Donovan McNabb called accusations made by a former teammate that he was a locker-room bully “ridiculous” and “unbelievable.”
The one-time Eagles quarterback responded to the claims made by Shane Andrews, an offensive lineman protecting McNabb for six seasons, that McNabb made his life a living hell and spread rumors about him, including that he was a homosexual. Andrews, who made the comments to Philly radio station WPEN and Arkansas-based Sync Weekly magazine, also said McNabb rolled his eyes when Andrews told the team he was receiving treatment for depression during the Eagles’ 2008 training camp.
“That is ridiculous,” McNabb told 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.
“I don’t really understand why this would come about, one, and two, how this would even be an accusation. If there’s anything I can say, I was more than open to Shawn. I always tried to be open to all the guys. I’d invite them over to my house. I’d have holiday dinners or team functions, especially for the offense, every year. I’d buy all the guys gifts, if I made the Pro Bowl or not, for an appreciation. Shawn was one of the most talented offensive linemen we had. I was always happy to have him.”
Though Brian Westbrook and Reno Mahe, teammates of the two players, said they never heard or saw any mistreatment toward Andrews from McNabb, Andrews stood by his comments in a follow-up with the Inquirer.
“I just did it for my conscience, man,” he said. “I did it for my freaking conscience, man. The normal thing to do is deny it, especially if I was in that position. So many people are coming at me, defending him because of his superstar status, but they didn’t work with him. Shawn Andrews worked with him and for him. I laid it on the line for him.”