Cameron Brate: Focused On Eating

January 13th, 2017
Feed him the ball -- and more.

Feed him the ball — and more.

Tight end Cameron Brate isn’t just unique because he graduated from Harvard and caught a whopping, record-book-rattling eight touchdowns last season.

Per Brate, he’s a metabolic freak to the point that it is a potential drain on his NFL career.

Brate recently explained to the Buccaneers Radio Network that he’s always been a guy who has struggled to gain weight. Finally, after last season, Brate sought a medical professional/science team to study his metabolism.

He said he was hooked up to bunch of machines and the result was learning that he’s an extremely rare dude.

“At rest I burn like 4,400 calories in a day,” Brate said. (Translation: Brate can sit on the couch all day, eat a giant pizza and drink beer and not gain weight.)

“So that was kind of eye-opening for me. I pretty much have to gorge myself to gain weight.”

Brate, 25, added that it is “exhausting” at times for him to eat healthy and still try to hit his goal of 6,000 calories per day. And since he doesn’t eat junk food, it’s a grind.

The offseason goal, Brate said, is to gain five pounds and play the start of next season at 6-5, 255, though he usually loses weight during the season.

Well, for those hoping Brate could add another 15 pounds in his career and become a real all-around tight end, this news likely kills that thought. But Joe is fine with that, Brate can just keep doing what he’s doing and be just fine.

Brate said he will be in Tampa through the offseason just hanging out — and eating. So if you see him out mowing down gargantuan quantities of food, don’t be concerned.

30 Responses to “Cameron Brate: Focused On Eating”

  1. Leighroy Says:

    Good grief. I have to run around all day and get 13,000 steps just to burn 3,200 calories. #fitnesstrackers

    “Freak” indeed!

  2. DB55 Says:

    My watch says I burn 250 calories a day. Lol

    He needs some rice and beans and pork chops. Yum.

  3. BCoburn Says:

    According to generic calculators the average person at his height and weight should burn about half that during rest. More muscle = higher so I’m sure all athletes burn more than average, but I’m guessing it’s generally a few hundred more.

  4. SkiBucsFan Says:

    I know exactly how he feels. All my life I have had to overeat just to maintain my slim weight. At 61 years old now I still have that same curse…although it really comes in handy when you want to gorge. I’ve been at 165lbs for 30 years. Never changes.

  5. Joehelldeloxley Says:

    and he is complaining about that ? HE IS THE LUCKIEST GUY ON EARTH !

  6. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Wouldn’t mind Howard or a TE this year.

    If we can somehow shore the O-line up there are options for weapons all the way through round 3 based on the WR depth

    Just saw highlights of Shelton Gibson – WVU

    Dude looks exactly like what we need – 6’0 198 lbs likely low 4.3 40 – all his highlights are explosive plays – either long receptions or screens he takes to the house and even special teams scores.

  7. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    I was the same way when I was 25. Then I turned 30 and everything changed.

  8. Strider ....Sec 147 Says:

    I’ve served him and his friends a few times at goody goody he is by far the most active buc to come eat there, but they always eat the gluten free sweet potatoes pancakes 🥞😋 and a burger or 2

  9. Nick2 Says:

    They guy was such a huge success, its pretty odd we draft a guy 2nd round like ASJ with all of the tools but the worst judgement and Brate takes his job without a fight. Just because you have the physical tools you have to have the heart and a football mindset.

  10. BKNYfootballhead Says:

    Lucky dude, he could spend his summer in Tampa Bay mowing Chattaway burgers and add a few. I used to love those heart-stoppers. That place still around?

  11. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    Michael Phelps had to consume 8500 calories a day when he was in his peak training….but swimming that much does burn some calories.

    There are those of us out here who say to Cameron Brate and SkiBucfan who say….bite me! You lucky stiffs. I can’t complain if I work out properly, don’t visit the bong, and watch my diet I can keep my weight under control.

    I would have loved the problem of eating and eating…can you say PIZZA!!!!

  12. BKNYfootballhead Says:

    *St Pete

  13. Buc1987 Says:

    The meals these guys eat are insane.

    When my cousin played for the Bucs they had him eating meals 4 times a day and sometimes upwards of 5-6. Insane.

    He told me he’d scarf down like 3 Big Macs, L fries, L soda, and a couple of apple pies for 1 of his lunches.

    Maybe he had the same problem Brate has, cause he was always a skinny kid growing up. He played LS and he was little for a guy that sits in the middle. Like 274 or so. I think that’s why they let him go after only 2 seasons.

  14. Buc1987 Says:

    DB55 Says:

    “My watch says I burn 250 calories a day.”

    Just do a few spins in your desk chair every now and then, you might get it up to around 300. 🙂

  15. America's Commenter Says:

    If I even look at a pizza, I gain 5 pounds.

  16. Warren Says:

    Don’t forget to try those Deviled Crabs…Yum!

  17. flmike Says:

    Presently 52 years old, I was 6’1 147lbs when I enlisted in 1987, when I separated from the military I was still 147lbs, that was 2001, I’m currently 152lbs. My doctor kids me that I have the metabolism of a 14 year old. I can eat anything I want, the only thing that gets me is refined sugars, so the one time I was over 160lbs I stopped drinking soda, which if you’re a programmer next to coffee, soda is life’s blood.

  18. Pickgrin Says:

    Cool story Joe!

    Lord C – I am definitely warming up to the idea of drafting OJ Howard with the 19th pick if he is available. Then go WR in the 2nd round.

    #weaponsforwinston

  19. Lord Cornelius Says:

    “Warren Says:
    January 13th, 2017 at 2:06 pm
    Don’t forget to try those Deviled Crabs…Yum!”

    haha that’s seriously like the best ad I’ve ever heard on any radio or podcast show. So pleasant

  20. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    OK FlMike just rub it in sir. You join Brate and Skibuc in the bite me club!

  21. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Just did one of those mock draft games and I hate them because they get my hopes up – OFFENSE

    Round 1 – Dalvin Cook RB FSU
    Round 2 – Dede Westbrook WR OU
    Round 3 – Dorian Johnson OG Pitt
    Round 4 – David Njoku TE Miami
    Round 5 – Amba Etta Twa WR Syracuse

    lmao

  22. Ryan Says:

    Lol at Njoku being around in the 4th round

  23. DB55 Says:

    87

    Good advice actually. #goals

  24. USFBUC Says:

    All we have to do is trade our future first and late round picks and we can potentially have three late first round picks this year. Our future 2nd and 3rd/4th round picks are enough trade bait to trade back into the top or middle of the 2nd round this year.

    Why wait let’s win a Super Bowl next year!

  25. USFBUC Says:

    I think Howard or Leggett would be good additions to our TE depth.

  26. SB with Jameis Says:

    I am 50 and still wear a 31 waist and weigh the same 180 I weighed in HS but I have worked framing houses for 30 years. I never had to watch my weight until I hit about 42. I just cut raw sugar out of my diet.

  27. Flmike Says:

    It’s the sugar that packs on the weight as you get older.

  28. DayOnePaul Says:

    When he hits 30, all of this trauma of eating and not gaining weight will not be a problem any longer. As we all know…

  29. Rod Munch Says:

    I know how it feels, I have to eat at least 700 calories a day to maintain my weight.

  30. Daggers Says:

    Needs to hit up taco night with Ali and friends!