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

BB73 · Sep 27, 2005

Nice story. Here's an NFL fact worth highlighting:

Last season Springs became the first defensive back in NFL history to lead his team in interceptions and sacks.

CausticMick · Sep 27, 2005

Seems like Shawn still has it, eh?
Played ball with Chris, his cousin. They're a good group of people. A nice family that are genuinely kind hearted. Rare in this day and age.

LightningRod · Dec 18, 2005

Washington Post follow-up.

A Son's Offer, A Father's Decision
Shawn Springs Was Willing to Give Up His Kidney and Career

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 18, 2005; Page E01

If his father needs him, Shawn Springs says he will walk away from the money, the celebrity and the glamorous lifestyle of a professional athlete. The Washington Redskins cornerback, upon learning several years ago that his father needed a kidney transplant, offered one of his own, knowing he would not be allowed to play pro football with just one kidney.

But his father, Ron, the former Dallas Cowboys fullback who suffers from complications related to diabetes -- he had a foot amputated this year -- declined the offer and would not let his son even be tested to see if he is a transplant match.

"I think that was a tremendous gesture, and it just justifies the fact that he's a loving son," Ron Springs said by telephone from his Dallas home this past week. "But I couldn't have let him do that, because I always prayed and wanted him to be a professional athlete, so I would not have shortened his career by no means necessary."

When the Redskins and Cowboys meet today in a critical NFC East game, Ron Springs, 49, will be home in Dallas unable to make the trip for fear that it will worsen his condition. He knows he needs a transplant soon and has been buoyed by the recent news that one of his nieces is possibly a match.

"I was really going to try to make the game," he said, "but I had to get some extra therapy and the prosthesis I have has been giving me trouble, so I'm trying to get that fixed. So it would have been too much trouble to travel through the airport and walking around. I don't want to risk anything, and I wouldn't want to do something to set back my transplant. I'm just going to lay back, relax, have a good holiday and don't do anything stupid to eliminate my chances of getting a transplant immediately."

For Shawn Springs, who has spent years trying to track down family members and researching the transplant process, the news could not have been more timely. He also realizes, however, that there still are hurdles to overcome before his father can regain his health. So the Pro Bowl defensive back still has not ruled out becoming a donor at some point.

"Hopefully, everything is going to work out; we're just waiting on it," Shawn Springs said. "The thing is, when you're waiting on a kidney transplant and you're a diabetic he's never really healthy enough to receive the kidney. And sometimes he might be ready to, and then he gets sick or has an ulcer or something. That's the tough deal, getting it so it won't reject.

"So, yeah, if it came down to do it, if that was the last resort, I'd do it. I know he told me no, but I'd be a donor. Obviously, my NFL career would be over, but that's something I would have to do. It's a part of life and I'd go on and teach school after I'm done playing football or something. Be a reporter or whatever. I'd just do something else."

While Shawn Springs, 30, who grew up in Silver Spring, spent the week receiving treatment for back and knee injuries at Redskins Park, doing what he can to be available for the Redskins' biggest game in quite awhile at FedEx Field, his father was undergoing his grueling weekly regimen. Ron Springs receives dialysis every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and spent three months in a hospital earlier this year because of a staph infection. Even relatively minor ailments can become major for him.

Still, the decision to miss the critical game was not easy. Father and son realize the stakes in this rivalry from their unique place in it.

Ron Springs, who attends as many of Shawn's home and road games as possible, grew up in Redskins country in Williamsburg, then became a well-recognized Cowboy and now lives near Texas Stadium. Shawn looked up to his father and emulated the Cowboys' stars, but had an appreciation for the Redskins during their glory days as well.

Ron Springs, a gregarious and outspoken locker-room leader during his NFL career, spent six seasons with the Cowboys and two with Tampa Bay before retiring. He was a key component in some of Hall of Fame tailback Tony Dorsett's best seasons, and a fixture on the playoff teams from 1981 to 1983 (he led Dallas in touchdowns in 1981). The Redskins were on the rise then, winning their first Super Bowl in the 1982 season under Coach Joe Gibbs, and Dallas-Washington games were a national event. The importance of today's game -- with both teams battling for a playoff spot after several lean years -- made it even more tempting to come to Washington.

