David Andrews Reaction to Cam Newton Giving Him the Ball to Spike is Bourbon for My Soul. So is His Reaction to Tom Brady's Day.

Think about the day David Andrews had yesterday. Playing in his first game since Super Bowl LIII. That would be the night that he shut this guy down completely:

Only to find out not long after Shirtless O'Clock was over at the Duckboat parade:

Getty Images.

… that he had blood clots in his lungs and had to sit out all of 2019. If not beyond. Because a virus went around the world that specializes in harming the elderly and people with respiratory conditions. So he makes the very tough call to not take the opt out the NFL was offering and instead get back on the field to anchor the middle of the line for a team in transition with an uncertain future. 

And what does he get? A chance to spike the ball after a touchdown, possibly making him the first center in the 100+ history of the game to do so. All because the guy he was snapping it to understood what it was like to miss last season and Andrews was "kind of in my boat." Plus the line he anchors opened holes to the tune of 218 rushing yards after struggling to run the ball all last year without him.

So Andrews showed up in front of the postgame webcam still in full pads:

… and described the experience like this:

“I think about this time last year when I didn’t know if I would ever be able to step back on a football field and then I think about what happened this spring and what we’re still dealing with, and I really didn’t know when the next time I would step back on would be so I am extremely grateful to get to play this game. God has been good to this kid from Georgia and this game has been really good to me, so I am just extremely thankful.”

Sweet Jesus. Just take those emotions and that experience, pour it over maybe one ice cube and let me sip it the rest of the day. Obviously you've got to keep crossing all your crossable parts that he doesn't come in contact with anything that's going to exacerbate his condition. But his doctor says it's OK and Mrs. Andrews signed off and the Patriots medical staff is keeping tabs. So you have to appreciate what this meant to a guy who had football taken away from him for a year. And what a detriment it would have been to not get to live that return yesterday. That was a pure good. 

And Andrews must have been feeling it because a few hours later the celebration switched to his old QB:

Ouch. A little harsh perhaps. But I'm sure Brady will take it in the spirit in which is was intended. It's a competitive game and emotions run high after a big win. Besides, if we can't kid each other, who can we kid? 

All in all not a bad day to be an undrafted kid from Georgia who loves football. Or to be one of the Pats fans who likes this guy more by the day. Godspeed, David Andrews.