Andre Waters

NFLretired


caption=
width=
position=Safety
number=20
birthdate=birth date|1962|3|10
Belle Glade, Florida
deathdate=death date and age|2006|11|20|1962|3|10
Tampa Bay, Florida
debutyear=1984
finalyear=1995
college=Cheyney
teams=
* Philadelphia Eagles (1984-1993)
* Arizona Cardinals (1994-1995)
stat1label=INT
stat1value=15
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=164
stat3label=Sacks
stat3value=3.5
nfl=WAT043714
highlights=
* 1x All-Pro selection (1991)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Andre Waters (March 10 1962 – November 20 2006) was an American football defensive back in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals from 1984 to 1995. Waters was regarded as one of the NFL's hardest-hitting defenders, serving as an integral part of one of the league's top defenses. On November 20 2006, Waters committed suicide in his Tampa, Florida home.

Early life

He was born in Belle Glade, Florida, grew up in the extreme poverty of rural Florida and attended Pahokee High School. As a senior at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania he was recognized as a football small college All-American.

NFL career

In 1984, Waters was signed as an undrafted free agent by Eagles head coach Marion Campbell. When Buddy Ryan took over for Campbell in 1986, he welcomed Waters' aggressive style as a fierce tackler and ferocious hitter, earning Waters a position in the starting lineup for the next eight years. He blossomed under Defensive Coordinator Bud Carson. Waters served as part of the Eagles' defensive unit that was regarded as one of the league's best, in 1991 ranking 1st statistically in both run and pass defense, as well as total defense. His hard-hitting style translated into leading the team in tackles for four seasons and endeared him with Philadelphia fans but often led to penalties and fines for some of his tackles. His tackle of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett in 1988 led to a rule prohibiting defensive players from hitting quarterbacks below the waist while they are still in the pocket; for a while, it was unofficially termed the "Andre Waters Rule". NFL broadcaster Dan Dierdorf notoriously nicknamed the Eagles defender "Dirty Waters".

Playing career highlights

* Team leader in tackles in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1991.
* Recorded 15 interceptions in 156 games.
* Returned a kickoff for an 89-yard game-winning touchdown against the Washington Redskins as a rookie in 1984.
* Scored a touchdown in 1989 when he took a lateral from William Frizzell after Reggie White caused a fumble by New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.

Retirement and death

After retiring as a player, he went on to enjoy success as a college coach at Morgan State, the University of South Florida, Alabama State, St. Augustine's College (Raleigh), and Fort Valley State University. He tried unsuccessfully to get a job in the NFL and described his disappointment to a "Philadelphia Inquirer" reporter in April 2006. [ [http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116404418116428529-HLqyGMm_qXye0Ld7X1fpPlSk5SU_20061221.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top wsj.com] , Eagles Fans Mourn Death of Andre Waters] He remained very close to his former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan who he said he tried to emulate in his own coaching career.

Waters committed suicide shortly after 1 a.m. on November 20 2006, according to the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office, dying of a gunshot to the head. He was at his home in Tampa, Florida [cite news | author=Thomasi McDonald |coauthors= |title=Former NFL player, St. Aug's coach dies |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/512849.html |work=News & Observer |publisher= |date=2006-11-20 |accessdate=2006-11-20 ] where he was found by his girlfriend. No suicide note was found.

Shortly after Waters' death, former Harvard defensive tackle and WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski, whose wrestling career was ended by post-concussion syndrome and has since written a book about the dangers of concussions in contact sports, approached Waters' family and asked permission to have his brain tissue examined. After receiving permission, Nowinski had samples of Waters' brain tissue sent to neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu at the University of Pittsburgh. After examining the tissue, Omalu claimed that Waters sustained brain damage from playing football that, he said, led to Waters' depression cited in a NY Times article. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/18/sports/football/18waters.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin nytimes.com] , "Expert Ties Ex-Player’s Suicide to Brain Damage"]

Dr. Omalu determined that Waters' brain tissue had degenerated into that of an 85-year-old man with similar characteristics to those of early-stage Alzheimer's victims. Omalu said he believed that the damage was caused and/or hastened by the numerous concussions Waters sustained playing football. Additionally Omalu said that Waters would have been fully incapacitated within ten years.

The NFL declined to comment on Waters' case specifically. A member of the league's mild traumatic brain injury committee, Dr. Andrew Tucker, said that the NFL was beginning a study of retired players in 2006 to examine the more general issue of football concussions and subsequent depression.

References

External links

* [http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=3B7D20E3-C8D2-EDBB-20170DE71C89B3B2 Cowboys CB Anthony Henry Mourning Death of Former Coach]