Casey Hampton Doesn't Want to Be a Workout Warrior

If Casey Hampton doesn't get a contract extension from the Steelers, his own words this weekend probably sum up why.

Hampton did finish his run test at camp this year, unlike last year, but he then told the beat writers covering the Steelers that he didn't change his routine this offseason to try to get into better shape. He says he's in the same shape this year that he was last year, when he wasn't allowed to practice until he had lost some weight.

And then Hampton explained his workout routine, or the lack of one.

"I rest in the offseason, man. My thing is, I wait until like three, four weeks before training camp and then I work out. That's what I've always done. I rest my body, get my body half ready and then use training camp to get ready for the season."

That's worked for Hampton up to now. But as freakishly talented as he is, he'll turn 32 before the regular season begins. At some point, carrying all that extra weight into camp with the hope of working it off might come back to bite Hampton, which may explain why many Steelers veterans have already gotten contract extensions while Hampton is still waiting.

It's one thing to lock up Heath Miller for five more years when he keeps himself in excellent shape, but paying to keep Hampton around when he's 33, 34 and 35 seems a little riskier.