Mystery Man - Wednesday, July 30, 2008
282 Views :: 2 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   It was great of Shawn Andrews to check in and let 950 ESPN know he was working his way to training camp, albeit at a glacial pace, and would be wearing midnight green as soon as he settled his personal business. That's huge, since the Eagles head into a vital season needing all hands on deck, especially the Big Kid, an offensive line stalwart.

   Since Andrews offered no concrete reasons for his being away, I thought it might be helpful to go over some of the possibilities, all the while hoping Andrews will be up at Lehigh cracking heads within a couple days.

   * He is still waiting for the cable guy to come and update his service. Comcast said someone would be there between 12-5, but you know how those things work out.

   * He hasn't gotten his car state inspected for June, and he can't get an immediate appointment. The last thing he wants to do is get pulled over on the turnpike for an expired sticker.

    * Andy Reid. Coaching shorts. 'Nuff said.

   * He's afraid he'll call Juqua Parker "Juqua Thomas" and doesn't want to insult him.

   * Andrews is so wrapped up in the Brett Favre drama that he can't pull himself away from ESPN's round-the-clock coverage of the Packer quarterback's saga.

   * He found out that his dorm roommate is Max Jean-Gilles and is afraid there won't be enough oxygen in the room to sustain two such massive life forms.

    * He dosn't want to miss a second of the Hall of Fame game and is afraid line coach Juan Castillo might call a meeting for Sunday night.

   * He's dissatisfied with a contract that will pay him "only" $2.85 million this year and wants to be paid like a big-time NFL Pro Bowl lineman. Perhaps he isn't creative enough -- like Plaxico Burress and Chad Johnson -- to concoct a phony-baloney injury that keeps him out of practice, allowing him to be at camp but still not play.

   Nah, it couldn't be that one, could it? Andrews wouldn't hold out, would he? Here's hoping everything is just fine, and we see him on the field real soon. Until then, anything is possible.