"It's a very tough game for me," Ron Springs said. "It's very important to both sides; whoever loses will probably be out of the playoff picture and whatnot, and all I can do as a person is sit here and hope for the best, for Shawn to do well, and let the chips fall where they may, because I love both teams and I try to not get too emotional about it. But I probably will."

Without Ron Springs's influence, Shawn might never have switched from running back to cornerback, and he might not be a Redskin, either. Ron developed an affinity for Gibbs over the years, and urged his son to sign with Washington when he hit the free agent market in March 2004. "I'm very proud of Shawn, and very proud of the fact that he went to the Redskins, because I always thought that Coach Gibbs is a good Christian man, and I knew Coach Gibbs would work him hard and make sure he got the most out of him," Ron said.

Gibbs helped sway Shawn as well, and Ron accompanied his son on his initial visit here. They dined at Morton's and reminisced about being on opposite sidelines.

"We had a great time going back and forth about the old days and all that kind of stuff," said Gibbs, who also has diabetes. "Shawn's dad is really competitive, and you can tell where Shawn gets that. The sad thing is his dad has some real health issues, and we're trying to support Shawn with that, but you can see lots of times those bloodlines are pretty good and you can kind of see where Shawn gets it from. His dad will joke with you and kid with you and he's always on your butt."

The Redskins signed Springs to a six-year, $30 million deal, including a $10 million signing bonus. Much of the deal is not guaranteed, and Springs also would likely have to repay a portion of his signing bonus if he donated a kidney and retired, but he says none of that would deter him from leaving football if necessary. "Wouldn't you do the same thing for your father?" he asked.

While kidney transplants have become fairly common, Cathy Paykin, a social worker with the National Kidney Foundation, said there are potentially serious risks involved, as in any major surgery, both mentally and physically. In some jurisdictions, police and fire departments do not accept employees with one kidney because of health concerns, and someone who donates a kidney must take every precaution to protect his or her remaining organ.

"If you only have one kidney you really have to watch out for it, particularly in an accident," Paykin said. "Some people who are living donors have chronic pain for life that never went away. Some people have gone into a deep depression and had some very disturbing experiences with pain or disfigurement. It's a minority, but it happens."

Former Georgetown basketball star Alonzo Mourning resumed his NBA career after getting a kidney donation, but would not have been able to play with only one kidney. People with one kidney are not prevented from playing all recreational sports, Paykin said, but must refrain from absorbing severe contact to that area, ruling out football.

Shawn has two sisters, Ayra, a junior at Ohio State and, Ashley, a high school junior in the Dallas area, but Ron Springs says he won't let them be tested because they are too young. Shawn and Ron attended Ohio State as well, both leaving a lasting impression. Ron played under Woody Hayes and replaced two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin in the Buckeyes' backfield. He went on to play for Tom Landry in Dallas.

Shawn was born when Ron was 18, and was raised by his grandmother in Silver Spring, where he was a standout at Springbrook High School. Seattle drafted Springs third overall in 1997; he quickly became a Pro Bowl player and is a linchpin in Washington's defense. Without his coverage skills, the Redskins would not be able to blitz as aggressively as they do. After being the only player in the NFL to lead his team in sacks and interceptions last season, teams have braced for his blitzes in 2005 and largely shied from his side of the field in the passing game.

"Shawn, because he played so well last year, has had far, far fewer attempts at him," said Gregg Williams, assistant head coach-defense. "With a rookie corner opposite of him [Carlos Rogers], Springs doesn't get the attempts, because it's going at the rookie and it's going at [nickel back] Walt [Harris]. So his presence has been good."

Springs wishes he had produced more big plays through the first 13 games, but knows that the most significant stretch of the season is still ahead of him, with three straight games upcoming against NFC East opponents. As usual, he will hear from his father after each of them.

"We talk all the time," Shawn Springs said. "He keeps on me, but I'm pretty hard on myself. I go back and watch film and grade myself on my breaks, hand placement, hustle -- all that stuff. That's what my dad always talked about, especially my first few years in the league. He was pretty hard on me back then."

Ron Springs will try not to get overly excited as he watches today from his couch, but that may not be easy. After all, the Redskins won the first meeting, 14-13, on two late Santana Moss touchdowns. More importantly, he is relishing Dallas's visit to Washington next year, when he plans to be cheering at FedEx Field with renewed health.

