Donovan McNabb Accused of Bullying a Former Teammate
Ever since the Miami Dolphins' situation brought bullying in the NFL to the forefront, a stream of stories from other players and other teams began to surface.
Sooner or later, you just knew a Donovan McNabb story would pop up.
If you had today in your pool, you're a winner.
According to former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Shawn Andrews, McNabb's teasing and intimidation almost led him to commit suicide.
“It just felt like I was in a living hell,’’Andrews told Sync Weekly
According to Andrews, McNabb spread malicious rumors and verbally abused him while he played for the Eagles. One of the things McNabb teased him about was his sexual orientation.
McNabb, of course, played dumb and denied this.
"That is ridiculous," McNabb responded to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"I don't know what comments you expect to get from me, but that is news to me and completely false. For me to bully anybody, that sounds unbelievable."
But if you read some of McNabb's comments recently about Robert Griffin III, Tony Romo, and even recently about NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson -- saying NASCAR drivers like Johnson aren't athletes -- is it that hard to believe McNabb would bully someone?
Andrews recounted when it nearly put him over the edge.
“One time I had a crazy idea of flipping my car. I knew I didn’t want to kill myself because I wouldn’t use a gun,’’ he said.
“I was a coward in that regard. Because if I flip my vehicle and I’m paralyzed and I live ... that’s the kind of stuff that went through my head. I was kind of at my wit’s end, but I was still afraid to talk to somebody. The very first person I opened up to was a paid psychiatrist. It was hard to do.”
But when the Inquirer asked other former Eagles about this -- Jeff Garcia, Brian Westbrook and Reno Mahe -- they never saw it.
Maybe McNabb didn't harass Andrews in front of other players, which could have been the case, because Andrews doesn't sound like he's making this up.
As with the Dolphins, many players feel issues like this should stay in the locker room. That may be another reason some players are defending McNabb, but Andrews said he felt the need to tell his story for personal closure.
"I did it for my freaking conscience, man," he said. "The normal thing to do is deny it, especially if I was in that position."