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

[Buckskin86]

Pats? Springs shrugs off exile, sees brighter side
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
By Shalise Manza Young
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO ? Shawn Springs can command a room just by walking into it, his swagger matched only by his smile and fondness for cracking on anyone nearby.

It has been an interesting season for the 13-year veteran, one that got off to a slow start because of a ?fluky? knee problem, one marked by a four-game deactivation that not only had him questioning his ability to play, but also cost him a nice chunk of change in bonus money.

But if he?s hurting, or if he?s frustrated, Springs remembers that things could always be worse.

His loud jokes and easygoing demeanor mask a man who knows all too well that while winning and football are important ? to him, extremely important ? they aren?t the only things.

Not by a long shot.

Springs? father, Ron, once a fullback for the Cowboys and Buccaneers, has been in a Dallas-area hospital for more than two years, slipping into a coma after going into cardiac arrest during an October 2007 surgery to have a cyst removed from his left forearm. Though the effects of diabetes mean Ron Springs has had his right foot and two toes on his left amputated, and undergone a kidney transplant, the cyst was unrelated to his condition.

Barely six weeks later, Springs? young teammate in the Washington Redskins? backfield, Sean Taylor, was killed in his own Miami-area home.

During an interview that covers the gamut, Springs? voice rises to an excited pitch at times, but when talk turns to Taylor and his father, he gets quiet.

?Sean and my dad are my inspiration, you know? When everyone was asking me, ?How do you feel not playing?? ? that?s the least of my worries. All I can do is study and do the best I can possibly do at my job,? Springs said. ?That?s why I?m so hard on myself ? I get mad at myself, like when I caught that pick (against Jacksonville), but I stumbled. I go back and watch the Houston tape ? my technique is not where it needs to be. I?m not disciplined, and it (ticks) me off because I have to be better. I have to do everything I can do to be the best I can be.?

Springs has long been considered one of the best at his position. After a standout career at Ohio State, where his father also starred, the Seahawks made him the third pick in the 1997 draft. No corner has ever been selected higher, a fact that still makes Springs proud.

Pats’ Springs shrugs off exile, sees brighter side | New England Patriots | projo.com | The Providence Journal

 

[Buckskin86]

Will Patriots veteran cornerback Shawn Springs be the retiring type?

During an appearance on ESPN?s ?First Take,? Shawn Springs said he was pondering the possibility of retiring after 13 seasons in the league. Springs had signed a three-year deal with the team that had a base salary of $9.75 million.

?I actually feel like I can still play a lot, so I don?t know yet,? Springs said when asked on the show about the possibility of retiring. ?I?m taking my time. I think every player should do that.?

It was pointed out that Springs, who was used sparingly during the season before taking a regular role toward the end, would have no shortage of options, including running a dessert bar in the Dominican Republic.

?I would love to just be on the beach every day in the Domincan Republic,? Springs said. ?I?d probably put on an old Tom Brady jersey, have a gut, and I would just walk around, selling desserts.?

For the record, he said his specialty dessert would be double chocolate fudge cake.

Springs has also kicked around the possibility of going to law school.

?I?ve thought about it. I don?t know. I have so many options right now. I still really enjoy playing football,? he said. ?Law school would be a great option. Maybe I could negotiate with some of the owners and GMs in the NFL with some of these players coming out. Maybe I could do that one day, be an agent.?

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet? Blog Archive ? Will Patriots veteran cornerback Shawn Springs be the retiring type?

 

[Buckskin86]

Updated: Springs says he's not retiring

After saying on ESPN's First Take Wednesday morning that he may retire from football, Patriots cornerback Shawn Springs told Shalise Manza Young of the Providence Journal that he will continue playing.

Young posted the news on her Twitter account.

Earlier in the day, Springs had said, "I don?t know yet," when asked if he's reached the end of his 13-year career. Later, he added: "I have so many options right now. I still really enjoy playing football. Law school would be a great option. Maybe I could negotiate with some of the owners and GMs in the NFL about some of these players coming out. Maybe I could be an agent."

