Will Shawn Andrews ever play on an NFL field again?


After being cut by the Eagles early this offseason, many figured someone would give the incredibly talented Shawn Andrews a shot to prove that his issues with depression and injuries were behind him and that he could move on with his NFL career.

But to date, that has not happened and now it looks like Andrews is being presented with another option: the United Football League.

According to the league's Twitter page, the expansion Omaha Nighthawks have drafted Andrews with the first pick in the third round of their 12-round annual draft.

The third round sounds bad for a player like Andrews who was taken 16th overall in the NFL's draft back in 2004, but with only five teams in the league, Andrews was actually taken 11th overall in a draft that featured plenty of former NFL players.

None, however, were as high-profile as Andrews.

It's a big fall for Andrews but it could actually become a blessing in disguise. He needs to get his head on straight and work through some of the nagging injuries that have been plaguing him for a couple years, and the UFL could be the perfect place to do it.

Obviously, the talent in the UFL can't compare to the NFL. I think we can all agree on that. So Andrews will be able to come in, shake off the rust of not playing for two years, and be out of his contract in time to potentially sign with an NFL team for the last five or six weeks of the season.

The move really makes sense for the Nighthawks who are trying to build a team from the ground up, will certainly need an offensive line, and have said they're trying to get guys who played in the surrounding area.

Andrews played his college ball at Arkansas only a couple states away.

For a few seasons, Andrews was arguably the best guard in the entire league. Hopefully playing in the UFL will allow him to regain his confidence, get back to form, and be a successful story of redemption in the NFL.

Other former NFL players taken in the UFL draft: Hollis Thomas (another former Eagle), Devard Darling, Adrien Clarke (former Eagle), Antonio Chatman, Ronald Curry, John Standeford, Chike Okeafor, and DeWayne White, who was the No. 1 overall pick.