Andy Reid told reporters Wednesday that the signing of offensive tackle Winston Justice to a contract extension one day earlier “had nothing to do” with Shawn Andrews and his “situation.”
And Eagles general manager Tom Heckert had told reporters Tuesday that any discussion of Andrews’ future was “irrelevant right now.”
Excuse me, but does any of this pass the sniff test?
Of course it’s relevant. And while this transaction might not have everything to do with Andrews – Justice, against all odds, appears to have made himself into a starting-quality player – it has a lot to do with him. And will have a lot more to do with him, if he ever returns to the team.
But by engaging in some verbal gymnastics, the braintrust has tabled (for now) any discussion of Andrews, a player once viewed as a cornerstone, and now viewed as a question mark.
He is on injured reserve with back problems, and rehabbing in California. He has also battled depression in the recent past. And now Justice has inherited his spot at right tackle. If Andrews comes back next year, he is moving – either back to guard (where his brother Stacy was supposed to entrench himself this year) or out of town.
The only other possible outcome is retirement – at age 27. Shawn Andrews is not here to be a reserve. Not at a pricetag estimated to be $35 million through 2015.
But not only are the Birds now paying Justice starter’s money – his extension is reportedly worth at least $18 million over four years -- they committed $38.9 million to Stacy Andrews over six years in the offseason. (And they have gotten little return on that investment; he has struggled all season, while coming off knee surgery. The unheralded Nick Cole has emerged as a much better option at right guard.)
So at some point, something has got to give. At some point management will have to reveal its hand.
But that point has not yet arrived.
Comments