Canespace: On and Off the Field, Andre Johnson Is An MVP

August 2022

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

February 17, 2009

On and Off the Field, Andre Johnson Is An MVP

This article is Part III of a series of features on former Miami Hurricane and current Houston Texan Andre Johnson. As most of you who have been around Canespace for a while know, we have featured Andre twice before; first when he was one of sixteen NFL players nominated for The Home Depot/NFL Neighborhood MVP Award and then again when he was honored to be selected as one of the eight finalists for the award.

I had the chance to meet up with AJ in Tampa during Super Bowl week when the NFL announced the winner of the award (Jason Whitten of the Dallas Cowboys) and held a play ground build event for under-privileged children in the Ybor City area of East Tampa.

When I arrived on the scene for the build, Andre was already hard at work and had even worked up a sweat on a relatively cool Tampa morning putting together several benches for kids at the playground.

Since I had spoken to AJ on the phone for a previous interview and he had read the first Canespace article he knew who I was when I introduced myself.

As I watched him drilling and hammering on the playground benches and all I could think was: "Please be careful with those $20M hands!"

My next thought was how can I get him to wear Canespace too? Well, during a break he did agree to hold the T-shirt up for a photo which you see here. I think it is safe to say that Andre Johnson LOVES him some Canespace!

When the build was over the event moved to the awards ceremony where the trophy and $25K award from Home Depot was given out to charity. After the ceremony, I had a chance to interview AJ in person. Here is our conversation:

86Cane: So have you heard that the Canes just hired a new Offensive Coordinator, Mark Whipple?

Andre Johnson: No, actually I wasn't aware of that. But I will tell you this: I am sure that if Randy Shannon felt like that is what needed to be done then I support that decision. He is going to do whatever it takes to get that program back where it belongs. I have a lot of confidence in him. He will get that team going in the right direction.

86: Tell me about the whole Home Depot Neighborhood MVP experience. What is it like to be recognized not only for your play on the field but also what you do off the field?

AJ: It feels good, really good.The whole process has been great, from what we did in Houston and what we are doing today in Tampa. The project here today, with all of the (8) NFL players involved, is great. None of these guys have to be here, but they all want to be here. In Houston (at the playground build there) I only got to use a shovel to move some mulch around not like today where I used the power drill and the hammer and other stuff. This felt really good to get involved in and build something positive for these kids out here.

86: This year you had a break-out season and were selected to your first pro-bowl. What was the difference for you this year with the Texans?

AJ: Well, like I told you (on the phone) the main thing is I was healthy. At this level, with all the players being so talented it's about who can stay healthy. This year everything just clicked and I had the opportunity to make plays, just like at Miami. I can get open, and if the ball is thrown to me, I'm going to catch it. It's after that when good things happen.

86: Tell me about the Andre Johnson Foundation?

AJ: I started it my rookie year. When I signed my first contract I knew I wanted to give something back to the community. It really is set up for helping children from single parent homes. I came from a single parent home and I just wanted to support parents and kids when I can. We all (NFL players) have to remember where we came from. I know I do. That's why I started the foundation. We took some foster kids in Houston on a Christmas shopping spree. In Miami around the middle of May I have a community BBQ for the neighborhood where I grew up (Andre attended Miami High School).

86: Canespace would love to be one of the sponsors for that event in Miami and come out and help out anyway we can. Let us know the when and where and we will be there!

AJ: OK, I'll do that. We can use some volunteers and some of those free T-shirts you give out!

That was our brief conversation with Andre Johnson, Neighborhood MVP, NFL Pro-Bowler and Hurricane Hero. Really, what more can you ask from a guy?

Posted at 09:00 PM | Permalink

Comments

"I'll tell you what, Sean Spence ripped that ball outta there like he was startin' up a lawnmower!"

Posted by: hurriphin | February 19, 2009 at 09:24 PM

Posted by: e | February 19, 2009 at 09:25 PM

Ask Ohio State if Pryor was worth the wait and drama.

Posted by: texascane | February 19, 2009 at 11:03 AM

BB may come to Miami...But team Shannon needs to be extremely careful with any possible NCAA violations...Butler-Brown...Brown Butler...And so on...

I wouldn't be surprised if there is an NCAA investigation down the road especially if Brown comes to the U...

Posted by: Montreal-Cane | February 19, 2009 at 09:33 PM

Posted by: Cat5 Cane | February 19, 2009 at 09:47 PM

Bubba Franks

Posted by: Pre83 | February 19, 2009 at 10:03 PM

My take on this whole BB situation is that he probably already has his letter of intent signed and secretly faxed over to whatever school he's planning to attend. I base this off of the Butler interview that all schools that have offered a scholly will expire at the same time and will too have to be renewed. Given how BB is being mauled in the press with Miami pulling his scholly, I think he's going to sign that letter before all other schools decide not to renew their LOI either.

Posted by: Sy-Cane | February 19, 2009 at 10:07 PM

I want Bryant McKinnie's agent!

Posted by: Pre83 | February 19, 2009 at 10:08 PM

If you are correct, that would be a steep price for Bryce to pay for a bit of recruiting excitement.

Unless he could care less about going to one school vs. the other, I can't see that as his methodology.

Go Canes!

Posted by: Pre83 | February 19, 2009 at 10:12 PM

456

Posted by: SOUP | February 19, 2009 at 10:13 PM

Truth and J must have gotten in trouble for all that info they fed us earlier. They are waiting for the BB deal to go down before returning. Either that or they are on Truth's boat down in the FL Keys? That's my theory...

Posted by: SOUP | February 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM

yo yo ma

Posted by: raizecane | February 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM

Sophomore Arthur Brown has moved from outside to inside linebacker. Brown struggled last year despite being the team's top-rated recruit, but Shannon said he began flourishing in the new role toward the end of last season.

"It takes time," Shannon said. "The last two weeks of the season he was phenomenal at middle linebacker on scout team. Like Ray Lewis, when he first got here he was outside and he wasn't very good. When we put him in the middle, it was just different. Tavares Gooden played outside all those years and you put him at middle and he had a big year. For some reason, guys just see it at better."

I said this dude was being groomed for the Mike last season and someone told me no. I don't remember who that was......

I am lookin for big things from King Arthur. Dude has all the tools. Just a matter of time.

AB and Sharpton in the middle. Cookie, Spence, Futch and Mccarthy on the outside.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

Posted by: Canez1 | February 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM