The behemoth you see before you isn’t a defensive lineman converted into a fullback, a strategy the 49ers and Eagles have employed. Nope, this is Eddie Lacy, star running back of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Offensive MVP of their 2013 BCS National Championship team. Lacy, a traditional power back, ran for over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns as a part of Alabama’s unstoppable ground attack last season. The Packers, in dire needs of a running game, drafted Lacy in the second round with the 61st overall pick, hoping he’d add some explosiveness to a position where they’ve been lacking the past couple of years.
Well, they definitely got explosive, explosively fat, that is. On his NFL draft profile, Lacy is listed as 5’11” and 231 lbs. Here’s a photo of him during a game last season where he was undoubtedly lighter:
What happened? How is it possible that Lacy gained what seems to be 30+ pounds in just a few months? Especially after leaving Alabama, a state clearly noted for its healthy cuisine and eating habits. On the other hand, this Vine taken at the Packers training camp yesterday suggests he’s only gained just a tiny bit of weight.
So is Eddie Lacy target of a dastardly smear campaign engineered by the other running backs competing for the starting job (looking at you, Jonathan Franklin, Alex Green, and DuJuan Harris), or simply the victim of an exceptionally unflattering picture? You be the judge.
About Ramin Rezvani