Kind of corny regarding the new nickname (IMO) but worth posting regarding the added mass. Lots of stories regarding the lockout have been saying a lot of guys have gotten a chance to get much stronger with the extra lifting they can do, when they might be doing football drills/conditioning that would she some of the weight......interesting _________________________________________________________________________ KRISTIAN DYER NEW YORK Published: July 19, 2011 7:37 p.m. Last modified: July 20, 2011 9:23 a.m. Tweet more Email Be the first to comment Print article Text size Eric Smith was one of the few players in the Jets locker room last season without a nickname. The soft-spoken safety is content to sit in the corner of the room, outside his locker and quietly watch as his teammates talk, shout and play pranks on each other. But now, Smith has a nickname. Just call him “Continental Shelf.” The nickname came about this offseason as Smith, set to enter his sixth year in the league, added 12 pounds of muscle to his frame. Smith has spent the past couple weeks training with teammates, including Bart Scott and Jerricho Cotchery at TEST Sports Clubs. TEST’s owner Brian Martin points to Smith’s trapezius muscle and gives it a squeeze. The Jets safety shows the line of muscle around the player’s neck. “It’s like the continental shelf, right here,” Martin said laughing. “It’s unbelievable. His teammates can’t believe how big he’s gotten this offseason. But this right here (pointing again), it is the continental shelf.” The added muscle and re-dedication to the weight room comes at a good time for Smith, now an unrestricted free agent. Last season, Smith had a career high with 54 tackles and played a large role in the Jets defense after a midseason injury to fellow safety Jim Leonhard shelved the player for the rest of the season. He was one of just a handful of the team’s free agents to participate in the team’s voluntary camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, N.J. in early June. “It was a good opportunity for me to get some work in. Love these guys,” Smith told Metro. “I miss being around these guys and it was good to get football work in.” Smith is hopeful to be a part of the Jets next year and his participation in the voluntary camp last month is perhaps a good sign to fans that he wants to be in green this season. “I’d definitely like to be here, be a Jet next year. Especially with the defense we had last year,” Smith said, wearing a green “Camp Lockout” shirt from last month’s camp. “They’d like to have me back, and I’d like to be back.” Smith said that he spoke with general manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan after the loss in the AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh about his future with the team. The “Continental Shelf” would like to shore things up for the Jets secondary again this season, but he’s willing to explore his options if need be. “They’d love to have me back but they don’t know the dynamics yet. It’s a big offseason for the team,” Smith said. “There are a lot of free agents and they don’t know who is coming back, who they are re-signing or can re-sign. A lot of things need to work out so we’ll see what happens.”
Will having fat neck muscles help him in pass coverage, I could beat him down the middle. Love the way he plays, but geez, slow as hell. That said, gotta sign him, we don't have time to teach new players.
The lockout has given players ample time to take illegal supplements and have them out of their system by their first drug test. I would not be surprised if many players bulked up considerably.
Hell lose half of that easy once pads come on an they're drilling again. Same reason it took brick 4 yrs to get above a 280 to 285 playing weight. Nice blurb either way he's bustin his ass to put on that much mass
I don't think its anything illegal. Like Bart Scott said, without team lifitng and mini camps, guys could workout out with trainers like College kids do for the combine and get bigger and faster. Bart supposedly put on 8 lbs of muscle. I would expect most players to be in better shape.
It's not that crazy for an NFLer with personal trainer access and proper dieting to add 12 pounds of muscle to their frame. Assuming he's using PEDs is a stretch. If his skull starts to expand, then one can start assuming.
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised to see them putting Smith at ILB and OLB in certain formations more often. He's basically making himself more versatile in this situation, because with the extra bulk and strength, he'll be able to shed blocks in the box more effectively. He hits like a truck, and he's as fast as a lot of LBs. They have said numerous times that he's the smartest black player on the team. He should be able to take on those type of responsibilities.
Considering RR is a proponent of the '46', Smith bulking up doesn't mean he'd be chasing TEs in coverage all the time.
Great, 12lbs of extra muscle. Between his ears? Now he can give away 20 yards in penalties per game, not merely 15. Cut this black bum.
Thats exactly what I figured. There has been plenty of time run a cycle & pct without the fear of drug tests. I would be almost disappointed in any player who didn't take advantage. And at this stage in Smith's career as far as psychical training goes - 12 lbs of muscle isn't going to happen without the aid of drugs unless he was seriously dieted down as a starting point.
I don't know from this angle he does look white: BTW after bulking up any truth to the rumor he now gets his shoes from a blacksmith?
