Brown making most of a slim chance

Editor’s note: This story was published Aug. 2, 1994.

Green Bay - Scrimmage after scrimmage, drill after drill, this Green Bay Packers defensive lineman has been penetrating into gaps and collapsing the pocket.

No, it isn’t Reggie White, Sean Jones, Steve McMichael or John Jurkovic. Meet Gilbert Brown, a major flop from the National Football League draft of 1993 who seems determined to turn around his career this season.

“There isn’t a guy on the line that can block him,” Packers general manager Ron Wolf said. “I think he’s finally grown up.”

Slimmed down, too.

A year ago, Brown reported to the Mankato, Minn., training camp home of the Minnesota Vikings weighing 360 pounds. Even though Brown had been a third-round draft choice, Minnesota couldn’t wait. He was 345 when the Vikings waived him on the final roster reduction, the highest draft pick who failed to make the opening-day roster of his original team.

“Whatever I got is what I deserved.” said Brown, 23. “I wasn’t in good shape for their camp at all. Ain’t nothing else l can do but blame myself.”

Arriving on waivers in Green Bay the next day, Brown was on the roster for all 16 games but played in only two. The Packers didn’t have the time to prepare him or the need to use him.

A quiet man from a rough neighborhood in Detroit, Brown said little but observed everything. He grew to idolize Reggie White and, in time, to develop an affinity for the coaches and the program in Green Bay.

Brown set up off-season housekeeping here. He started to eat more sensibly, lift weights more diligently and work out with enthusiasm.

“I came here and got that wake-up call, know what I’m saying?” Brown said. “I did the things to try to stay here.”

Brown wouldn’t reveal his weight. An educated guess would be 330. And, while Brown readily acknowledged he must lose some more weight, defensive line coach Larry Brooks isn’t sure how much lower his pupil should be.

“We did a body-fat test on him and it was phenomenal for a guy his size,” Brooks said. “He’s just a big man.”

Big all over, really. A shade over 6 feet 2 inches, Brown has massive arms stemming from a huge trunk. His legs are muscular and thick. Few shirt collars would button around his neck.

From that power base springs a bulltype pass rusher. For a week he has been pushing back just about everyone who has been in his path to the quarterback or running back.

Although Brown suffered a shoulder injury Friday and hasn’t practiced since, he is expected back early this week.

“He’s a load,” said center Jamie Dukes. “From what I hear, they said he had problems with his weight, but he’s on a diet and he’s staying true to his diet. Jerry Ball’s a little quicker than he is, but [Brown] plays a lot heavier than Jerry.”

The waiver wire is filled each year with players who find it impossible to push away from the table.

Some scouts, wary after being burned over time, have a saying: “Once a fat man, always a fat man.”

Right now Brown is just big. Strong. Quick. And on a mission.

“It’s just that I have to be disciplined to get it done,” he said. “I love playing football. Everything seems to be falling into place.”

PACKER PLUS FILE PHOTO Gilbert Brown, who was a flop in Minnesota, was determined to turn his career around with the Packers.