QuoteEagles' Andrews focused on losing ...
Weight, that is. Lineman lost a good friend to a heart attack at age 23.
By GEOFF MOSHER
The News Journal
05/16/2006
PHILADELPHIA -- Shawn Andrews knows his weight always is a hot topic around the Eagles' water cooler.
He proudly reports that he has dropped about 30 pounds from his hefty frame during the offseason. Down to 360 pounds, Andrews intends to lose more weight before training camp.
Not for contract incentives. Not because of Pro Bowl aspirations. Not to prepare for a potential move to right tackle down the road.
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For good health. For the family left behind last month when his childhood friend, "Willie," died from a heart attack. Willie was 23.
"First, it's my health. Then it's football," Andrews, the Eagles right guard, said Monday, the last day of the first minicamp. "I kind of have that perspective."
Willie and Shawn met in the third grade and had been tight ever since. They were kindred spirits, big guys with bigger appetites. But Willie didn't play pro football and didn't take care of himself.
Last month, in their hometown of Camden, Ark., they hung out one afternoon at a park. Willie went home and collapsed. Just like that, Willie was dead.
Andrews said the incident made him look closely at himself. Weight issues have followed him since the Eagles chose him 15th overall in 2004. He vowed to tackle weight gain, and for the last time.
"Football is great. It takes care of the family, it pays the bills, it is a dream of mine," he said. "But after that tragedy happened, it's not even worth going to McDonald's or eating a cheesesteak, which I used to love so much."
Andrews had grappled with dieting once. Medicine he took for polyps clogged 95 percent of his nasal passages during his senior year at Arkansas, causing him to balloon to nearly 400 pounds.
In a lost year, Andrews succumbed to temptations. He bulked up to about 385 pounds last season and often snuck into the sauna before morning weigh-ins in order to sweat off an extra five pounds.
He knew something had to give, before he did. Even before Willie's death, Andrews had decided to make a life change.
"I just had to step back and take a look at myself," he said. "I looked at film last year from the Oakland game, and we actually wore black uniforms. I watch it almost every other day. And I'm like, you know, black is supposed to make you look smaller, and I'm looking and that's not happening."
On the first day of minicamp, Andrews walked into the cafeteria and walked by his favorite foods -- "glossy pancakes and waffles up there, and sausage and the sweaty bacon."
He thought about Willie and the promises he made to himself and his family. He reached for orange juice, water and yogurt.
Teammates have noticed his new physique, and they marvel about his potential.
"It's rare when you see a guy that big, that strong who can move that fast," said center Jamaal Jackson, a former Delaware State standout. "I always knew if he really applied himself, which he did this off-season, then he's going to groom into the Pro Bowl guard he's expected to be."
Added Andrews: "I don't think it's just for 'What am I going to get on my next contract?' It's for the rest of my life. I don't want to die young because I'm too fat."
He doesn't want to go like Willie did.
Nobody "bulks up" to 385.
how long until this scare wears off?
lol @ sweaty bacon
Quote from: Sun_Mo on May 16, 2006, 08:27:06 AM
how long until this scare wears off?
dunno, but I swear I read an article about him losing weight before his friends death. Lets hope the death just reinforced something he was already on board with.
Quoteglossy pancakes and waffles up there, and sausage and the sweaty bacon.
:-D Sounds like how Spads would describe the breakfast buffet at WaffleHouse. All that's missing is a reference to the huge girth of the omelets & meaty, throbbing scrapple.
Quote from: Beermonkey on May 16, 2006, 10:07:27 AM
Quoteglossy pancakes and waffles up there, and sausage and the sweaty bacon.[/quote}
:-D Sounds like how Spads would describe the breakfast buffet at WaffleHouse. All that's missing is a reference to the huge girth of the omelets & meaty, throbbing scrapple.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Wafle House :drool
Waffle House has a buffet like you have teh awsum quoting skills, beermonkey.
