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The Goodyear Blimp has always been a special part of Americana, an iconic aircraft that is often seen flying over major sporting events in the United States.
A Jets player was compared to this magical machine.
Headline – “Sloppy and out of shape Mo Wilkerson shocks scouts at Temple.”
The Daily News reported that scouts at Temple’s Pro Day were shocked at how fat Wilkerson looked. Here is a quick excerpt from the story
Wilkerson looked like he had been plucked from the nearest buffet, according to people in attendance.
One scout texted me a picture of a Goodyear blimp with an accompanying: “Sloppy.”
We got into the awful state of sports journalism yesterday in talking about this story. Now let’s get into the allegations that Wilkerson is fat.
Like I wrote yesterday, I don’t think two scouts said this, as the story said. My guess it was a reporter friend of the writer.
Yes, when you are 6-4, 315 pounds, you are fat.
According to the medical community, the best weight for a 6-4 man is between 182 – 222 lbs.
So he’s about 100 pounds overweight.
But last time I checked, he’s an NFL defensive lineman. You don’t see a lot of NFL defensive linemen who are 6-4, 222 pounds, especially in a 3-4 defense. Defensive linemen in a 3-4 front are generally bigger than 4-3 linemen because 3-4 linemen often have to take up two blockers (to protect the linebackers).
You ever see Bills defensive lineman Marcell Dareus? He’s 6-3, 331 pounds, and if you see him up close or on TV, you would say he needs to go Jenny Craig.
The Baltimore Ravens just gave defensive tackle Brandon Williams a five-year, $54 million contract extension. He’s 6-1, 344. Fat as hell, but a heck of a player.
You ever seen Damon Harrison?
Look, I’m not going to bore you by going across the league and documenting how fat most defensive linemen are.
Wilkerson has a gut. Hey, I have a gut and I’m 6-0, 192 pounds. Wilkerson is 6-4, 315 pounds.
Most of these massive defensive linemen like Wilkerson are in shape for their size. The conditioning coaches get them in shape at their weight, even though it’s 300-pounds.
I’m sure a lot of you have seen some of these former linemen, like Alan Faneca and Sean O’Hara, who leave football, and lose like 100 pounds.
So whoever saw Wilkerson at the Temple Pro Day, and told the Daily News Wilkerson is fat, they were correct, he is fat by normal standards.
But he’s not fat for the job he’s doing. And he’s shown, when healthy, he moves just fine at that size.
So this story is bull.
However, there is a silver-lining to this story for the Jets.
It pissed off Wilkerson and increased the chip on his shoulder.
“They say I’m fat and out of shape? Haha,” Wilkerson said early this week. “Keep sleeping on me. I’m telling you. I love it.”
I can’t see the future like some (who already know the Jets will be terrible this year), but I think Wilkerson could have a monster season this year. His leg is now healthy, and he’s wants to prove the naysayers wrong. He’s a Jersey guy. Do you think he likes being embarrassed around here? I think he’s going to play in 2017 like his hair is on fire.
And he will be fat.
Like most humans who are 6-4, 315.
March 23, 2017
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