Updated: Springs says he's not retiring

 

[Buckskin86]

Updated: May 18, 2010
Cornerback Springs released by Pats
ESPN.com news services

The New England Patriots announced that they had released cornerback Shawn Springs on Tuesday.

The team hasn't ruled out resigning the 34-year-old, but for now the sides are going their own ways, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Springs spent only one season with the Patriots, playing in 12 games with eight starts. He made one interception and had 34 tackles.

The selection of cornerback Devin McCourty in the first round of the draft in April might have had something to do with releasing Springs now. The Patriots have Leigh Bodden returning as one starter and Darius Butler, McCourty, Terrene Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite are top candidates to start opposite of Bodden.

Springs began his career in 1997 with the Seahawks and made the Pro Bowl in 1998. In 2004, he left Seattle for Washington and spent five seasons there before signing with New England as a free agent.

New England Patriots release veteran CB Shawn Springs - ESPN Boston

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs released, denies discord
Shawn Springs insists he was not a bad influence in the Patriot locker room.
By Christopher L. Gasper and Albert R. Breer
Globe Staff / May 19, 2010

(Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff)

FOXBOROUGH ? Shawn Springs is no longer a Patriot, and doesn?t quite know why.

But with 13 years in the NFL ? and a hope for more to come ? he knows well enough that the decision was all business, and an eventual return to Foxborough is hardly impossible.

The 35-year-old cornerback was informed of his release in a meeting yesterday with coach Bill Belichick. Springs surmised that with first-round selection Devin McCourty joining recent draft picks Darius Butler, Jonathan Wilhite, and Terrence Wheatley at the position, and Leigh Bodden signed long term, the Patriots wanted to create opportunities for younger guys.

?It?s hard to evaluate and give young guys a shot if you?ve got me,?? Springs said.

Springs also revealed that during the third week of January, shortly after the loss to the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, though he emphasized that his release was not related to the injury. He has had some swelling in the knee but said he was prepared to participate in next week?s passing camp.

?It?s not a knee issue,?? he said.

Springs signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal last offseason, and was due a $2.25 million base salary in 2010.

He started four of the first five games in 2009, but lost his spot prior to the 59-0 blowout of Tennessee. Springs was a healthy scratch for a four-game stretch after the season?s midway point. The Patriots went 1-3, and Springs was reinstated as a starter for the final four games and the playoff game.

?You have no idea how it was for me last year,?? Springs said.

The veteran also disputed the perception that he was part of the locker room discord, created in part when he and former teammate Adalius Thomas traded saccharine and seemingly derisive ?sorrys?? after Thomas was sent home for being late to a team meeting during a December snowstorm.

?One of the best things about me is my character,?? said Springs. ?I don?t think that ever came across as me being a bad influence. That wasn?t me being a bad guy. That was me being a jokester.??

Springs released, denies discord - The Boston Globe

 

[Buckskin86]

Shawn Springs failed a physical
Posted by Michael David Smith on May 19, 2010

Although veteran cornerback Shawn Springs says that the New England Patriots' decision to cut him had nothing to do with his knee injury, reports out today suggest that Springs' health played a part in his release.

The Boston Herald and ESPN.com both report that Springs failed a physical.

It's not clear what the reason was for his failed physical, and it's not clear whether the failed physical is the reason the Patriots cut him. But it surely didn't help.

In any event, the 35-year-old Springs has been talking about retirement this offseason, and if he can't pass a physical, retirement may be his only option.

Shawn Springs failed a physical | ProFootballTalk.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs time? Bears' Smith OK with DB depth
June 28, 2010
By Brad Biggs

Asked about Shawn Springs, whom he coached in 1995 at Ohio State, Lovie Smith began heading down a memory lane of Buckeyes.

"We had Shawn Springs when Terry Glenn came on the scene then," said Smith, who was in Columbus, Ohio, for one season, Springs' freshman year. "Eddie George of course was the running back. Ricky Dudley was the tight end. Shawn was in that group, too."

