Bucs’ Spence changes diet to deal with NFL rigors 
Bucs defensive tackle Akeem Spence chases Buffalo quarterback EJ Manuel on Sunday. Spence credits a greener diet with helping him get through his first NFL season. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: December 12, 2013 at 06:20 PM TAMPA — Life in the NFL has made a new man of Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie defensive tackle Akeem Spence.Once a burger-and-fries kind of guy, the 6-foot-1, 307-pound Spence has started to eat more fish and greens in recent weeks, but it’s not just Spence’s dietary habits that have changed.Spence has also taken some steps to better care for his body that he never dreamed he’d take when he came into the league as a fourth-round pick out of Illinois in April.“I’ve taken it upon myself to do things such as getting massages and even getting pedicures for my feet,” Spence said. “You can’t believe how great a pedicure can make you feel.”Spence said he first started making the changes around Week 8 of the season, when he started feeling the effects of not just the intense workouts he participates in each day, but also the punishment his body takes on game days.“I was struggling and my body was feeling like, ugh,” Spence said. “Once everything started aching, I just had to do it. So I started using the (hot and cold) tubs more and making some other changes.”The most drastic change, Spence said, was dietary. Spence said he grew up hating salads of all kinds, but has grown to be a big fan of Caesar and Spanish salads.“Before, you couldn’t get me to eat a salad,” Spence said. “I thought it was the worst thing ever. But since I’ve added more greens to my diet, I’ve kind of gotten hooked on those Caesar and Spanish salads.” [email protected](813) 259-7979Twitter: @RcummingsTBO
LOL... he must be one bad MF to say stuff like this knowing he will catch serious grief in the locker room. Somebody should buy him a bikini wax for Christmas.
Spence has been a pleasant surprise this year, showing that all those that thought we were making a mistake by letting Miller go wasn't justified. I would really like to see him pressure more up the middle and become a bit more like Brad Culpepper. He seems to have the same characteristics, so I have real hope that next year, he can use some of that quickness and break through a few doubles and get the quarterback. 4-5 sacks a year is really all we need from him.
LOL... he must be one bad MF to say stuff like this knowing he will catch serious grief in the locker room. Somebody should buy him a bikini wax for Christmas.
Have you seen him? He's brick shit house! Get all the mani's and pedi's you want big man, just keeping eating up those double teams.
Kid is a tank . Perfect tilt nose for this system.
If he keeps playing like he is and getting better like he should, dude can do whatever he wants. Reminds me of a quote from one of the best sports movies ever. "Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob."
This guy has contributed more than "The Force" Gholston IMO.
Really nice pick. Great to see contributions from late round guys this year. Gholston, James and Tandy have made this team better too,I'm sure the GBoys will take in to account the drastic difference in the roster quality the last two years.
“I’ve taken it upon myself to do things such as getting massages and even getting pedicures for my feet,” Spence said. “You can’t believe how great a pedicure can make you feel.”This team needs Incognito more than ever
I know it's in good fun but the mockery is kind of clueless. These guys live and die on their feet. Tons and tons of NFL players get regular pedicures just like tons of wide receivers get regular manicures. You take care of your body and it takes care of you.
Guarantee you a vet on the team told him he needs to be doing all of this stuff to take care of his body. It's good that he's listening this early in his career.
“I’ve taken it upon myself to do things such as getting massages and even getting pedicures for my feet,” Spence said. “You can’t believe how great a pedicure can make you feel.”This team needs Incognito more than ever
My god you are an idiot.. Grow up, dolt.
Anybody know who these other guys are? Why Spence look so damn small? Look like a dan running back compared to these dudes. 
Is Spence in the red shorts?
Blue shorts. Directly in the middle. Maybe it's just the way they are lined up closer to the camera on the ends of the line up....but he looks like a RB compared to these guys. Just wondering if anyone recognized any of them. Maybe they are all just extremely large.
