Derek Jeter responds to fat 'Derek Eater' pictures

Derek Jeter is still in better shape than you, no matter what some unflattering tabloid photos might suggest.

The New York Yankees shortstop was recently featured on the back cover of the New York Post with the headline, "Derek Eater" (it's a play on words). A picture of a chubby Jeter walking in Miami with a rehab boot appeared to show that the team captain had put on a few pounds during the offseason. Later in the weekend, the Post said Jeter was seen "pigging out" at a restaurant.

Jeter went on a public relations counter-offensive on Monday, telling The Michael Kay Show that he didn't let the taunts get to him.

"I thought it was pretty funny. I guess there's a lot of things you can do with a picture. The funny thing is we were just talking about, before then, the day or two before then, people were telling me I lost a lot of weight, and then two days later I'm on the front page of the New York Post. They had a little fun with it. But it's over and done with."

Jeter also posed for a photograph with MLB Network's Harold Reynolds and "set the record straight" about the weight. The only thing he didn't do was hold up a newspaper so we could be certain the picture was taken Monday.

It now seems clear that the Post photo was snapped when Jeter was walking into a breeze, causing unflattering fabric pressing and unexpected paunch. Most people would look like Prince Fielder in that same scenario. Jeter just looked like he had a bit of a belly.

Time for the tabloid to focus on more important things, like whether Alex Rodriguez is going to gain any weight after his surgery.