ST. LOUIS -- Rams defensive tackle Nick Fairley has entered team OTAs looking slim and trim, at least for a guy paid to terrorize quarterbacks.
Conditioning struggles dogged the former first-round pick through the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Detroit Lions, which prompted the Rams to include a $500K workout incentive on his current one-year deal. It proved effective -- Fairley hired a chef and dropped below 300 pounds. After an injury-shortened 2014 season, he signed with the Rams and seems to have put his conditioning struggles behind him.
In fact, Fairley's new habits were almost too effective -- with the Rams, he received the enviable assignment of regaining some of the weight he'd lost.
"His condition level's fine," Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed Tuesday. "Nick's changed his lifestyle, changed his diet, and we're trying to get some weight back on him right now. And he's done it. He's worked hard the last couple weeks."
"Putting on five pounds each week was my goal," Fairley explained of his approach entering OTAs. "So far, I'm sticking with it and I'm meeting it."
For what it's worth, the Rams' official roster currently has him at 308, and Fairley admits Tuesday that he feels "pretty good." There's little room for relapse, however, if he wants to stay competitive on a roster that includes a bevy of defensive line talent (sophomore standout Aaron Donald comes to mind) -- something his head coach says Fairley is aware of.
In the meantime, the defensive tackle is enjoying his new teammates, though he'd had little time to learn his new city (for which he's apologetic).
"I kind of like our D-line room -- it's kind of laid back," Fairley says. "Then again, when it's time to get serious, we're serious."
Lookin' good! Flip through ourphoto album of NFL cheerleaders.
You can follow Elisabeth Meinecke on Twitter at @lismeinecke or email her at ecmeinecke@gmail.com.
