http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister...le_1197346.php
excerpt:
CARLSBAD – You expected something poisonous to spill from his mouth. Instead, something precious did.
LenDale White smiled and, for just a moment, it looked like he hadn't brushed his teeth in a while. At least not since he ate that tiara.
The former USC record-setting runner isn't a vegetarian, but these days he has a mouthful of karats.
"Worth probably $26,000," White said.
"Don't worry, I didn't spend that much. USC taught me a few things."
"I don't know if it's a chip or not, but I do feel anxious," White said.
"These guys put their necks out there for me, and now I have to come through for them. But it's not a question of 'if,' it's only 'when' and 'where.'"
He was out of shape, yes. He was hurt, certainly. He was overweight, indeed. But, White said, he was up only 4 pounds from the 239 that didn't stop him from rushing for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the Rose Bowl.
He is down to 235 today, he continued, and his formerly torn hamstring is less of a story with each passing workout. By the way, that report of a failed drug test in one local newspaper at draft time? Apparently as phony as cubic zirconia.
"All I can say is this," White explained, "the NFL is going to know about a failed drug test before the L.A. Daily News. And the NFL knows nothing about any supposedly failed test."
"I love football," he said. "I mean, I must, right? Come on, I'm going from Los Angeles to Nashville. If that doesn't show my commitment. ... Seriously, I love Tennessee and the team. Coach (Jeff) Fisher really welcomed me. That meant a lot.
"And I'm going back with Coach (Norm) Chow. He's somebody who knows what I've gone through to get to this point. There can't be any lies with him. He saw me every day there for a while. He must believe in me."
Soon enough, it will be just football again for White, who generally has succeeded under such conditions. Remember, this is a guy who scored a touchdown last season, then tossed a lateral to Snoop Dogg.
The NFL took a bite out of White's stature in April. He's ready to chomp back, icy incisors and all.