A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

THE BIG KID: We now know why Eagles two-time Pro Bowl right guard Shawn Andrews has been absent from training camp -- he's battling depression. It's my hope that the team consider this illness like any physical injury Andrews might suffer, and treat his absence from camp as excused and rescind all the fines assessed to date. It takes a lot of courage in the macho universe of football for Andrews to admit this, and I certainly hope he is given the time to make a full recovery. The sports world doesn't need another Dimitrius Underwood. Says Andrews:

"After finally deciding to get professional help, I felt like maybe talking about my situation could be a blessing to someone else going through the same things," Andrews said today from his home in Arkansas. "Regardless of whether you're a celebrity or you play for the Philadelphia Eagles and you're in the limelight, you still go through problems."

"When I got into the [NFL], I wanted to be man enough to admit that, but I tried to use material things to say who I was. I know now that some of the happiest times in my life were when I didn't have a pot to piss in. I'm hoping this is just part of my growing process."

Andrews said he is scheduled to see a psychiatrist Thursday in Philadelphia and that he recently started taking medication for his depression. He admitted, however, that he resisted initial offers of help.

"I've actually just started to take a little medication," he said. "I've never been a big fan of medication, but at this point in my life I feel like every little bit helps. I was at the end of the road ... My pride got in the way. I didn't want anybody to see me walking into a psych clinic. Professionals aren't always the answer. Sometimes, just talking things out helps. And now with all the rumors coming out, it has only made things worse. Some of the comments really got to me. You always hear guys say that they don't care what people think and sometimes I don't about certain things. But in the grand scheme, I want people to think positive about me."

I am afraid to listen to local sports talk radio to hear the fans' reaction.