Andrew Hawkins

Yeah. No, he definitely loses friendships if he had them. You'd be surprised how there's not like real friendships in the NFL. But regardless, you're absolutely right on all those things. I'm just trying to like put myself in the mind of Campbell of what could be going through your mind at 31, which is old in the NFL linebacker who's been on the sideline the entirety of the game.

Maybe you didn't warm up the way that you thought you would because you didn't think you were playing. And in this moment, it's like a. I can't go in there because I'm going to get exposed because I'm not ready to play. Now that is something I can identify with. My rookie year with the Bengals in preseason, this is the second preseason game. Now I'm a guy coming from Canada. I'm low on the roster.

Maybe you didn't warm up the way that you thought you would because you didn't think you were playing. And in this moment, it's like a. I can't go in there because I'm going to get exposed because I'm not ready to play. Now that is something I can identify with. My rookie year with the Bengals in preseason, this is the second preseason game. Now I'm a guy coming from Canada. I'm low on the roster.

And I'm like, I'm trying to do everything in my damn power to just stick around on the roster. It was late in maybe the first game that I played. I can't remember who it was against. Maybe the Jets, maybe the Lions. But Marvin Lewis walks up to me and he's like, hey, go out there and jump in on punt return. Or the special teams coordinator, Coach Simmons, and I'm like, no.

And I'm like, I'm trying to do everything in my damn power to just stick around on the roster. It was late in maybe the first game that I played. I can't remember who it was against. Maybe the Jets, maybe the Lions. But Marvin Lewis walks up to me and he's like, hey, go out there and jump in on punt return. Or the special teams coordinator, Coach Simmons, and I'm like, no.

And he like, eyes went up, and he's like, wait a minute. I said, go punt return. And I was like, yeah, no, I didn't practice that. And he's like, gives me another opportunity to say, hey, Hawk, get your ass out there and return these punts. And I said, coach, I didn't practice that. And I don't want to go out there and drop a punt.

And he like, eyes went up, and he's like, wait a minute. I said, go punt return. And I was like, yeah, no, I didn't practice that. And he's like, gives me another opportunity to say, hey, Hawk, get your ass out there and return these punts. And I said, coach, I didn't practice that. And I don't want to go out there and drop a punt.

And then you cut me and then all the rest of the 31 teams see that I can't catch punts and I don't have a chance. Marvin Lewis comes over to try to convince me. And I said, look, if you give me a week, I will return punts next week. They were like, okay, interesting. Interesting strategy. You're crazy, man. That week, I worked on punt returns all week. They put me in.

And then you cut me and then all the rest of the 31 teams see that I can't catch punts and I don't have a chance. Marvin Lewis comes over to try to convince me. And I said, look, if you give me a week, I will return punts next week. They were like, okay, interesting. Interesting strategy. You're crazy, man. That week, I worked on punt returns all week. They put me in.

I returned it for 41 yards in the first punt return. Made the practice squad. That's an honest to God, true story. But I was not willing to go out there and just seal my fate when I wasn't confident in myself and abilities.

I returned it for 41 yards in the first punt return. Made the practice squad. That's an honest to God, true story. But I was not willing to go out there and just seal my fate when I wasn't confident in myself and abilities.

That is a true story.

That is a true story.

It's hard. The stakes are too big to go out here and just give it a shot because no one's going to have that content. I'm imagining you as a punt returner.

It's hard. The stakes are too big to go out here and just give it a shot because no one's going to have that content. I'm imagining you as a punt returner.

It is. I didn't return a single punt or kick in my career, and I'm 5'7". I'm the first sub 5'10 receiver in NFL history who was truly just a wide receiver. I don't think you guys realize that. I was not a returner. I can't believe they didn't waive you. I know. But it was a bet I was willing to make.

It is. I didn't return a single punt or kick in my career, and I'm 5'7". I'm the first sub 5'10 receiver in NFL history who was truly just a wide receiver. I don't think you guys realize that. I was not a returner. I can't believe they didn't waive you. I know. But it was a bet I was willing to make.

That might have been the wisest I've ever been in my life.

That might have been the wisest I've ever been in my life.

So here's what happened previously to even me getting to Cincinnati. Lockout happened and I had signed with the Rams. And I got cut on day one. And I had a great practice. The one thing that happened in practice one is I dropped the punt. So if I'm the Rams and you might be thinking, oh, he's 5'7 and he dropped two punts. And I'm like, well, maybe that's why they cut me.