Pretty much every guy in the NFL wants to be a starter, so it’s not really a surprise to hear Green Bay Packers tight end Brandon Bostick say that’s his goal for this season.
He’s got some ground to make up though. Oh, and some fat to drop.
Bostick broke his foot last December and hadn’t been able to run until four weeks ago. Consequently, his ass grew. Bostick is up to 270 pounds. He’s hoping to drop 10 by training camp.
“I have to get my weight under control, come back and my goal is to be the starter,” Bostick said. “I won’t settle for anything less. I’m going to compete and do everything I can to be the starter.”
That’s great. With Jermichael Finley all but officially out of the picture, the Packers need a playmaking tight end. Bostick showed flashes of that potential late last season, before getting hurt.
Overall, he had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. Bostick’s best game was his three-catch, 42-yard effort against Philadelphia. That photo above — Bostick trucked that motherfucker.
Bostick, who was a receiver in college, has playmaking ability reminiscent of Finley’s in the passing game.
The problem is, he’s been a liability as a blocker thus far in his NFL career. That’s kept him off the field.
If he continues to show improvement in that part of his game this season, then he will get his fair share of playing time.
We’re still installing Andrew Quarless as the favorite to be the starting tight end on opening day, but Bostick has a shot. And despite the head-turning play by rookie Richard Rodgers during OTAs, we still think Bostick has a better chance than Rodgers does of starting in year one.