GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave up cheese this offseason, and coach Mike McCarthy said “this is the best shape I've seen him in." Running back Eddie Lacy spent months working out with P90X founder Tony Horton in order to finally -- he hopes -- put to rest the story of his overweight 2015 season.
So how did Richard Rodgers shed more than 15 pounds this offseason?
No more Red Vines.
On the way down to his assigned weight goal of 258 pounds, the Green Bay Packers tight end gave up his favorite candy. The licorice maker probably won't be calling him to sign an endorsement deal anytime soon.
"I was taking in too many carbs, and I tend to eat a lot of candy -- I like Red Vines," Richard Rodgers explained this week. "So I had to cut that out."
To be sure, it was more than just the absence of his favorite sugary snack that helped transform his body. If Lacy looked slightly thinner when camp opened on Tuesday, then Rodgers' physical makeover was far more extreme.
He was a plodding, bottom-heavy player last season, when his blocking was mediocre and his ability to make plays after the catch or downfield was minimal -- save for the Hail Mary touchdown against the Detroit Lions. It's no wonder McCarthy gave him a similar, although less public, weight ultimatum.
"Coach Mike asked me to be at 258 coming into this season," Rodgers said. "So that's why I dropped it, obviously."
When he caught the Hail Mary, he said he weighed somewhere between 272 and 275 pounds. At that weight, he showed little explosiveness, which explains why he averaged just 8.8 yards per catch despite grabbing 58 passes during the regular season. He was one of just four tight ends last year to post 55-plus catches, 500 or more receiving yards and at least eight touchdowns.
Most of the weight seemed to come off over the summer, when he worked out at his alma mater -- the University of California. Armed with a new diet plan from team nutritionist Adam Korzun, Rodgers committed more time to running and playing basketball.
He's noticed a difference.
"Yeah, just getting in and out of breaks on routes, for sure," Rodgers said.
For now, Rodgers remains the Packers' No. 1 tight end, but it's by default. Jared Cook, the team’s one significant free-agent signing this offseason, started camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after undergoing foot surgery nearly two months ago.
"I think we're just both excited to really be able to play together," Rodgers said. "As soon as Jared gets back, I think it will be good. Obviously, he's been in the league for a long time, and I'm going to be able to learn from him. Right now he's watching us and he tells us what we're doing and helps us out with defenses, but when he's able to be out there, we're going to be able to help each other."