"I know I'm going to get excited watching," he said. "I'm going to get excited whether it be the Redskins or the Cowboys; I just flip hats, so I don't feel too bad about anything when it comes to them. One will win and one will lose and 50 percent of me is happy all the time. So you tell all the people in the D.C. area that I'm still a Cowboys fan, but I've got to love the Redskins, too, and I will see all of them next year back in D.C. I'm already looking forward to it."

osugrad21 · Aug 15, 2006

Link

Springs has surgery, could miss opener
<script> function BlogThisStoryTools() { var headline = "Springs has surgery, could miss opener"; var url = document.location.href; var destination = "http://blogs.foxsports.com/BlogThis.aspx?r_title=" + escape(headline) + "&r_url=" + url; //alert(destination); //return; window.location.href = destination; } </script>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td> Associated Press
        Posted: 6 hours ago <script> // front-end hack to remove postedTime from Rumors page until a better way can be determined if (document.URL.indexOf("/name/FS/rumors") != -1) document.getElementById("postedTime").style.display = 'none'; </script> </td> <td width="10">
</td> <td align="right">  <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table class="bdy" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="770"> <tbody><tr><td height="5">
</td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="bdy" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="770"> <tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="10">
</td> <td width="440">  <script> if(fanid.length > 0 && typeof(nflDefaultLeague)!= "undefined") { leagueId = nflDefaultLeague; //find teamId of default league (if exists) for(var i=0; i < teamsInfo.length; i++){ if(teamsInfo[4] == leagueId){ defaultTeamId = teamsInfo[0]; } } var fantasyLeaguePlayerJsPath = 'http://msn.foxsports.com' + '/nugget/200002_' + leagueId + '|||' + fanid; } </script> ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Washington cornerback Shawn Springs underwent surgery Tuesday to repair to a muscle tear in his lower abdomen and is expected to be sidelined three to six weeks.
The surgery repaired a minor tear in an abdominal muscle that attaches to the pubic bone. Springs traveled to Durham, N.C., for the procedure.
The injury rules Springs out for the rest of the preseason and could cause him to miss the opening weeks of the regular season. The Redskins open Sept. 11 against Minnesota.
Aware of Springs' ailment, the Redskins acquired Mike Rumph from San Francisco in a trade on Monday. Springs and Carlos Rogers have been the team's projected starters. Kenny Wright, who struggled in Sunday's preseason game at Cincinnati, has been the nickel back.
Springs didn't miss a practice during the first two weeks of training camp and played against the Bengals, but he had been bothered in recent days by the injury.
Springs missed last season's playoff victory over Tampa Bay with a groin injury and missed part of the loss at Seattle the following week.
The 10th-year veteran is a leader of the Redskins highly touted defense. He has started 30 of 32 regular season games since joining the team as a free agent from Seattle in 2004.
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808 Buck · Aug 15, 2006

osugrad21 said:
Link

Springs has surgery, could miss opener
<SCRIPT> function BlogThisStoryTools() { var headline = "Springs has surgery, could miss opener"; var url = document.location.href; var destination = "http://blogs.foxsports.com/BlogThis.aspx?r_title=" + escape(headline) + "&r_url=" + url; //alert(destination); //return; window.location.href = destination; } </SCRIPT>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=440 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>Associated Press
Posted: 6 hours ago<SCRIPT> // front-end hack to remove postedTime from Rumors page until a better way can be determined if (document.URL.indexOf("/name/FS/rumors") != -1) document.getElementById("postedTime").style.display = 'none'; </SCRIPT>

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<TABLE class=bdy cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=770 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=5>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=bdy cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=770 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=10>