Springs, 35, spent last season with the New England Patriots before being released. He was with the Washington Redskins the year before. He might not be starter material any longer, but certainly could fill in.

But Springs is unlikely to come play for the veteran minimum and the Bears are believed to be pretty much maxed out on their budget for 2010. The Bears had durability questions about Bowman going into last season and Tillman was knocked out at the end of last season with four broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He's had two shoulder surgeries and two back surgeries.

"We like what we have right now," Smith said of his depth chart at cornerback. "Shawn will always be family to me, but right now we like where we are. We constantly try to improve our ballclub right up until the first game. Josh Moore has made a lot of progress. Tim Jennings coming in, we like some of the new additions we have."

Springs time? Bears' Smith OK with DB depth - Chicago Breaking Sports

 

[Buckskin86]

NFL Videos: Shutting down with Springs

NFL Videos: Springs-checks-in

 

[Buckeye86]

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs inspirational

Brown and safety C.J. Barnett said the Buckeyes drew inspiration from a talk by former OSU All-American cornerback Shawn Springs before the Wisconsin game. Springs said that the nationally televised contest against a favored opponent was a chance for the team to reclaim its swagger.

?He said to make sure we knew who we were, and what we represented, and make sure we went out there and represented it the right way,? Barnett said. ?I think it helped with our confidence a lot.?

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2011/11/02/offense-winged-it-receiver-says.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Springs Told Buckeyes to ?Start Acting Like Ohio State?
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? With the bells ringing and the fervor growing inside the Horseshoe, one man stood in the Ohio State locker room.

He was more than familiar with the setting, but not under these conditions. Not with the Buckeyes fighting for their lives, not to mention their season, in a primetime matchup with No. 15-ranked Wisconsin.

This man was not alone?not even close?but for a moment he captured all of the attention just before the Buckeyes ran down the tunnel and out onto the field in front of the seventh-largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history.

?Right before the Wisconsin game, we had a guest speaker that talked about us winning that game,? sophomore wide receiver Corey Brown said Tuesday.

?That game being the biggest hump for us to get over and then try to win out and get to the Big Ten championship game.?

That speaker was honorary captain Shawn Springs.

?He was just trying to put in our head what type of attitude we should have,? Brown said.

?He was basically telling us that we?re Ohio State and we should start acting like it. He hasn?t seen the traditional Ohio State the first couple weeks. He just wants us to get that swagger back about us and start acting like Ohio State.?

cont...

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/Indiana/actlikebuckeyes.html

 

[Buckskin86]

 

[ochre]

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...n-injury-and-cte-300279317.html#continue-jump

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Former All-Pro NFL cornerback, Shawn Springs is the CEO and FOUNDER ofWindpact, Inc.. Windpact's patented "Crash Cloud™" technology was born out of a desire to minimize sports-related concussive head trauma. Shawn was inspired to launch the company after observing the performance of his children's car seat after a serious accident involving him and his sons. The car was totaled but the children walked away with only scratches. This accident was a major turning point for Shawn and became the catalyst for the launch of Windpact. Shawn thought if a car seat can save the lives of his children in a severe car wreck, than perhaps that same technology could be adapted to football and other contact sports helmets to help prevent traumatic brain injury like concussion and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE.

 

[dragurd]

Apprently also some other OSU roots in the company.

On the Board of Advisors
Dr. Lonser is the head of Neurological Surgery at The Ohio State University. Additionally, Lonser is the Chair of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee. He also led the postmortem brain study of retired NFL Hall of Fame athlete, Junior Seau.

And OSU and under armour are listed as partners.

 

[ScriptOhio]

3. SHAWN SPRINGS, 1996
After redshirting his freshman year, Shawn Springs would spend the rest of his career making his case as one of the best cornerbacks in program history. He started from 1994 to 1996 and was left on an island for most of his junior season. The All-American, despite the few targets, broke up 15 passes in 1996, tied for the third-most in program history among cornerbacks.

Springs was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year after the season. He ended his career holding Arizona State star Keith Poole to just ten yards in the 1997 Rose Bowl and was the third overall selection in the draft just a few months later.