Fat, fights and missed flights. It’s not a nursery rhyme gone bad. We’re talking about Lendale White’s opening years with the Tennessee Titans. He’s been out of shape and out of practice. Now Lendale is back on the field. With the Titans’ premier running back, Travis Henry, gone to the Broncos, Lendale should have stolen the spotlight. Well he has stolen the show…but for all the wrong reasons.

The drama started before the 2006 season even began, with White getting into a brawl with some of his teammates. The situation got heavier (25-pounds exactly) when White showed up to his 2007 off-season practices overweight. A hamstring injury soon followed. This past Tuesday White was the only player to skip practice, as he missed his flight in order to spend time with his sick grandmother. Coach Fisher had this to say:

“He’ll get on the field eventually. I just hope it’s not going to be too late…I’ve been on record with being disappointed with him right now.”
LA Times

Now Lendale White is back on the field, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Thursday was his first practice since injuring his hamstring May 8th. Unfortunately for Lendale, it may be a case of too little – too late. The Titans just drafted running back Chris Henry out of Arizona. If Lendale fails to stay injury free, he’ll be starting behind the rookie Henry. Lendale White has the raw potential to be one of the best backs in the league. Now is his time to rise to the challenge. But if Lendale keeps up with his antics, if he doesn’t show up like he did at USC, his talent will simply waste away on the bench until his contract expires. His fate is in his hands. It will just sicken me to watch Lendale piss it away.