Known as one of, if not the best nose tackles in the league, the Steelers have always been able to count on Casey Hampton to be a force on their D-line. That is until today. The Pro Bowl NT was placed by the team on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list after showing up to training camp overweight and unable to complete the teams annual run test.
“He’s overweight and he’s not conditioned enough to participate at this point,” coach Mike Tomlin said. Ouch. For a team that needs players like Hampton on their D-line to stop the run and rush the passer, this is clearly not good news. Word is Hampton, who is listed at 325 pounds, showed up well over that, and was at one point 30 yards behind on the run test, and completed five of the 8 100-yard sprints.
Tomlin explained to the media on hand that it was going to take sometime to get Hampton back in shape and back on the field. “Hopefully it doesn’t (take a long time), but he’s not going to wake up tomorrow and be ready to go. He’s got to go through a process, and we’ve got to take him through that process. We’ll just live day-to-day with it until he’s at an acceptable level of conditioning and weight.”
Hampton did not take part in the Steelers offseason workouts, but said he worked out on his own, and then said Sunday that the reason he was not there was to take care of personal business. If that played a part in his weight is not known, but what is known is as of now, he won’t be on the field till he gets in shape, and who knows when that will be.
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Jay Sabo
July 28, 2008 at 5:13 pm
My issue is with big snack and Troy. 1st, if you’re too fat, you’re too fat. Not much discussion more than that and Casey seems to be taking it in stride; even with a little tongue in cheek. But Troy is another story in my opinion. I know most news sites are down playing his (newest) injury and it probably is nothing but I (am venting here) am sick of looking up and seeing this guy hurt all the time. Could I do better? No, I couldn’t. But I wasn’t blessed by God physically to be able to choose this profession either. I guess altruistically I hope he’s all right. As a fan, though, man it’s getting ridiculous. I’m glad we took Mundy. This is beginning to look like a trend and for anyone who knows even the rudimentary elements of math and logic, trends tend to be true and consistent until changes are made.
Larry Ramirez
July 29, 2008 at 11:40 am
I agree with Jay. Fat is fat. Hampton will lose the weight and be fine. As for Troy, it’s so hard and frustrating to watch this. I hope he let’s the hammy heal 100% because if not it will hamper him all season. Once the body starts getting too banged up it’s very hard to stay healthy, so I hope the trend stops after this latest setback. To me the fact is this, I’m no doctor, but he plays so wreckless he’s bound to keep getting hurt. Gotta love his fearless style though!!