</TD><TD width=440><SCRIPT> if(fanid.length > 0 && typeof(nflDefaultLeague)!= "undefined") { leagueId = nflDefaultLeague; //find teamId of default league (if exists) for(var i=0; i < teamsInfo.length; i++){ if(teamsInfo[4] == leagueId){ defaultTeamId = teamsInfo[0]; } } var fantasyLeaguePlayerJsPath = 'http://msn.foxsports.com' + '/nugget/200002_' + leagueId + '|||' + fanid; } </SCRIPT>ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Washington cornerback Shawn Springs underwent surgery Tuesday to repair to a muscle tear in his lower abdomen and is expected to be sidelined three to six weeks.
The surgery repaired a minor tear in an abdominal muscle that attaches to the pubic bone. Springs traveled to Durham, N.C., for the procedure.
The injury rules Springs out for the rest of the preseason and could cause him to miss the opening weeks of the regular season. The Redskins open Sept. 11 against Minnesota.
Aware of Springs' ailment, the Redskins acquired Mike Rumph from San Francisco in a trade on Monday. Springs and Carlos Rogers have been the team's projected starters. Kenny Wright, who struggled in Sunday's preseason game at Cincinnati, has been the nickel back.
Springs didn't miss a practice during the first two weeks of training camp and played against the Bengals, but he had been bothered in recent days by the injury.
Springs missed last season's playoff victory over Tampa Bay with a groin injury and missed part of the loss at Seattle the following week.
The 10th-year veteran is a leader of the Redskins highly touted defense. He has started 30 of 32 regular season games since joining the team as a free agent from Seattle in 2004.

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Not an injury that I care to experience. My guess is that Shawn is going to be very diligent in his rehab of this one.

hawaiianbuckeye · Aug 16, 2006

Shit! I just talked to him on Sunday at the game and he didn't mention anything like this!

osugrad21 said:
Link

Springs has surgery, could miss opener
<SCRIPT> function BlogThisStoryTools() { var headline = "Springs has surgery, could miss opener"; var url = document.location.href; var destination = "http://blogs.foxsports.com/BlogThis.aspx?r_title=" + escape(headline) + "&r_url=" + url; //alert(destination); //return; window.location.href = destination; } </SCRIPT>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=440 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>Associated Press
Posted: 6 hours ago<SCRIPT> // front-end hack to remove postedTime from Rumors page until a better way can be determined if (document.URL.indexOf("/name/FS/rumors") != -1) document.getElementById("postedTime").style.display = 'none'; </SCRIPT>
</TD><TD width=10>

</TD><TD align=right><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=bdy cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=770 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=5>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=bdy cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=770 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=10>

</TD><TD width=440><SCRIPT> if(fanid.length > 0 && typeof(nflDefaultLeague)!= "undefined") { leagueId = nflDefaultLeague; //find teamId of default league (if exists) for(var i=0; i < teamsInfo.length; i++){ if(teamsInfo[4] == leagueId){ defaultTeamId = teamsInfo[0]; } } var fantasyLeaguePlayerJsPath = 'http://msn.foxsports.com' + '/nugget/200002_' + leagueId + '|||' + fanid; } </SCRIPT>ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Washington cornerback Shawn Springs underwent surgery Tuesday to repair to a muscle tear in his lower abdomen and is expected to be sidelined three to six weeks.
The surgery repaired a minor tear in an abdominal muscle that attaches to the pubic bone. Springs traveled to Durham, N.C., for the procedure.
The injury rules Springs out for the rest of the preseason and could cause him to miss the opening weeks of the regular season. The Redskins open Sept. 11 against Minnesota.
Aware of Springs' ailment, the Redskins acquired Mike Rumph from San Francisco in a trade on Monday. Springs and Carlos Rogers have been the team's projected starters. Kenny Wright, who struggled in Sunday's preseason game at Cincinnati, has been the nickel back.
Springs didn't miss a practice during the first two weeks of training camp and played against the Bengals, but he had been bothered in recent days by the injury.
Springs missed last season's playoff victory over Tampa Bay with a groin injury and missed part of the loss at Seattle the following week.
The 10th-year veteran is a leader of the Redskins highly touted defense. He has started 30 of 32 regular season games since joining the team as a free agent from Seattle in 2004.

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osugrad21 · Aug 16, 2006

Link
Springs sidelined following surgery

By Ryan O'Halloran
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 16, 2006

