Jamel Dean Says Too Much Fat Was Affecting Him
October 16th, 2025
This got Joe’s attention, and it certainly feels like deeper insight into Jamel Dean’s improvement than what was offered earlier today.
The Bucs’ starting cornerback, the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week, sat down this week with the Salty Dogs podcast, an in-house Buccaneers production.
Dean was asked about his strong season and what’s different. The seven-year veteran credited a lot to cutting fat.
Joe was surprised because Dean has always seemed like a picture of fitness.
Dean explained that he set out this season to work a little more than usual on his body, which led him to focusing on his body mass index, which he knew was ticking very slightly higher each year.
“I came in [after college] around like the 10 to 11 [body mass percentage] range. And then when I last checked it [early in 2025], I was at 14,” Dean said. “So lucky I caught that early in the year. So then I ended up doing the cleanse for 21 days. So that cleanse kind of reminded me like how good it used to feel being like around like the 10, 11 [body mass] range. So I told myself, ‘I would love to be at this range playing, playing in the season again.'”
Dean accomplished his goal.
“I feel great now. I feel like movements are easier now and there’s less strain on my joints,” Dean said.
Joe sure hopes the benefits Dean is seeing will lead to less injuries.
Regardless, this season he’s lean, mean Jamel Dean.
October 16th, 2025 at 7:38 pm
Joe’splease ask him what his21 day cleanse entails! Extremely curious
October 16th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
His diet consists of Baking with Grizz Wednesday through Friday. lol
October 16th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Funny how a contract year finally makes you get in shape.
October 16th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Maybe has smthng to do with him wanting to get paid.
October 16th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
He was referring to his pay check
October 16th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Dean is a talented player, even at 14 % body fat, but I don’t think his body fat percentage had anything to do with his injury history. Some players are just more prone to being injured.
October 16th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
I don’t care why he is playing closer to his potential. I just want him to keep doing it.
Go Dean!
October 16th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
it is working for him mentally so it is working
October 16th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
It is surprising how much better someone can feel by changing their eating habits and getting leaner. Glad Dean is doing that. It will benefit his career longevity as well as his weekly performance.
October 16th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
lol definitely trying to get paid
October 16th, 2025 at 9:05 pm
haha, ok, whatevs, all good, just keep balling bro
October 16th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
Maxx Crosby next
October 16th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
Is he referring to movements being easier on the field or on the throne? Kidding aside that bodes very well for this defense. Might even make him less injury prone.
October 16th, 2025 at 9:59 pm
Wouldn’t it be funny if we re-signed him and he continued to play at a high level?
Go Bucs!!
October 16th, 2025 at 10:02 pm
That was Todd’s coaching obviously. Todd in his second trimester.
October 16th, 2025 at 10:19 pm
Pretty sure most of us would like to know what that 21 day cleanse was!
Keep up the good play and stay healthy!
October 16th, 2025 at 10:48 pm
Congrats to Dean on his player of the week. I just wish he was consistent. This week against SF, on the last play of the 1st quarter he had a great sack. On the first play of the second quarter he gets burnt bad. He is several yards off of the receiver, the pass is caught and Deans response is to job behind the receiver, applying very little effort to catch up and make the tackle. In fact if you go back and watch the play, you see him slow down when it looks like Parish is in position to make the tackle, 56 yards down the field. This put SF in position to go up 10-7. It’s this kind of stuff that drives me crazy. Then he redeems himself by the end of the game with his game sealing pic.
October 16th, 2025 at 10:48 pm
Don’t get too skinny and pull a hammy.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:15 pm
3:46 left in the second quarter. SF has the ball on the 40, its 3rd and 6. Dean lined up on the SF 41 yard line, actually on the LOS instead of 8 yards back. The ball is hiked, his wide receiver bolts, Dean runs with him to the 50 and stops running, while the receiver keeps running and catches the ball at our 43. Winfield makes the tackle at our 39 while Dean is walking towards the action. SF ends up kicking a field goal and makes it a one point game. Forgive me for not blowing sunshine up his ass this week.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:30 pm
That was a fun TNF game.
On that Hail Mary from Rodgers, that ball was literally 70 yards in the air. That’s amazing for a guy who can live in The Villages soon.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
Dreambig – hey dummy, that’s called zone defense.
