Empty the Bench

Yahoo! Sports has been on an uncharacteristic roll these past two days. In the San Antonio Spurs – Golden State Warriors box score from Monday night, they listed “Old Age!” as the reason for Robert Horry’s DNP (it’s since been changed to “Injury,” so thanks to True Hoop for the screen shot). Now today (via Rotowire) they publish an update on Tennessee Titans running back Lendale White under the headline “Lendale White: Getting Fat.”

We like it. It’s to the point, it states the facts, and it’s honest to a T because according to that report, White is indeed packing on the pounds Big Daddy Wilkinson style:

White tipped the scales at more than 260 pounds earlier this month while working out in Tennessee’s offseason program, underscoring the physical conditioning concerns that in part caused him to fall to the second round of the 2006 draft, Yahoo Sports reports.

More than 260! Lendale, my man, listen up: when you consume (significantly) more calories than you burn, you gain weight. It’s a simple formula. Two boxes of Twinkies, one box of Ding-Dons, a chocolate-covered cheesecake, and four straight hours of Full House reruns? You gain weight. A healthy breakfast, sensible lunch, and modest dinner with a little weightlifting and running mixed in? Probably won’t gain weight. As a professional athlete, that’s all you have to do right now. Eat right and work out. Easy. Done. Next.

Y! Sports Charles Robinson has a little more on the White situation:

Now the Titans are looking at candidates to fill out their backfield and push White, who apparently left the team in shape after last season but gained around 30 pounds before returning for the offseason program. It was only one year ago that talent evaluators were opining that White’s weight would likely be a constant battle in his career, after he showed up to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis at 238 pounds, and then USC’s pro day at 244. This after White admitted that he played in the national championship game against Texas at over 250 pounds.

“[LenDale] is no different than any other young player,” said Fisher, who would not expound on White’s reported heavy weigh-in. “He needs the competition. You don’t hand the job to him. The job has not been handed to him. Hopefully we’ll have somebody in there to compete with him. He’s a very competitive, tough, talented young running back. I think he’s got a chance to be very good.”

There’s also a chance he’ll eat his way out of the NFL. I’m a Vince Young fan, and the Titans have enjoyed more than their fair share of ignominy over the past season or so (Albert Haynesworth, Pacman, the Steve McNair situation), so I hope they catch a break some time soon and get their team headed back in the right direction. That starts with the highly touted White rededicating himself to his profession.

Possibly Related Content:

1. Six NFL Players Looking to Cash In


2. Golden Tate’s Soft Spot for Maple Bars


3. Michael Jordan Likes Hot Dogs, Wearing White Socks with Black Shoes


4. Fantasy Football: Week Ten Quick Hits


5. The 2008 NFL Offseason Police Blotters – Kicking, Punching, and Choking Edition