Top cover cornerback Shawn Springs became the second Washington Redskins' starter in two days to be ruled out for the preseason after surgery yesterday afternoon in Durham, N.C., to repair an abdominal muscle tear.
He will be out three to six weeks, meaning both he and running back Clinton Portis could miss the opener against Minnesota. Portis, who partially dislocated his left shoulder making a tackle at Cincinnati on Sunday, will start full-scale rehabilitation next week but said, "I'm not going to rush back."
Springs had not missed a training camp practice and started Sunday night at Cincinnati. But he and director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer traveled to Durham for an examination by Dr. William Meyers. Meyers laid out several options, and Springs opted for surgery.
Springs was limited late last season because of a groin injury, and coach Joe Gibbs wouldn't rule out a connection. The surgery is similar to the one kicker John Hall had last winter and entails reconnecting a ligament to the pubic bone.
"We weren't expecting anything to be repaired," Gibbs said. "Shawn had complained about his groin area some, but it wasn't bad enough to keep him out."
Cornerbacks coach Jerry Gray expects Springs to be ready for the Minnesota game.
"For him to get this done, it will only help him out," Gray said.
If Springs can't play in the opener, there's a good chance cornerback Mike Rumph, acquired from the San Francisco 49ers for receiver Taylor Jacobs on Monday, will get the call opposite Carlos Rogers.
Rumph, a first-round pick by the 49ers in 2002, practiced in San Francisco on Monday morning before being called to the team's offices in the afternoon. Yesterday, he was not allowed to practice because Jacobs had not taken his physical in San Francisco.
The Rumph-Jacobs trade -- even more important following Springs' surgery -- was completed as the Redskins were coming off the field, and Rumph will work today.
Rumph started 13 games in 2003 but has missed a combined 25 games the last two seasons because off a fractured forearm and a torn plantar fascia in his right foot.
"The best feeling about this is I get to start over new and with a great team," he said. "They're low on corners, so I'm glad to contribute anyway I can."

osugrad21 · Aug 16, 2006

Scout

A revised estimate on corner Shawn Springs' recovery time means he'll likely miss the season opener. Director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer said he expects Springs to miss four to six weeks, which means he would not return until the Dallas game at the earliest.
The injury, and subsequent surgery on an abdominal muscle, is related the groin problems he had at the end of last season.

OhioState49 · Aug 16, 2006

hope he will recover from this injury and get back into the season! good luck shawn!

osugrad21 · Aug 22, 2006

Redskins | Springs missed practice Monday
Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:59:39 -0700

Ryan O'Halloran, of The Washington Times, reports Washington Redskins CB Shawn Springs (abdominal) missed practice Monday, Aug. 21.

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

osugrad21 · Aug 23, 2006

Redskins | Springs misses practice Tuesday
Tue, 22 Aug 2006 23:55:15 -0700

Ryan O'Halloran, of The Washington Times, reports Washington Redskins CB Shawn Springs (abdominal) missed practice Tuesday, Aug. 22. He is expected to re-join the team Wednesday, Aug. 23, after following orders to stay home and rest.

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

osugrad21 · Aug 24, 2006

Redskins | Springs doubtful to play in regular-season opener
Wed, 23 Aug 2006 23:28:47 -0700

Howard Bryant, of the Washington Post, reports Washington Redskins CB Shawn Springs (abdominal) is expected to miss three to six weeks after undergoing surgery Aug. 15. His availability for the regular-season opener Sept. 11 is in "serious doubt."

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

osugrad21 · Sep 1, 2006

Redskins | Springs does not play Thursday
Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:36:48 -0700

The Associated Press reports Washington Redskins CB Shawn Springs (abdomen) did not play in the team's preseason finale Thursday, Aug. 31.

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/NFL?page=1

osugrad21 · Sep 5, 2006

Redskins | Springs' status unclear for Week 1
Mon, 4 Sep 2006 18:14:23 -0700

Ryan O'Halloran, of The Washington Times, reports Washington Redskins CB Shawn Springs' (abdominal) status for Week 1 remains uncertain. CB Kenny Wright will start if Springs can not play.

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

osugrad21 · Sep 8, 2006

Redskins | Springs says he won't play
Fri, 8 Sep 2006 04:31:59 -0700

Ryan O'Halloran, of the Washington Times, reports Washington Redskins CB Shawn Springs (abdomen) remains sidelined and said Tuesday, Sept. 5, he won't play against the Minnesota Vikings Week 1. Springs said he won't play until he's fully healed. He had surgery Aug. 14. "As a training staff, they know it's a serious injury, and coming back early before I'm ready might make it more serious," he said. "When you see me out there, you know I'm healthy. I'm not going to go out there and embarrass myself."

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

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

BB73

Loves Buckeye History

CausticMick

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LightningRod

Legend

osugrad21

Capo Regime

808 Buck

Hall of Fame

hawaiianbuckeye

Where's YOUR Gold Pants?

osugrad21

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OhioState49

Hall of Fame

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