Wow, for someone who thinks they’re smart, you sure are stupid.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:37 pm
Sorry, one more. 2nd quarter, SFs ball, 34 seconds left, 2nd and 10 on the SF 29 yard line. Dean is lined up on the 39 yard line. Ball is hiked, Dean starts sprinting backwards and runs himself back to the Bucs 40, the receiver that Dean was supposed to be covering, caught the ball, there was a missed tackle by Smith, Winfield makes the tackle at the Tampa Bay 39 while Dean runs up after the Winfield tackle. Again SF kicks a field goal to make it 20-16. Thats 13 points in the second quarter directly due to Dean not putting in adequate effort.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
Why would we want to resign Dean when we get the same production from any anybody that they plug in this defense. It doesnt matter who is playing.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:47 pm
Rod, as usual you’re such a D*%k.
October 17th, 2025 at 12:06 am
Well after watching that thrilling “Grandpa Bowl” on Prime tonight, I was reading this post while slamming my 2nd bowl of ice cream. Any info on the 21 day cleanse, would be appreciated.
October 17th, 2025 at 1:07 am
Thank goodness for Jason Licht so the armchair GMs who play Madden 2003 do t get to wvaluate players and make trades, draft picks, etc.
October 17th, 2025 at 4:34 am
Good for Jamel taking care of himself. He did well last Sunday.
Got me thinking. Have we heard anything more about Desmond’s weight and play status of late?
October 17th, 2025 at 6:30 am
Hegseth is saying the same thing about fat to his Generals.
October 17th, 2025 at 7:04 am
Dreambig, I think Rod is correct–PFF has Dean has allowed a total of 9 receptions in his 5 games, at 17 yards per, for a passer rating of 27.4. The only way that could happen is if he wasn’t responsible for those catches (at least most of them) because he handed those dudes off
October 17th, 2025 at 7:51 am
The issue was fatty hands, eh?
October 17th, 2025 at 8:39 am
need more info on this ‘cleanse’ please Joe
October 17th, 2025 at 8:44 am
68 munch, said same thing seeing it live, 70 and it could’ve been caught. he meant to throw it 72 apparently, so he lost a yard a year each year the last four years lmao
October 17th, 2025 at 8:47 am
aqualung Madden was so much better back then when the person at the controls could turn a game on a dime. once fell behind by 30 and won. ah the good ole days, when games were more about playing them and less about them playing by themselves and graphics
October 17th, 2025 at 9:07 am
Hegseth needs to eliminate the alcoholic fat in his brain. Enough politics–uggh! Hey Joe, count me as another one wanting to know about Dean’s 21 day cleanse. I don’t have weight issues; I’m just fascinated with studying diets and nutrition. Dean’s sack reminded me of the legendary 2002 Bucs Defense. Lynch, Ronde and the rest of the krewe were constantly sacking opposing players. Hope we get a bunch MN. Go Bucs!! (Glad we’re underdogs, but watch out for the zebs!)
October 17th, 2025 at 9:57 am
Newsflash for those asking. A 21 day cleanse will do nothing positive for you. Witchcraft and psuedoscience is all it is… and in Dean’s case. A total coincidence.
October 17th, 2025 at 10:01 am
You can call Munch an A-hole and it may very well be right but it isn’t due to pointing out the obvious. Some of y’all are brain dead anyways. Just look at the low IQ people asking about the cleanse. There is absolutely no reliable independent science behind a cleanse doing anything. You lazy asses need to get off your couches, get in some activity, and stop shoving processed foods and overdoing the carbs.
October 17th, 2025 at 10:04 am
I saw the headline and assumed he was hitting on the fatty chicks. Well, they need love too
October 17th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Aqualung has a great 21 day cleanse.
6 beers a day and whatever you want to eat for 21 days. The beer is the cleanser. It’s called the cleansing ale cleanse.
October 17th, 2025 at 11:13 am
I don’t wanna take anything away from Dean. He’s a good player glad he’s a buccaneer. Let’s not kid ourselves though he’s in a contract year. His current motivation is money.
October 17th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
A lot of our coverage struggles has been Zone related. We keep running soft zones expecting our athleticism to make up the difference, or something like that. When we run more man, press, or man-zones with tighter coverage we tend to shutdown teams’ offenses pretty well. Why Bowles likes that soft zone cr@p, much less that horrid prevent defense, is beyond me. We have the horses to man the receivers with corners and let the safeties and LB’s play zone underneath. Stop playing 8 yards off the line and leaving big gaping holes in zones and we’ll be fine.