Slimmed-down Jenkins raring to go for Jets By Jane McManus The Journal News ? May 23, 2008 HEMPSTEAD - After the professional football thing runs its course, Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins thinks he may have a second career as a food critic. And considering how refined his tastes have become, one can see why. He might be one of the few 349-pound guys who cooks his egg-white omelets with truffle oil. "It's olive oil but they infuse it with truffles so it's heart-healthy," Jenkins said. Despite his listed weight, consider also that Jenkins has slimmed down considerably since last season. Food is his weakness, but he realized pushing 400 meant he might not be around as long after football. Jenkins has a fiancee, Tashia, and three boys under the age of 6, and he started thinking he needed to change something if he wanted to watch them grow up. He dropped more than 30 pounds by changing his diet to whole grains and cutting out all alcohol, "No partying, none of that," Jenkins said. He eats sushi and likes it, gets lot of fiber and makes sure he gets enough sleep. No one told him he had to do it, he just knew it was time. "It wasn't hard," Jenkins said. "I had an excuse and basically my excuse to get me on top of it was my kids." Jenkins, 28, was brought over as a free agent from Carolina, which drafted him in the second round of the 2001 draft. He is part of a series of offseason moves that Jets fans have hailed as evidence of the team's commitment to winning this season. Carolina does not play the same defensive alignment as the Jets, but Jenkins feels the 3-4 will be a place where he can showcase his strengths. "I love the challenge because now I have to be, basically, the stud," Jenkins said. "You got two gaps, you can't let anybody block you - double teams, whams, everything you got to take it head-on. It's different but it lets me kind of express myself. In a 4-3 defense you're basically restricted to that one gap. In the 3-4 defense I get to express myself a little bit more, show a little bit more of what I'm capable of doing." It's a long way from 2004, when he injured his shoulder and got up to 400 pounds while spending the second half of the season on injured reserve. For a player who was an alternate on the 2002 Pro Bowl team, it wasn't an easy time. "Part of the beat down I got comes with the job," Jenkins said. Getting back on the field after a 2005 ACL tear, Jenkins realized he needed to do something to improve his long-term prospects on and off the field. And the change in diet has improved his life - and not just because he knows gourmet terms like "infused." "It is huge," Jenkins said. "I'm getting to the point in my career now that every little bit helps, especially when you are getting the double teams off the end. Plus, it helps alleviate the pressure on my joints. I feel great. Doing what I have done now, I would not go back the other way." Notes: As a junior, No. 6 overall draft pick Vernon Gholston isn't able to practice with the Jets until graduation day at Ohio State, June 8, which will keep him out of mini-camp in the first week of June. ... Punter Jeremy Kapinos missed yesterday's practice due to family reasons. ... Will Montgomery took some repetitions as the long snapper during practice. ... Midway through the morning practice, skies darkened and players were pelted with small hailstones. Just as quickly, the skies cleared. Reach Jane McManus at jmcmanus@lohud.com.
i wouldn't start singing his praises just yet. Its a new environment with a new weight clause in his contract. need to wait till at least the middle of the season to see if he sustains his optimal weight. who knows he could say, "f that, I already collected half of my weight bonus money, I can afford to give up the rest."
I dont see him putting the weight back on...he said he's doing it for his kids so he'll be around long after football to watch them grow up.
i applaud him for that. kids should be whats most important to him (in addition to football) but if you think about it how much is his weight bonus money? compare that to his salary and bonus. every penny might be important to him in the beginning but if that ratio is small then its loses its effect after a while.
I didn't like the Jenkins move for a long time...I thought he was over the hill even at 28 because of his recent injuries...but since he's joined this team I've heard nothing but good things. This guy was arguably the top DT in the NFL before the injuries hit, and if he's as committed as he sounds then I think we've found our NT. He's really smart too...I love how we've went after guys who exude a confidence, intelligence, and work ethic this offseason...and if they didn't have the best work ethic (Jenkins) before we've attempted to beat it into them somehow. I'm not one to get excited about my teams...when the Cubs hired Lou Pinella I was the guy saying he's over the hill...but I'm happy as fuck seeing how the Jets have gotten their shit together so quickly under Mangini and Tannenbaum.
This is certainly a Tangini team now. No more blaming Herm & Bradway. Clemens, Ferguson, Mangold, L. Washington, Keller were their draft picks on O, they traded for T. Jones and got Faneca + Woody. Same thing w/the D -- K. Coleman, Jenkins, Pace & then drafted Gholston, Harris, Revis. This team has changed its players rather quickly in the scheme of things. I was against the Jenkins move myself initially. But now seeing how hard it is to find the 3-4 players -- particularly the immovable NT, it seems like a 3rd & 5th rounder for him was an equal trade -- even considering his age.
I was never against the Jenkins move, I went out with this girl about 6 or 7 years ago that was a huge Panthers fan and I ended up seeing this guy play a bunch, he is an animal. And an animal that size is what we needed. To me, as much as I love the O-line moves, Jenkins is the offseason pickup I think that will have the most impact on the team.
