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Steelers Pro Bowler, coach at odds

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The philosophies of Mike Tomlin and Casey Hampton clashed yesterday, prompting the Steelers coach to prohibit his Pro Bowl nose tackle from joining his teammates on the training camp practice field until he gets in shape. Tomlin placed Hampton on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after watching him labor through five of a required eight 100-yard jogs that were part of the players' conditioning test their first day at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. "He wasn't able to finish the test," Tomlin said. "He's overweight and he's not conditioned enough to participate at this point." Tomlin said when he determines Hampton is in shape, he'll take him off the PUP list and allow him to practice. "I could be in better shape," said Hampton, who the Steelers officially list on their roster at 325 pounds. "But my thing is the only way you can get into football shape is to play football. You can do all the running you want, know what I mean?"

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mike Tomlin, Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Mike Tomlin, Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
July 28, 2008  05:37 AM ET

I have to agree with Mike Tomlin on this one. Just run, get into FOOTBALL SHAPE.....by running.

Make him run them with two parachutes......I bet he won't talk anymore.

July 28, 2008  05:52 AM ET

"The philosophies of Mike Tomlin and Casey Hampton clashed yesterday"

Being a fatty and not wanting to work out is a 'philosophy'?

Comment has been removed
July 28, 2008  06:29 AM ET

I like Hampton allot, and feel he's underrated among NT's, but get in shape! You saw last year how little depth the DL has when Smith went down, so why do anything to put the DL in a tough spot again.

Tomlin did the right thing here. Only bad things can come from putting an overweight/out-of-shape guy (and this is overweight for a NT, mind you) out there in 85+ degree heat for hours on end day after day.

July 28, 2008  06:31 AM ET

The brightside to all this is...

...This isn't a Favre story.

July 28, 2008  06:54 AM ET

This would be funny if it was someone else's favorite team. Supposedly Casey makes managers of Ponderosa's and other buffets nervous when he enters. I wonder what he actually weighs right now?

July 28, 2008  06:57 AM ET

There is no "clash" here. The coach is doing his job. It is fairly obvious that "Big Snacks" was working on his nickname and NOT on his off-season conditioning.

Hampton states he will "be ready" for the season. Yesterday was the start of pre-SEASON. Does he think his opponents are in the same mindset, too? Even if he does "get ready" he will still be behind as everyone else in the time that he is "getting ready" are just increasing their stamina base. It's gonna be a long season at nose tackle.....

July 28, 2008  06:59 AM ET

"Physically unable to perform"...lmao, ship the tonnage to Japan (sumo anyone?) for some TV's and Playstations!

July 28, 2008  07:04 AM ET

A Kodak moment I will pass on......

July 28, 2008  07:24 AM ET

The look on Tomlin's face in the photo couldn't be more appropriate!

July 28, 2008  08:21 AM ET

The slug should have worked out in off-season like the other 95% of
all players. Good for the coach, and hope Hampton loses some $$.

July 28, 2008  08:28 AM ET

Save the whale!

Oh yeah, Baby!

July 28, 2008  08:33 AM ET

(of course, I wanted to call him a fatshit, but that would not be nice...)

July 28, 2008  08:33 AM ET

Fortunately, Chris Hoke is a decent backup NT. If this was one of the ends, the Steelers would be in trouble given McBeam and Eason didn't get the job done last year when Smith went down and they really haven't addressed the lack of depth on the D-Line.

July 28, 2008  08:38 AM ET

This isn't right!

How was Hampton supposed to know by the time training camp rolled around he needed to be able to climb a couple flights of stairs without going into cardiac arrest?

July 28, 2008  08:38 AM ET

I agree Perfect 360. I was puzzled and annoyed that the Steelers passed on Mid round guys like Red Bryant (whom Seattle took and looks to be a steal) and other wide bodies to add some depth to an aging defensive line. Thank God Hampton has more talent and dedication than Jamain Stephens as I know many other Steeler fans were thinking about that one when this story broke.

July 28, 2008  08:51 AM ET

The Steelers have to play the Cowboys this season. Good luck!

July 28, 2008  09:04 AM ET

I can't believe that Hampton showed up fatter and out of shape. He's getting paid enough to do some workouts in the offseason that don't involve dishing another load of food on his plate.

July 28, 2008  09:09 AM ET

Tomlin needs to look at Hampton's history to know that the sprints mean jacksh*t in Hampton's case. The guy is effective because of his girth. He made the last three Pro Bowls doing the same things every year. If Casey Hampton ever has to run 100 yards durin g a game....that would mean the stadium was on fire.

A good coach deals with the individuals within a team. Hampton's teammate don't care that Casey can't run 8 full sprints. Neither should Tomlin.

 
July 28, 2008  09:13 AM ET

Last Call, he definitely should care. Hampton struggled down the stretch last season because he was getting tired so easily. Defensive line depth is suspect, and they need Casey in good shape.

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