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CB Shawn Springs (All B1G, All-American, B1G DPOY, OSU HOF, Pro Bowl, All Pro)

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Redskins' Shawn Springs, playing with pain
By Jason La Canfora/The Washington Post
Article Launched: 07/19/2008

WASHINGTON ? Shawn Springs was suffocating. His father was in a coma in Texas. His stepmother had been diagnosed with cancer. He and his wife had separated, their 1-year-old son leaving with her. So he backpedaled. He stopped answering most phone calls and for a few months he left home rarely unless it was for a workout. At his most despondent, the cornerback considered retiring from the Washington Redskins, walking away from $5 million this season, and maybe becoming a teacher or buying land and building a house near his family in Dallas.

"I felt overwhelmed, like: "What can I do? How can I simplify things? What can I cut back on?' " Springs said. "I just wanted to simplify everything and be a normal dude and take my son to the park and just chill and breathe."

He confided only in his personal trainer and a few family members. He said nothing to the Redskins, not wanting this emotional period to be confused with a contract ploy. He skipped the team's voluntary workouts but that was expected because he had done the same thing a year earlier, preferring to work out alone.

"I didn't really watch TV, because every time I'd turn on the news it's like, "Why isn't Shawn Springs coming to practice?' " Springs said. "And

I was just over that. I didn't really answer no phone calls; I didn't really come out of the house that much."

Eventually he regained his moorings. Many unresolved issues remain, but Springs has a renewed fondness for the game that he found by returning, at age 33, to the sport in its most basic form. And when Redskins players report to training camp Saturday, Springs will again be among them, beginning his 12th NFL season.

"I don't want to say I was depressed, because I wasn't depressed, but I was just like done (with football), man," Springs said. "I was really dragging for a month or so. I was hurting."

Ron Springs always has been his son's anchor, the first person he turned to for advice about football or life. Not being able to call on him during these times was particularly painful for Shawn. Ron Springs went into a coma last October after what the family believed would be routine surgery to remove a cyst. Doctors have been able to take him off a ventilator and he can breathe on his own, but he lies motionless on a hospital bed in Dallas with his son's belief in a miracle fading.

"I'm to the point where for me ? and just for me, this is just my words and not representing other family members ? for me it's hard to still see my dad laying in the hospital," Springs said. "I'd rather see God save his soul or him somehow wake up. And if that's not going to happen then just let him be at peace."

Taking his oldest sons ? 9-year old twins Samari and Skylar, who reside with their mother in Ohio ? to visit his father in the hospital this offseason was most difficult.

"It brought tears to my eyes to see them look at my father," Springs said. "They know what a coma is, but it's like he's sleeping and they stare at him, and they're afraid to talk to him and they don't know what to do. I don't think you can prepare yourself for stuff like that."
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washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines
 
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Springs 'in shape'
David Elfin (Contact)
Monday, July 21, 2008

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Peter Lockley / The Washington Times Shawn Springs (24), the only Redskins player to skip OTAs, is back for training ..

Antwaan Randle El missed most of June's organized team activities after having a knee scoped, but the veteran receiver didn't waste any time showing he's healthy again as the Washington Redskins began training camp Sunday, whipping cornerback Shawn Springs for a touchdown on their first duel in 7-on-7 work.

"Antwaan was jogging the whole time, and I'm thinking he's going to sit down and run an out [pattern], and he took off on me," Springs said. "He started laughing and said, 'I tricked you, Shawn.' That's a good feeling when you got guys who are competitive and know each other. He got me today, and this evening I'll try to come back and get him."

Springs, the only player to skip the "voluntary" June OTAs, said the Redskins' brass, including executive vice president Vinny Cerrato, knew his whereabouts all along.

"That's why you've got agents and representatives," said Springs, who never called coach Jim Zorn to let him know where he was. "Vinny and those guys know where I was. It wasn't like I would just be missing. They knew I would come back in shape."

Zorn said that he and Springs chatted on the field, though they had yet to sit down and talk.

"He's in great shape," said Zorn, a Seattle assistant when Springs was with the Seahawks from 2001 to 2003. "We beat him today, which I was excited about. He came out ready."

While Springs returned, fellow starting corner Fred Smoot sprained his left ankle during the afternoon practice and will be out for a few days. After losing defensive ends Phillip Daniels and Alex Buzbee to season-ending injuries earlier in the day, Zorn joked with black humor that "I love sprained ankles now."
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Washington Times - Springs 'in shape'
 
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Springs experiments with new position
Corey Masisak (Contact)
Friday, August 15, 2008

Shawn Springs grew up idolizing Rod Woodson, one of the great cornerbacks of his generation.

