Broncos’ Shaquil Barrett can only eat pasta with lots of sugar on it

Broncos’ Shaquil Barrett is finding success at the linebacker position this year after transforming his diet, as he explained to TheMMQB.com’s Robert Klemko.

Shaquil Barrett is finding success at the linebacker position with the Denver Broncos this year after transforming his diet, as he explained to TheMMQB.com’s Robert Klemko.

Among the changes he made was staying away from pasta. Because of the carbs? Well partially, but also because Barrett developed a habit of putting seven packets of sugar on the dish before he ate it.

This part of my interview with Broncos OLB Shaq Barrett was particularly upsetting. https://t.co/PEZKOdsgZq pic.twitter.com/9uxwh4k6mD

— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) November 12, 2015

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Barrett spent last season on the Broncos practice squad after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State, and said that the motivation to slim down came from an unlikely place, his phone’s Timehop app, which showed him a not-too-slim looking picture of himself.

“I didn’t realize how bad I was until I saw that picture,” he says. "How come nobody told me I looked like that?”

The second-year player is expected to make his second start of the season on Sunday as Denver takes on the Chiefs. You can read more about his dietary overhaul at The MMQB.

– Brendan Maloy