Will Witherspoon appearing before Congress on livestock issue

Posted by Josh Alper on July 13, 2012, 4:45 PM EDT

We sometimes forget that football players have lives away from the gridiron and interests that have nothing to do with the game of football.

A press release on Friday afternoon provided a reminder of that fact with a report that Titans linebacker Will Witherspoon will be appearing before members of Congress on July 24 about the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act. If enacted, the bill would phase out the use of antibiotics on healthy livestock while continuing to allow it for sick animals.


Witherspoon raises grass-fed cattle on a farm in Missouri, a pastime that got him named one of the 10 Sexiest Environmentalists earlier this year. Witherspoon is in favor of the bill and will be making his appearance on July 24.

“Modern agriculture subjects animals to overcrowding and stress putting the welfare of the animal foremost removes/takes away the requirement for routine doses of antibiotics,” Witherspoon said in the release.

It’s unlikely that any of Witherspoon’s Titans teammates will have similar stories to share about their time off when the team gathers for training camp a few days later.