In the latter stages of Woodson's career he switched from cornerback to safety. As Springs nears the twilight of his time in the NFL, he also may make that transition in the coming seasons.

"Rod Woodson went from 12 to 17 [years in the league] and had [23 more] picks. [Whistles] ... That would be awesome," Springs said. "I think it might be a natural transition. I've got the size for it. It's just about getting back there and getting used to it. It is still a new position."

Springs, who has spent his entire 11-year career at cornerback, has gotten a preview of playing free safety during training camp. Injuries and a lack of experienced defensive backs pushed the Washington Redskins to experiment with Springs at the position.
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Washington Times - Springs experiments with new position
 
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More on Shawn Springs
POSTED August 15 2008
BY Corey Masisak Print

Obviously it didn't happen in time for my story on Shawn Springs possibly moving from cornerback to free safety in the coming seasons, but Rod Woodson did get back to me and here's what he had to say about the switch:

Q: What do you remember about making the move?

Woodson: When I was in Baltimore my first I played corner, but after that I told [Ravens GM] Ozzie Newsome if you guys get a replacement for me I would be more than happy do it. That year they drafted Chris McAllister, so I was able to make the transition.

Q: What is different about the two positions?

Woodson: The game is played at a different angle. Everyone says it is an island at corner, but the biggest thing is the game is viewed from an angle. If Shawn does move to safety, now he will see everything from the top down. The angles are different when it comes to tackling, breaking on the ball, and things like that. That is the biggest adjustment. You are also going to be involved to be involved in more tackles as a safety, so you have to have the right mindset going in.

Q: Do you think it added years to the end of your career?

Woodson: Without a doubt. I played 12 years at corner, and it is inevitable ? your feet slow down, your body can wear down and you don?t come out of your breaks as quick. I think he can still be a great cover safety, and that is an advantage for a defensive coordinator. Look at how teams go to three-wide sets so quickly. Instead of automatically going to the nickel or a slot corner, Shawn will be able to slide down and pick up that extra guy.

In a lot of ways it is more fun to safety, and I think he?ll see that. You are almost like a centerfielder back there, able to run around and make plays.
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Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News - "More on Shawn Springs" by Redskins 360
 
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Shawn Springs help...

Hello all,

Im new around here. Im actually a Vols fan. Anyways....I am attending the Redskins / Jaguars game tomorrow and have a favor to ask. My buddy is a die hard Buckeye fan. I have field passes to the game tomorrow and im trying to get an autograph of Shawn Springs for him. The problem is I am having a hard time finding good Shawn Springs pics from his Ohio State days. I tried google images and came up short. All the pics I found were 300x300 or so. I am looking to print off a nice quality 8x10 so I need something a little bigger...I figured what better place to ask than Buckeye nation! Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.

Also, I wish the best for Beanie Wells this year. I hate Tebow with a passion. It must be an SEC thing. LOL
 
Upvote 0
yocolifsavr;1239951; said:
Hello all,

Im new around here. Im actually a Vols fan. Anyways....I am attending the Redskins / Jaguars game tomorrow and have a favor to ask. My buddy is a die hard Buckeye fan. I have field passes to the game tomorrow and im trying to get an autograph of Shawn Springs for him. The problem is I am having a hard time finding good Shawn Springs pics from his Ohio State days. I tried google images and came up short. All the pics I found were 300x300 or so. I am looking to print off a nice quality 8x10 so I need something a little bigger...I figured what better place to ask than Buckeye nation! Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.

Also, I wish the best for Beanie Wells this year. I hate Tebow with a passion. It must be an SEC thing. LOL
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Just buy this and keep it a secret Shawn Springs Ohio State Buckeyes autographed 8x10 PHOTO

:lol:
 
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yocolifsavr;1239984; said:
Thats a sweet pic...but I just need an unsigned pic to print off of him in his Ohio State getup:biggrin:
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I tried searching for you, but that's the best quality I could find. Everything else, like you said, was too small.
 
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I used to collect pics as a fan, just to save in a folder for the fun of it, and never came across a big springs pic (outside of one shot of him in a polo shirt, not OSU related). I know that's not particularly helpful, but hopefully it will help prevent any further fruitless searches (in search engines, that is).
 
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