Andrus Revives Pro Career By Signing On With Colts

The following article appeared in the February 22, 2007 edition of the Murray Ledger & Times

By Scott Nanney
Sports Editor
www.murrayledger.com

Shane Andrus' professional football career received new life last weekend.

The former Murray High School and Murray State kicker, who was cut by the Indianapolis Colts just before the start of the 2006 NFL season, signed another free agent contract with the newly-crowned Super Bowl champions on Feb. 10.

Andrus - who will always be remembered fondly by Murray State fans for booting the game-winning field goal to beat Eastern Illinois for the Racers' last Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2002 - inked a three-year deal with the National Football League franchise, giving him another opportunity to earn a roster spot.

But first thing's first for the former All-OVC selection.

Following a camp in Tampa, Fla., in mid-March, Andrus will be assigned by the Colts to one of six NFL Europe teams. He will play in the developmental league from April through June before returning to the United States to attend the Colts' training camp.

The time in NFL Europe will give Andrus the opportunity to showcase his skills to other NFL teams. He is bound by contract to the Colts, but could be given a release if another team shows interest in awarding him a roster spot.

“I'm just taking any opportunity I can get,” said Andrus, who is currently working at First Omni Mortgage in Louisville while continuing his training regimen. “There's very little opportunity in this league, so you've got to take it if one comes along.”

Andrus signed his first pro contract with the Colts last year and competed for a job as a kicker during the team's training camp, playing in all four of Indianapolis' preseason games.

But Andrus' chance for a roster spot was thwarted when All-Pro place-kicker Adam Vinatieri - who signed with the Colts last March after a stellar career with the New England Patriots - joined the team after recovering from a preseason injury.

Andrus spent the entire 2006 season on the sidelines, waiting for an opportunity that never came.

“I was one of the last cuts, so they called me in Week 16 when Adam got hurt again,” he recalled. “But they brought in another kicker, and (Vinatieri) obviously got better and came back. There's usually only three or four opportunities in a season, so it's tough to break through.”

With no kicking job available, Andrus spent the 2006 campaign training while working as a seasonal employee with the United Parcel Service in Louisville and for Omni Mortgage.

All the while, he kept up with the Colts' run through the playoffs, which climaxed with a Super Bowl XLI victory over the Chicago Bears earlier this month.

“It was different for me from past Super Bowls,” Andrus admitted. “Being friends with some of those guys, it was fun to watch and hard not to root for them. It was neat to be able to hang around with obviously the best team in the NFL.”

After wrapping up his work at Omni Mortgage, Andrus will be returning to Murray in early March to train before traveling to Tampa for camp.

“I'm just trying to train and stay in shape as much as I can,” he said. “It's been hard to kick (in Louisville) because the weather's been bad, and there's really not that many places to go. (Returning to Murray) will give me a good chance to come back home and get back in a kicking groove.”

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