Eagles release Shawn Andrews; could the Bengals be interested?

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 18, 2010 10:43 AM EDT in Analysis Comment 10 comments

On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Eagles released former Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews after "missing the better part of two seasons." ESPN 97.3 interviewed Andrews, who more or less expected to be released. He says that he "really stepped up" his " training in the last few weeks" and he's getting stronger. "I'm ready to go to whoever is ready to take me and kick some butt again," said Andrews.

The Philadelphia Daily News' Rich Hofmann wrote, in a headline calling Andrews "such a waste".

He was such a good player when his back was right, and his head was right. He was as good an athlete as they've ever had play the guard position. Andrews could have been a cornerstone for this team for a decade -- quirky, yes, but a cornerstone. But now he's gone.

This comes at a very interesting time. If, and that's a bigger if than a James Cameron movie, Andrews has his head on straight and if he's working back towards his old form, the Bengals very well could be interested. This is why John Thornton said that Bobbie Williams should go ahead and sign with the Bengals and get what he can.

There's been no report of any interest from the franchise as of this posting. But we know the Bengals. We tend to like those aging veterans who have hit a bump in the road and give them a little encouragement, a second opportunity, for a cost that would be much cheaper than retaining, say Bobbie Williams. As Thornton points out, Andrews is the brother of former Bengals lineman Stacy. Andrews is six years younger than Bobbie Williams.

It goes without question that Williams does bring other virtues that Andrews probably doesn't. Veteran presence that's been in Cincinnati since 2004. Lockerroom leadership. Knowledge of the system. Those things will (and probably have) weigh heavily on the team's decision to bring Williams back -- which they claim is their first priority.

Still, you can't really put it past the Bengals front office to at least perk up with eyes wide open and have those epic internal discussions, can you?

Your turn. Shawn Andrews. Yes or no?

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least you didnt poach all the links..

3/4 of an hour before..

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Mar 18, 2010 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Umm did you ever see his brother play? For god sakes, that would be the worst move ever. I am dumber for even reading this article

by hornsbykid on Mar 18, 2010 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

because stacey has something to do with shawn?

have you ever seen eli manning play? obviously that means peyton manning is marginal at best.

or for bengals fans, ron francis sucked, so james francis must not have been an integral part of the team.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Mar 18, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

HORNSBYKID...................................

what in the hell does he have to do with his brother…..Stacy was a good player before he blew out his knee. Cincinatti tried to sign Stacy even though he was still re-habbing his knee. Shawn is the better of the two and would be an upgrade over Mathis and Livings. Cincinatti might be able to get a pro bowl guard for a small amount of money. You will be suprised how lazy players get motivated once they are cut from their old team and realize their career is in jeopardy. Shawn can play every position on the o-line except center. Can you imagine Andrew lined up beside Big Whit on the left and Bobbie And Andre on the right. Carson Palmer is somewhere doing cartwheels just thinking about it. Andrews could also free up a draft pick for another need.

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Mar 18, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions