The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently signed running back Leonard Fournette to a three-year deal. The new deal basically made him the assumed starter. Fournette didn’t participate in OTAs but was there for June’s mandatory mini-camp. Apparently his arrival, or the shape he was in when he arrived wasn’t ideal.
Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times Fournette showed up at mandatory mini-camp weighing in at nearly 260 lbs.
“Coaches were not happy, and that’s an understatement, when [Fournette] didn’t participate in the OTAs but then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing damn near 260 [pounds],” Stroud said on the “Sports Day Tampa Bay” podcast. “And that’s not a good sign for a guy that you just spent a three-year contract on.”
Holy Fast-Food Fournette!
Fournette was seen in a workout video on July 1st posted on Twitter. I wouldn’t say he looks overweight as much as out of playing shape.
Leonard “Frenchie” Fournette with a final set of 325 on power cleans today on Big Clean Friday‼️ @_fournette #FreakyFriday pic.twitter.com/zIRpLQ0piz
— J.Bush CSCS, USAW, PES (@JBush____) July 1, 2022
As JoeBucsFan.com pointed out, Fournette played at a listed 235 lbs as a rookie in Jacksonville. The Joe’s also pointed out that Fournette told local media he was around 240 lbs in June. Fournette is listed at 228 lbs on Buccaneers.com currently.
It isn’t surprising that someone who just signed a big contract cuts loose a little in celebration, it’s expected. And obviously Fournette could have already shed the extra weight. I think the story here is the report of the coaches not being happy with Fournette’s condition AFTER skipping OTAs. Even still, that was early June, we’re in mid July, so there’s plenty of time to get in shape.
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