Holland star of Broncos' Biggest Loser
Guard sits out practices until he drops weight
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 28, 2008 at 5:18 p.m.
Photo by David Zalubowski/Associated Press
Broncos guard Montrae Holland heads to the locker room after Sunday's workout at Broncos training camp.
Practice times and dates are subject to change without notice. Gates open to the public at 7:30 a.m. for morning practices and one hour before afternoon practices.
| Date | Morning | Afternoon |
| Aug. 5 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 6 | 8:30 | 3:50 |
| Aug. 7 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 8 | 8:30 | None |
| Aug. 9 | at Houston | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 10 | None | None |
| Aug. 11 | None | 2:45 |
| Aug. 12 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 16 | Dallas | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 22 | Green Bay | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | at Arizona | 8 p.m. |
The Broncos will practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 at their Dove Valley facility, but those sessions will be open to the media only.
* Special teams only; ** Media only
There's a lengthy to-do list for Montrae Holland these days.
"Shoot, I'm doing everything," the Broncos guard said Monday. "I'm jogging, treadmill, elliptical, StairMaster, sled, bike . . ."
Noticeably absent from that list is playing football.
Holland spends the half-speed, full-afternoon practices in uniform as a scout-team defensive lineman.
But other than that, there's nothing on the field except off to the side.
The reason: Holland failed to make his reporting weight of 325 pounds when he came to training camp, falling about 10 pounds more than his target.
When the 16-game starter from 2007 began working with strength coach Rich Tuten at chipping away at that total, Holland's total- body cramping was a sign he was dehydrated and his actual weight likely was higher.
So Holland will spend as long as it takes off to the side, trying to get not only to hit his assigned number but do it in a way that won't shock his body and will get him in peak shape so he can handle the rigors of summer practices without endangering himself.
Holland believes it'll take about another week before he'll be back.
Tuten, while saying Holland's timetable isn't impossible, isn't so sure it's realistic, either.
"It's an ongoing process that might take as long as a month," Tuten said. "It has to show up on the scale. Obviously, how we tell guys are overweight is we weigh them every day to see if he's over or under. But right now, I know he'll probably weigh the same for a couple days or maybe a week while his body adjusts because of the hydration he needs."
Holland's problems actually began long before this month.
The rigors of the 2007 season took a toll on him, and he needed time to let his body recover. But by spending most of January through March in limbo, he got heavy, into the 360-pound range.
"Let's just say it was a long trip," Holland said, without specifying a number.
And by the time he joined the offseason conditioning program, it already was an uphill battle.
"I took too much time off," Holland added candidly. "But I had put it all out there during the season and got banged up."
Tuten countered the player should have done some non- weight-bearing activity and monitored his diet more closely during that cool-down period.
Instead, when Holland returned to Dove Valley, each time he stepped on the locker-room scale, he knew he might be in trouble.
"I dug a hole for myself and I've been dropping weight this offseason, but I need to drop more to be where I need to be to perform," he said.
During the first few days of camp, Chris Kuper - the projected starting right tackle - has played right guard in Holland's place, with Ryan Harris getting a shot with the first team at right tackle.
While they clash with defensive linemen, Holland often can be seen on the adjoining artificial turf field, pushing a heavy sled back and forth with Tuten barking instructions.
On Sunday, with the turf field at about 125 degrees, the workout went a solid one hour, 40 minutes without a water break.
"We're doing this for his own good," Tuten said. "It's not a punishment or anything personal. It's a player we expect a lot out of and to perform at a certain level we don't think he can perform at right now. I'm doing everything I can to help him. I think he appreciates that. He's not really moaned or groaned or complained about what we're doing. The only time he complains is if he physically breaks down because of cramps or something."
Holland called his workouts more taxing than practice but knows it's "serious business. So I have to do it the right way."
At the same time, he hopes his return doesn't come too late to have a chance at starting for a second straight season.
"We'd love to have him out there," Kuper said. "I hope he comes out here as soon as he can. He's working hard every day to come back and play. So we're just staying away from him, letting him do his thing."
And it's that isolation that might kill Holland the most. He actually enjoys wearing his jersey in the afternoon and mimicking a member of the front four for benefit of the offensive line because he gets to be around his teammates and not in his usual current state of isolation.
As for whether he'll have a job waiting for him when he does switch lines to his natural position, Holland expects the Broncos to let the best player play.