Quote from: FFatPatt on May 16, 2006, 10:10:40 AM
Waffle House has a buffet like you have teh awsum quoting skills, beermonkey.
Waffle House has the cheeriest waitresses ever.
that is incredibly accurate.
:sly
They asked Jamaal Jackson for quotes for an article about losing weight?
QuoteQuoteI don't follow you? [quote}Quote from: FFatPatt on May 16, 2006, 10:10:40 AM
Waffle House has a buffet like you have teh awsum quoting skills, beermonkey.
QuoteQuoteWaffle Houses Quotedon't have buffets.
QuoteStrictly an ala carte
/menu place.
Andrews = Corey Simon Lite
Quote from: FFatPatt on May 16, 2006, 11:16:42 AM
QuoteQuoteWaffle Houses Quotedon't have buffets.
QuoteStrictly an ala carte
/menu place.
Aargh... my lack of knowledge about southern eateries has been exposed. :'(
Golden Corral is the place for a greasy and disgusting breakfast buffet.
greasy and disgusting
as far as im concerned they are mutually exclusive terms
Waffle House is greasy and hauntingly tasty. Golden Corral is greasy and not at all tasty.
Quote from: FFatPatt on May 16, 2006, 12:29:50 PM
Waffle House is greasy and hauntingly tasty.
Scrambled Cheese Eggs at Waffle House.... :drool
I never got the whole Waffle House kick. I ate there when I was drunk several times, and it was pretty zesty. I ate there a few times when I was sober and it was extremely zesty. This was while I was in the service and stationed in North Carolina. And, in my opinion, in the part of North Carolina I was in, everything was zesty. So maybe they can get a pass. Sarge can possibly back me up on this.
I like getting a waffle, scrambled eggs, and hash browns (smothered and covered - onions and cheese). Then, I put the eggs on the waffle, then the hash browns on the eggs... then pour syrup all over that sumbitch.
Don't knock it till you've tried it. Just talking about it makes me want to go to Waffle House immediately.
Quote from: FFatPatt on May 16, 2006, 12:36:09 PM
I like getting a waffle, scrambled eggs, and hash browns (smothered and covered - onions and cheese). Then, I put the eggs on the waffle, then the hash browns on the eggs... then pour syrup all over that sumbitch.
Don't knock it till you've tried it. Just talking about it makes me want to go to Waffle House immediately.
How many days does FF have with us? (http://www.makecountdowns.com/show.php?id=6162)
I've only actually done that twice in my life. I think making a habit of it would be a bad idea.
Without the onions and cheese I would bet it would be pretty enjoyable....and deadly. :poison
Quote from: FFatPatt on May 16, 2006, 11:16:42 AM
QuoteQuoteWaffle Houses Quotedon't have buffets.
QuoteStrictly an ala carte
/menu place.
I was in Columbia, SC last year & thought it was a Waffle House I was at, but it may have been a Shoney's. It was the only breakfast buffet that I ever saw that had fried chicken wings. It was also the same time that I was introduced to the warming comfort of biscuits & gravy. :drool
sawmill gravy is lights out good
Cracker Barrel is right across the street from my closest Waffle House.... about 4 miles away. :yay
I wonder if I gave Shawn Andrews the choice between the two... what would he choose?
Both. And he would pancake you if you didn't like it......then cover you in syrup and chow down.
hed eat the waffles and the motherfargin house
Best thread ever?
Quote from: Beermonkey on May 16, 2006, 12:53:36 PM
Quote from: FFatPatt on May 16, 2006, 11:16:42 AM
QuoteQuoteWaffle Houses Quotedon't have buffets.
QuoteStrictly an ala carte
/menu place.
I was in Columbia, SC last year & thought it was a Waffle House I was at, but it may have been a Shoney's. It was the only breakfast buffet that I ever saw that had fried chicken wings. It was also the same time that I was introduced to the warming comfort of biscuits & gravy. :drool
Shoney's was an excellent buffet.
I say was because all the Shoney's down here have closed. :'(