenient that he “comes out”, after missing almost all of training camp. And, just in time to salvage his starting spot. If he was mentally ill, he wouldn’t be texting radio stations or doing interviews with multiple media outlets. The worst part is he’ll pull a Roger Clemens and deny it to the end.
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
has anybody told him it’s not his fault?
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
ShumaGorath (a.k.a. spokesperson for the Church of Scientology),
Clearly you are ignorant to the fact that depression is often caused by a chemical imbalance in the body and that no amount of positive thinking is going to change that. A depressed person could be handed a million dollars and they would still be depressed.
Sure, some people just have a miserable disposition and a laugh would do them some good. But people who are clinically depressed need more than just mind over matter.
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
There’s nothing wrong with Andrews that a night out on the town with the Vick boys wouldn’t cure.
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
This post was really obtuse. As the person above mentioned, his behavior is consistent with the diagnosis. Also, do you really think in a macho sport such as football, Andrews is going to use depression as “an excuse?” You should really retract that post and apologize to Andrews if you really advocate personal conduct as much as you claim to
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I don’t get it; are people bitter, insensitive, or just ignorant? Someone tried to say depression isn’t a disease, someone else just merely said he’s “fat”, someone said he needs to “suck it up”, and just about everyone else has decided he’s faking it.
Whatever the situation is, it isn’t any of our places to speculate about it. The only word you can take for this is Shawn’s, whether his word is truthful or not.
I do believe Shawn about the depression. He’s an emotional guy, and I watched the interview on Comcast SportsNet as it was happening, and it just didn’t sound like the Shawn I’ve heard before. He sounded empty.
At the same time, I do not believe they should waive his fines. While it may be true that people who are suffering from a disease like depression don’t think rationally, in any other business just deciding you’re not going to show up for two weeks will never fly. He was offered help from the Eagles, declined it, and chose to seek help on his own. I understand the reasoning behind his decision as he stated it, but it doesn’t make it permissible. I’m glad he’s getting his problems worked out, but there’s a course of action for this and he declined to follow it, and as a result that fine is his to pay up and I think he knows that.
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I completely believe his depression exists, and yes, it is a real medical condition that needs to be taken seriously. However, it is strange that in the Inquirer he basically said he wanted to be a person for people to look up to and realize that even seemingly invincible people can suffer from depression. But why couldn’t he say that two weeks ago?
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Florio, way to throw it all back into the Dark Ages. You know these cretins here are gonna take the ball and run with it, on your cue, even though I think your previous story showed you actually DO understand the devastation of depression.
Maybe you could address this in your next posting about Andrews and view it as a public service.
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August 6th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Many of us have called-in sick to our places of work when we just wanted to stay home - though, we weren’t sick. We needed time away.
I don’t think this is the case with Andrews. All opinions at this point are conjecture, but he showed his emotional fragility last preseason when he had a high-ankle sprain. He felt his career was over. He blew the whole situation out of proportion. He healed properly and had a great season.
I think he’s very fragile emotionally and hope he gets help. It can be treated. I had a dear friend who suddenly became very depressed and the cause was diagnosed as a Thyroid condition. He’s on meds now and as happy as he was beforehand.
Good luck to you Shawn!
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August 6th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Once again, Florio’s true colors as a closet Cowboys fan show up. JC Superstar… totally agree w/ you. This posting by Florio is completely uncalled for. Let’s see how many ridiculous reasons we can speculate and come up with for why Shawn Andrews hasn’t shown up to camp and hasn’t said a word to anybody. Great job on that one Florio. You got him to finally crack and speak up about what’s been going on. And now, it doesn’t add up… and you not sure if you believe his story? Hello McFly! Coach Reid handled the situation as well as anyone possibly could. “It’s personal. I have nothing to say on the subject.” Can we please show the “Big Kid” some respect and let him deal with his personal issues and the “private” hell he is going through… and at least take him at his word? I’m guessing that’s impossible for Florio though…. it’s always about the money!
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August 6th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Florio,
Good job on this one. As a public figure, the price of fame in the nfl, Andrews is in a position to be questioned by the general public. As such, when he says he is depressed, we believe him, but we question the evidence (or lack thereof) that he hasn’t presented about this subject. I find it convenient that he misses camp and then comes out layer. Of course, he probably is depressed but if he wants to end the questions he can have his doctor contact the Eagles and they will work through it. Instead he continues to be charged for not showing even though he has a legitimate medical reason.
As it is, I hope he gets help and they can step up and talk about his disease and we learn from it, BUT he needs to get things straight with his team so these stories stop surfacing about him ditching the team. I still believe that if he is faking it he will have lost all credibility and I would despise him for it.
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August 6th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I believe depression is real but I believed it is the most OVERUSED TERM EVER!
People do stupid things and they claim something was wrong most of the time. About 45% of prescribed depression patients actually have a degree of depression serious enough to warrant a prescription. Andrews not showing up to get checked out ALL OFFSEASON LONG is enough to make you wonder…I DON’T BLAME YA FLORIO!
I am an Eagles fan and a believer in medicine…however, I also believe Shawn Andrews is full of crap until he shows up and is looked at by team doctors.
Be a professional or get yourself some help with the help of the organization, Shawn…you are looking really bad right now.
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August 6th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
What is more baffling is this quote from the Phila Inquirer:
“Now that Coach Reid understands that I have stepped forward and I do have a problem and I’m trying to get it rectified, I think he’s more sensitive to what’s going on,” Andrews said. “I admitted that some of the rumors that have been out there actually were started by myself. Initially, he didn’t know what to think because I’m telling him one thing and he’s hearing all these other rumors. Coach Reid, he does have a heart, and I respect coach Reid and the organization.” http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20080806_Andrews__agent_says_Reid_has_been_supportive.html
Andrews was making up rumors about himself? Pulling stunts like this, coupled with the games he played about not addressing the issue which would have stopped the rumoring, plus all of a sudden he’s become a Chatty Kathy in the local media justs adds to the skepticism. The young ‘man’ does have issues alright.
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August 6th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Depressed or not, Andrews is a Top 5 guard in the NFL.
He can go out to gay bars wearing a pink tootoo for all I care, as long as he’s there laying lumber in Week 1 for Brian Westbrook.
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