"When I come back, I've got to compete. And everybody has to compete, it's the NFL," Holland said. "Right now, I'm competing against myself."
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July 28, 2008
5:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Broncos4Life1 writes:
So this is our "projected starter"? Sounds like the only thing he started was the menu at KFC, Taco Bell and McDonalds. It's obvious he can finish a meal, can he finish a block?
July 28, 2008
6:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
bigbadthor writes:
He looks a hell of a lot bigger than 325, he looks like 350 to 360, he did great last year, I hope he can get the weight off. I remember when he came in last year he was raving about not having to weigh as much, not sure why he decided to go on the heavy diet knowing what the O-line is supposed to do.
July 28, 2008
10:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
chartguy writes:
Those are impressive man boobs!
That's what's scary, not the number of pounds, but how much muscle tone he's lost.
July 28, 2008
10:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
ccash14 writes:
If any of you judemental people read the article, it was stated that he was at 360 over the summer. He is not trying to blame anyone and he is not complaining. He knows that he is letting everyone down.
He is working very hard to get back in shape. Maybe if he drop dead than he can get some encourgement from you people. You do not always have to be negative to be heard. State the obvious (he needs work and should know better for the amount of money he is making to play football) and move on.
July 28, 2008
10:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
raoul writes:
tell me where to sign up. I can fatten up and grow man boobs for half a mill a year. and he's a "professional" athlete? yeah right.
July 28, 2008
10:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
aragornzxl writes:
Right, he was over 360 and he's working his butt off to get in shape (if 320 is what you call in shape). Hey, heres some "food" for thought, why dont u stop eating cheetos and crackjacks and dont get to 360 in the first place??? A professional football player and he cant even manage to stay in shape, and hes getting paid tons more than we do. Why dont we just sign sumos instead?
July 29, 2008
3:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
angryman1n writes:
I smell a championship!
or is that Crisco?
July 29, 2008
8:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Kslayer writes:
Not an Athlete? Please? the man is to heavy for sure, but he would run circles over you RAOUL! Do you know that he is the strongest man on the Broncos roster? He can almost bench press 600lbs. Thats probably 500lbs more then you even way RAOUL! For a man that can be out in near 100 degree weather pushing around a heavy sled all day, I wouldn't talk S__T if I were you. Don't be a hater.
July 29, 2008
8:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
MarcoPolo writes:
As long as he can block, pull, and keep guys away from the QB, they can call him a figure skater for all I care.
July 29, 2008
9:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
Awal writes:
"On Sunday, with the turf field at about 125 degrees, the workout went a solid one hour, 40 minutes without a water break."
That's exceptionally idiotic. It has long since been disproven that going without water does anything to "toughen someone up." In fact, it's very clearly been proven to be the opposite. You can work out much harder and longer when you're properly hydrated. When the Broncos have a Korey Stringer-type incident they'll be wide open for a law suit.
July 29, 2008
10:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
jugdish writes:
Jugdish worry about Montrae commitment now. With big salary and starting position come responsibility. He not show it in off season. Football a game with need of gladiator mentality. Without it the other guy with it have the edge. Hopefully Montrae regain that fire and shed weight.
July 29, 2008
11:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Kslayer, don't read to much into anything "raoul" says. He spouts out a lot of idiotic remarks on the forums/blogs. He was the same genius who tried to say John Lynch was a "cheap shot" artist and spears everybody with his helmet. So take what this young, "pup" says, with a grain of salt. I was a professional athlete, as well as, I served in the military. I teach martial arts to kids. I'm 50 and in top shape. I have no doubt that they will whip Holland into shape. People like raoul have probably never played in any sport in their life. The biggest workout he got was "finger exercises" from typing his sarcastic responses. There will always be whiners in the world. People who are quick to judge but refuse to lead by way of example. raoul, as well as a few others on this site, just enjoy talking the talk, when most of them have never walked the walk. But that's America, freedom of speech, even if it's empty words.
July 29, 2008
11:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
MarcoPolo, well said. I have no doubt, that the conditioning coaches will get him into shape. Awal, a lot of the secrets is to sweat it out. If he consistently hydrates, he puts everything back on. I don't believe they put him in jeopardy. I was in Kuwait in these type of temps with full gear on, weighing over 100 lbs. and we had to monitor/ration our water. We spent a lot more then 1 hour and 40 minutes in the heat, as well. He'll be fine. They didn't do it to "toughen him up", as you put it. They did it to help him lose some weight. This wasn't done as a punishment. This was done out of necessity.
