For First Time Since Lap Band Surgery, Jean-Gilles Goes Through Team Workout
Eagles, News, Offensive Line Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Eagles backup right guard Max Jean-Gilles has been battling his weight for his entire NFL career.   He has been up near the 400 pound level a number of times, so he got to the point where he wanted to put an end to the struggle.
Earlier this off season, Jean-Gilles underwent lap band surgery and had a band inserted around his stomach.  If forced him to miss the first mini camp, but big Max was working out today with the rookies and happy to be out there.
He said he feels good and has made Campbell’s Chunky soup his favorite dish.¬† In fact it’s all he eats right now because the surgery restricts him from eating hard foods for a while.
Max has already lost 30 pounds in the weeks since he had the surgery and you can clearly see that he looks much slimmer.
I think this could make Jean-Gilles a much better football player because he’s going to be quicker without the extra weight. His lack of quickness was exposed by Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl nose guard Jay Ratliff in the last two games of the season.
I think Max saw the writing on the wall, that if he didn’t lose some weight and improve, he wasn’t going to be here in Philadelphia.
I expect the loss of weight to make a big difference in the play of Jean-Gilles, as long as he keep his strength and power, which I see no reason why he shouldn’t.¬† His loss of weight doesn’t involve losing muscle, but fat from around his waist.
The former Georgia Bulldog says he underwent the surgery because he not only wants to be a better football player, but he more importantly wants to live a long and healthy life.
Jean-Gilles says he wants to be around to see his son grow up and get married.
You have to look at it as football’s not forever,” Jean-Gilles said. “I have a young son (Marcus) and a wife (Maggie). I look at it as they need me. I want to see my kid get married, have his kid. I’m doing it for the future.”
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Desperate times call for desperate measures. It takes a real man to admit he needs help. I applaud Max.
G:
I don’t applaud him at all. It’s sports. If you play hard you don’t even have to think about weight. I am not responsible for his psychological well-being. It is HIS career, make the most of it or GET OUT! I have no attachment to this man until he performs. Frankly, he fell backwards into a lucrative career that he is just short of wasting. Applaud him indeed…!