FLORHAM PARK N.J. — After an impressive entrance into the NFL New York JetsOffensive tackle Mekhi BectonHe is now experiencing the negative side of being a professional football player. His name is being dragged around the social media mud with people criticizing him for his weight, durability, and dedication to football. It has placed a chip on his shoulders.
A message on his chest.
Becton, also known as “Big Ticket,” created a hoodie saying “Big Bust.” A list of perceived negatives is enclosed around “Big Bust,” which includes “Fat… Lazy… Out of Shape… Bum… Sucks… Overweight … Injury Prone
Last week, he posted a photo on Instagram of himself in the sweatshirt while working out. Becton mocked critics and changed his Twitter name to “Big Bust77”
Trust me, he hears everything. “He definitely does that,” stated Damien Woody, an ex-Jets offensive lineman and confidant to Becton. He’s chomping at the bit. He feels disrespected by everything.
Becton was the No. The No. 11 draft pick for 2020, Becton has become a controversial player with questions about his ability to be a cornerstone left tackle. After sustaining a dislocated right leg in the season opener, he played in just one game in 2021. Robert Saleh, the coach, put him on notice in January. he’d have to win back his left tackle jobStarting at George Fant.
Becton is at a crucial juncture of his young career. On Monday, the Jets start their offseason (voluntary), and there are many big questions surrounding Becton.
Is he in good health? What sort of health is he in now? The Jets could use these answers to help them decide their draft strategy. 4, or 10, overall pick.
Saleh stated at recent league meetings that Becton is in constant communication with him, and added, “He’s doing an amazing job.” The coach did not say that Becton would be allowed to take part in offseason practices which start May 23. According to his family, he is currently recovering from knee surgery. He won’t miss much. The OTAs won’t be taxing for linemen, as Saleh plans to focus on 7-on-7 drills and walk-throughs.
“I do know that when he comes back, he’s going to be a ball of butcher knives,” Saleh said.
Becton’s weight is something that everyone is interested in, but it is kept secret. We know this: Becton, a 6-foot-7 lineman, weighed in at least 363 pounds at the Scouting Combine two years ago.
Ann Claiborne Becton’s nutritionist said that they were able “to get his weight back into the 300s for sure.” Although it is more challenging when he can’t train as usual, he’s still in the 300s. We’ll continue to work to help him lose weight and heal.
Claiborne claimed that Becton’s weight is currently unknown to her, but she said, “It is below 400”.
The two of them teamed up in August last year when Becton, a healthy man who had struggled with training camp practices, needed weight loss. Claiborne claims that he lost his prescribed weight within the first week of the regular season.
He suffered a knee injury in Week 1. He missed the remainder of the season, despite the team giving him a 6- to 8-week time frame. In retrospect, the team claimed that it was impossible for a man of his size to recover so quickly after knee surgery. His personal trainer, Duke Manyweather, responding to a person on Twitter who questioned Becton’s toughness, launched a profanity-laced defense of his client last Saturday, saying the injury “was never f—ing 4 weeks, 8 weeks or a 12-week return! His s— was serious.”
Manyweather didn’t respond to interview requests. Becton hasn’t spoken to the media in over a year since September of last year, when he was injured.
Becton woke up, it is possible, and decided to get in shape. Maybe he was too sore from the knee dislocation that he couldn’t continue training.
Claiborne, the founder and CEO at Customized Concierge Nutrition and a professional athlete himself, recommended that Becton hire a personal chef. He suggested a diet that included lean meats and vegetables as well as complex carbs. Because of his knee injury, it’s an anti-inflammatory and alkaline diet with triple the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables he was previously consuming, Claiborne said. He avoids processed food.
Claiborne began by cleaning out Becton’s pantry and replenishing it with healthy options. Claiborne simply pulls out a prepared meal from his chef when it is time to eat. Claiborne, based in Atlanta, keeps him in touch; they communicate often via Zoom, FaceTime and text. She coordinates with Becton’s personal trainer and physical therapist, the Jets, as well as his agents. The Big Ticket is supported by a large team.
Claiborne explained that, like most athletes, it can be difficult to get him into a contract. “But if the chef makes delicious food, and it is healthy for him, it is much easier to get him to pay in. He’ll give it his best effort as long as we have the kitchen stocked and the chef cooking the meals.
“For someone like Mekhi, who has so much God-given talent, nutrition wasn’t really something he had to focus on before. It’s about making lifestyle changes. Mekhi’s goal is to live a healthier life all year, so he can fight every day. Mekhi’s main concern is getting him healthy and getting him to eat clean all year so that he doesn’t have to worry about his weight.
Becton is currently training in Frisco under Manyweather who runs Offensive Line Mastermind — which is a popular destination among pros. Woody, who was a 12 year veteran of the trenches and struggled to lose weight in later years of his career, also supports Becton.
“I give him the perspective of my time with coach [Bill]Woody stated that Bill Parcells, Belichick and even Bill Parcells were among them. “Parcells used say, Fatigue makes us cowards.’ Mekhi replied, “Listen, I’m plenty strong. Every year, you should lose a little weight. It will only be beneficial for you. I encouraged him to keep going.
NFL linemen are bigger than ever, but there’s a fine line. There is a point where conditioning and personal well-being must be considered. Woody said he was concerned about Becton’s weight rise.
“Yeah. There’s no doubt,” he replied. He is a huge human being. He’s one of very few men who can walk across the globe that is this big. Although he is a rare athlete, he must also understand that being that large can make you more vulnerable to injury.
As a rookie, Becton suffered from injuries that required him to miss two games. He also had to miss parts of four other games due to shoulder and chest problems. Plantar fasciitis prevented him from practicing last offseason. Also, he sustained a concussion which caused him to miss preseason. While some injuries can be considered bad luck, the organization would prefer a more consistent commitment year round.
Saleh did not directly address Becton but said that some players have difficulty in their second season due to the fact they cannot balance their new-found wealth, their social life, and the demands of playing for the NFL. Saleh stated that players lose touch with the “no” answer.
Becton, who was an offensive lineman in the unknown, was a big success as a rookie. His rag-doll blocks made Becton a social media phenom, and soon he was selling “Big Ticket” merchandise. Too much too soon
Woody explained that success is not always easy. “It can be hard to read the press clips and stuff and have success,” he said. You get caught up with that stuff. He’s beginning to hear some of the chatter, and it seems like it’s helping him to focus.