July 29, 2008
12:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
denmex writes:
the problem is that by the first game of the season this guy will have nothing in his tanck he will be gased, the efort that he is making only to get back in shape is huge, i know he is not a bad person but he is under contract to do a thing and now he is not doing it, at the end of the day if he coms back and he has a good season we cant said he is greate, if he has a good season that is what he is geting pay for, but if he dont have a good season because he is FAT he let down a lot of people.
i really hope he makes the team and he helps the team.
good luck men
July 29, 2008
3 p.m.
Suggest removal
aragornzxl writes:
Theres one question that nobody really answered here. Why the heck is this guy even in the 360 lbs range in the first place? I dont doubt his strength, only his intelligence. Does he honestly think filling up on burgers and fries are going to do nothing but come out of his butt? Does he honestly think that he could pile it on to lose it all at the end? I am a athlete and i feel the urge to cram during school offseason, but then again, i cant because if i do, my starting job could be loss to some freshman next year. So i know what im talking about. Lets just hope he can lose teh required amount of weight (hydrated or not) and please, watch your weight in the offseason next year (unless your retiring).
July 29, 2008
4:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
EndZone writes:
Why not move Weigmann to G? There isn't too much different in the blocking duties of a G and a C.
July 29, 2008
4:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
aragornzxl, agreed, he should have watched his weight. That much is obvious. It's also obvious he has bad off-season workout habits. He need to hire a personal trainer during his off season to make sure he stays in shape. Me, being 50 years old, I work out daily. I keep in top shape and I can pass for 34-35. Teaching martial arts as I do and the hours I commit to teach, keep me in prime shape. Health is such an important thing in an athletes life, so when I read this article about this man, letting himself go when he's being paid the money he is, to be a starter and to be relied upon to perform, it makes me question his work ethics and his team commitment? When you let yourself go after being in shape, it can have long term health issues. Look at White from Green Bay. In good shape. Then he slacked off in his final year and then shortly after, dies from a heart attack. It's unfortunate and sad to think about, but it's the facts. You are what you eat.
July 29, 2008
5:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
EndZone, my thinking (which doesn't make it so) is that Nalen is playing his last year and will retire. Wiegmann is a backup. We also have Hamilton who is a G/C. Then there is the new kid, Lichtensteiger. I think next year it will be Wiegmann. He will mold the new kid, some more. Lichtensteiger will probably be our future center, if he pans out.
July 29, 2008
5:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
raoul writes:
DDave
take your bronco blinders off. Lynch "spears" with his helmet and you know it and professional athletes sign million dollar contracts knowing it's a year-round gig. Big loser obviously forgot that. BTW: i played college football, how bout you?
July 29, 2008
5:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
I kickboxed professionally. I served in the military and went to war (10th Special Forces Group, Airborne) I teach martial arts to kids and own my own studio. I also volunteer 3 nights a week to kids involved in drugs and gangs, broken homes, etc.. And Lynch does not spear. He would have been suspended if it were so. Wake up and smell the coffee. You're a Chargers fan so I take what you have to say with a grain of salt, ha, ha. But I still enjoy the rivalry chit chat. Peace.
July 29, 2008
7:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
raoul writes:
DDave
Charger's fan? little do you know. I'm trying to be a Broncos fan actually, but Bronco nation has tunnel vision. My mission is to help the Nation see the truth one fan at a time. Tonight it's you!
Lynch is class off the field but I stand by my assessment of him being too offten late to hit and spearing with his helmet.
July 29, 2008
7:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
raoul, I'm at the YMCA right now to start my class at 7pm (volunteer class I spoke of earlier. Thank God for laptops). I have time for one more but I won't be able to get back on line after this till I get home around 9:45pm. Anyways, You will never convince me of Lynch. Nor change my views of my beloved Broncos. My 1st live game was in 1972 and I've never looked back. I go to my Broncos bar, here in Vegas, every year, every game. We do our "pot luck" meals each game and do free shots of Schnapps for each touchdown that Denver gets. It's great camaraderie and we are all set in our minds. We, as Bronco fans, will disagree on issues about our boys, while at the bar, but we are still fans, one and all. My mind is set on my beliefs. Better that you should try to convert someone else to your way of perceiving the Broncos. Right or wrong, at least you're a fan.