Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/
Monday, July 28, 2008
Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette
The Steelers take the field yesterday to do their run tests on the first day of training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.
The wise guy couldn't help himself when Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton finally waddled out of the chow hall at training camp last night.
"Tofu?" the man inquired of Hampton's dinner fare.
"Nah, barbecued chicken," The Big Snack said.
What?
You think Hampton is going to get in fighting shape in one day?
C'mon.
In a way, it's easy to laugh at Hampton's situation after he was unceremoniously dumped on the Steelers' physically unable to perform (PUP) list only hours after reporting to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe because, as coach Mike Tomlin tersely put it, "he's not in any kind of shape to play football." It's always easy to make fun of the big, fat guy, right? Especially if the big, fat guy is willing to laugh at himself. Asked how long he expects to be on the list, which means he can't practice with the team and only can work out, Hampton grinned and said, "I hope all of camp."
Really, who wants to practice in the Latrobe heat?
If Hampton has his way, the next snap he takes will be in the Steelers' opener against the Houston Texans Sept. 7.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.
Even the great Hampton -- one of the NFL's best nose tackles and a Pro Bowler in each of the past three seasons -- needs the work.
That's why Tomlin sees nothing funny about Hampton's weight problem. The guess here is it disappoints him to no end and also ticks him off because Hampton has let the team down, although he didn't say that. What he did say flatly when asked if he was concerned that Hampton wouldn't be ready for the season was this: "Yes, I am."
This is not the way the Steelers wanted to open camp, especially not with two other crucial starters -- safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring) and guard Chris Kemoeatu (triceps) -- also put on the physically unable to perform list. It's just not every day that one of your best and highest-paid players is so publicly slapped and embarrassed.
But there was one positive to it.
The other players noticed.
You bet they noticed.
"Doing this to a player of Casey's stature sends a message to everyone else -- nobody is safe," defensive captain James Farrior said.
"It doesn't surprise me with Tomlin. It doesn't matter who you are with him. You have to perform," veteran wide receiver Hines Ward added.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Casey Hampton talks with Hall of Famer and former Steeler Joe Greene in between workouts this morning at training camp.
Maybe you see something wrong with that.
I surely don't.
I think it's a good thing when every player knows he has to play his best -- or else.
"I don't send messages. I just take action," Tomlin said, trying to dismiss that aspect of the Hampton business. But the boss had to grin when reminded that messages often do go along with his actions. "I'm not going to complain if that is the case," he said.
Shame on Hampton for putting Tomlin and the Steelers in this situation. Where is his discipline? Where is his pride? If he wants to let himself go five years from now, fine. But how can he do it now when his career is on the line and his teammates are depending on him?
Those teammates love Hampton, by the way, as much as any player on the team. He's such a big lug you can't help but like him. A few teammates tried to defend him yesterday, saying he had a tough offseason because of some personal issues. "Some things going on at home," is the way Hampton put it.
But blaming those problems for Hampton's weight trouble is letting him off the hook too easily. This isn't the first time he came to camp in less than perfect shape. He talked of how former Steelers coach Bill Cowher gave him the business about his weight on more than one occasion and "you guys made a big deal out of it ... The first time it happened was the first year I made the Pro Bowl."
The difference between then and now is four years, an eternity for a player, especially a big player. Hampton turns 31 Sept. 3. Losing the extra weight at his age is a lot harder than when he was 26 or 27. Certainly, he wouldn't be the first player to eat himself out of the league prematurely.
What a shame that would be.
For the Steelers, sure.
But more so for Hampton, who signed a five-year, $22.775 million contract before the 2005 season. He could cost himself millions in that deal and his next contract if he's too fat to play.
You would think that would be enough to make Hampton push himself away from the dinner table.
"It's unfortunate he came in like this, but I'm not worried about him being ready for the season," Farrior said. "He always gets himself ready ...
"We need him, I know that. He's our anchor."
Said Hampton, "I know I need to be in better shape. I know what I have to do. Bottom line, come Sept. 7, I'll be ready to play."
The man still might want to consider that tofu.
Just in case.
Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com
First published on July 28, 2008 at 12:00 am
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