A model dad

At times, they seemed more like brothers than father and son. Washington Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs and his dad, Ron, used to wage furious one-on-one battles on the basketball court. They raced each other to see who was faster.

Those days are over — and not just because Ron quit playing hoops with his son when Shawn, then 18, beat him for the first time.

The elder Springs was diagnosed with diabetes in 1992 and has become increasingly ill over the last four years. He receives dialysis three times a week and needs a kidney transplant. Worst of all, Ron’s right foot was amputated just above the ankle in February. That was especially traumatic for a man who starred at tailback for Ohio State and played fullback for the Dallas Cowboys for six seasons and the Tampa Buccaneers for two.

“It was very tough losing my foot, but it was either lose it or risk not seeing my children and grandchildren grow up,” he said. “It’s hard for people to see me this way. I can jog and walk and drive, but I spend a lot of time in a wheelchair because it takes the pressure off my legs.”

His father’s misfortune has only strengthened Shawn’s resolve to have the best season of his nine-year NFL career, even though at 30, he’s well into middle age for a player at his position.

“My father was such an active man,” Shawn said. “It’s hard seeing him deal with the dialysis and the prosthesis. He wants to see me shine. This year will be even better than last year because I had a great offseason. Last year I had a bone bruise, so I didn’t have a full offseason. And I understand [assistant head coach/defense] Gregg Williams’ system now. Gregg uses me so [many ways] that I don’t have any choice but to make plays.”

Last season Springs became the first defensive back in NFL history to lead his team in interceptions and sacks. But, then, making plays is what Ron trained him to do.

“It’s like if your dad was a mechanic, you would know a little bit about cars,” Springs said. “Having a dad who was a professional football player and an offensive player helped me out a lot. He trained me to think like an offensive player.”

Shawn was born when Ron was just 18 and headed to Ohio State after a stellar prep career as a running back in Williamsburg.

Shawn stayed behind with his grandmother — his part-time nanny was the mother of future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor — and Ron became a star for the Buckeyes.

“I was probably a better athlete than Shawn,” Ron said. “I was 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, and I had great speed. Everybody was recruiting me and when [coaching legend] Woody Hayes asked me to come to Ohio State, that’s where I went.

“I thought I would be a first-round pick, but I hurt my knee my senior year and I didn’t get picked until the fifth round by the Cowboys. And, of course, they had Tony Dorsett at tailback, so they switched me to fullback.”

Ron adapted easily and started for Tom Landry’s teams that reached the playoffs from 1981 to 1983. He led the Cowboys in touchdowns (12) in 1981 and in receptions (73) two years later.

Shawn spent summers and vacations with his father, becoming a regular in the locker room at the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch complex and at training camp.

“Me and [Dorsett’s son, Anthony] grew up in the Cowboys’ locker room,” he said. “Tony Dorsett is my sister’s godfather. I would hang out with [cornerback] Everson Walls and [defensive tackle] Too Tall Jones. I would get water for [assistants] Dan Reeves and Mike Ditka and Coach Landry.

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