Toniu Fonoti background info

[jim1]

CARSON – The mysterious saga of Toniu Fonoti took another strange turn yesterday when the offensive lineman failed to report for the Chargers' first practice of training camp because he didn't know when camp started, team officials said.

Toniu Fonoti
Fonoti, who will be fined for his absence, arrived at the team's training camp facility last night and would be present at practice today, according to his wife, U'Ilani. He is expected to report close to the weight desired by team officials – around 360 pounds – after what she called a "frustrating" offseason dispute over his weight, including issues about a training regimen and diet that were not sensitive to his Samoan ethnicity.


This article is from 2004.




http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040731/news_1s31fonoti.html

 

[Syra39]

Samoan ethnicity? I bet Junior Seau would get a good laugh out of that. This is the NFL, and if the guy has to make excuses this lame then maybe he doesn't belong in Pro football. This sounds like somebody else who tried to make the team. Head problems and over-weight. Hello Manny! Better wake up, you don't get that many chances to play in the NFL

 

[PhinsRock]

How is this new news? We knew he's fought weight probelms his entire career, so he has to shape up for Saban & Houck or this will likely be his last shot at the NFL. He played well for Houck before, so maybe he can be good for us, why not? No downside to this one IMHO. If he stays in shape, and Saban said he reported at the weight they wanted him to, he could be a real road grader at LG for us. I like Shelton at RG, so LG would be my hope for this guy. But not likely to see any action this year, more of an insurance policy.

 

[jim1]

How is this new news? We knew he's fought weight probelms his entire career, so he has to shape up for Saban & Houck or this will likely be his last shot at the NFL. He played well for Houck before, so maybe he can be good for us, why not? No downside to this one IMHO. If he stays in shape, and Saban said he reported at the weight they wanted him to, he could be a real road grader at LG for us. I like Shelton at RG, so LG would be my hope for this guy. But not likely to see any action this year, more of an insurance policy.

So you're saying that you already knew all of the personal info/baggage that's discussed in the article? Hmmm... Good for you..

 

[SackArtist]

So you're saying that you already knew all of the personal info/baggage that's discussed in the article? Hmmm... Good for you..

Fonoti can be a pro bowl guard, plus he's young (24 years old). You should have expected there to be some serious issues with him as to why he was a free agent for so long. BTW, Saban sure likes headcases (fonoti, manny, vick, etc).

 

[Frankie629]

Fonoti can be a pro bowl guard, plus he's young (24 years old). You should have expected there to be some serious issues with him as to why he was a free agent for so long. BTW, Saban sure likes headcases (fonoti, manny, vick, etc).

Starting to look like a JJ team.................