A.Q. Shipley: Last year was trying for me

By foxsports
Published

After a difficult, puzzling 2014 in Indianapolis, the fun has returned to football for Arizona Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley. 

Last season, a Week 4 demotion from the starting lineup took much of the joy out of the game for the former Colt.

"Last year was trying for me," Shipley said, according to ESPN. "I mean, it really was."

Shipley, who had spent time with the Colts previously, was claimed by the team after his release by the Baltimore Ravens Aug. 31.  Injuries to the Colts' other centers forced Shipley into the lineup immediately and it appeared he played well right from the start - Pro Football Focus rated Shipley the third best center in the NFL over the first four weeks of the season.

But then came his demotion in favor of undrafted rookie Jonotthan Harrision.  Shipley says he was told by Colts' management he had played well, but wasn't given "a specific reason" why he was no longer starting. He played sparingly the rest of the season.

"It was hard to keep my mouth shut," Shipley said. "That's the biggest thing. I knew at the end of the day I didn't want to be a cancer. I did not want to be a cancer to the team. We had a great team. We had a great season going, so I didn't want to be that.

"I just kinda had to go to work. I got a pretty fun personality. I couldn't. I just ... I was there. I went to work. I did what I had to do. I did my football stuff. I did my stuff and I went home. But I couldn't be 100 percent me because it was so hard."

This season, things have changed. Shipley signed with the Cardinals in free agency and is reunited with head coach Bruce Arians, who he worked with during his first stint with the Colts in 2012. The 29-year-old Shipley arrived with the goal of being the starter, and so far through OTAs, he's working with the first-team offense. 

More importantly, Shipley said he's enjoying himself once again.

"One hundred percent," Shipley said. "I feel good. It's fun coming to work every day again.

"It's great to be able to have the opportunity to go out and lead the team, and I'm looking forward to hopefully being able to hold on to that."

(h/t ESPN)

Photo credit: Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports