There couldn’t possibly have been more weight-related red flags surrounding former Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith entering last year’s draft, but the Bengals used the sixth overall pick on him anyway. To the Bengals’ credit, they inserted language into Smith’s contract that would protect them against his lack of passion for conditioning. The team is off the hook for half of Smith’s weekly game check any time he reports heavier than 350 pounds.
According to Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, “word is” Smith currently weighs 370.
Mike Florio passed along “concerns regarding [Smith’s] conditioning” in a Thursday post, based on a report from SI’s Peter King. Smith underwent foot surgery in February, and wasn’t medically cleared to practice four months later at minicamp. The status of his rehab remains uncertain.
It’s also unclear how Smith plans to shed the weight when he -- presumably -- can’t run. We suppose he could just stop eating altogether.
But that, um, seems unlikely.