LOOK: Leonard Fournette trolls social media amid weight concerns speculation
With football season just around the corner, NFL fans across the country are thirsting for every bit of news they can get their hands on in late July. One of the biggest pieces of news to drop recently was the bombshell that Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette showed up to minicamp nearly 30 pounds overweight. Bucs coaches were reportedly furious at their star tailback, since the franchise just gave him a three-year contract extension a few months ago worth a max value of $24 million. Naturally, social media decided to joke around about Fournette’s weight issues the past few days. On Saturday evening, the former LSU star took to Twitter and trolled social media amidst the concerns about his weight heading into training camp.
The good news for Fournette is that he’s an experienced pro and he’ll likely have no problem shedding the weight before the time the season rolls around. Plus, according to a report from USA Today, the minicamp that he reportedly showed up to 30 pounds overweight for was six weeks ago. Somebody posted a video of Fournette power cleaning 325 pounds in early July, so he’s clearly not that out of shape.
A recent report from The Athletic said that he was in the “low 240s” as of last week. His trainer says Fournette plays his best at 235 pounds.
Which is exactly why he decided to troll social media on Saturday night. It doesn’t seem like the star running back is concerned with managing his weight. We’ll have to see how he looks once training camp rolls around in a few days. It’s hard to imagine the star tailback disappointing Tom Brady, who has notoriously high standards for his teammates.
Fournette has enjoyed a career revival with Tampa Bay
Fournette has spent the past two seasons with the Buccaneers. In 2020, he played in 13 games, rushing 97 times for 367 yards and six touchdowns. He also grabbed 36 receptions for 233 yards. This past season, Fournette took control of the backfield in Tampa Bay, rushing for 812 yards with eight touchdowns, also adding 69 receptions for 454 yards and two additional scores.
Prior to his time in Tampa Bay, Fournette spent the first three years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being selected fourth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of LSU. Fournette rushed for at least 1,000 yards in two of his first three years in the league. In 2019, he had 1,152 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. But just prior to the start of the regular season in 2020, the Jaguars cut Fournette, and he then joined the Buccaneers.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Fournette’s new deal is worth a base value of $21 million, paying him $7 million per season. The deal is worth a max value of $24 million.
The Buccaneers had a good year last season, going 13-4 in the regular season and winning the NFC South title. Tampa Bay then defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wildcard round of the NFC playoffs before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional round. The Rams then went on to win the Super Bowl.
With Tom Brady back in the fold, the Buccaneers are looking to make another deep run next season and Fournette wanted to be a part of that.
On3’s Jonathan Wagner also contributed to this article.