Earl Richardson/J-W PhotoWhen Green Bay defensive lineman Gilbert Brown first approached Kansas University strength and conditioning coach Fred Roll about losing weight last fall, Roll didn’t take his former player’s request seriously.
That quickly changed.
“He and I sat and watched a Monday Night game when the Packers played and he almost cried,” Roll said, “and I realized how much he missed the game and how motivated he was to get this done.”
Brown, who played at KU from 1989-92, missed the entire 2000 season after suffering a knee injury in the 1999 season finale. Instead of being wooed as a free agent during the offseason, he was criticized for being overweight, reportedly playing well above his listed weight of 345.
Brown had tried other methods of controlling his weight including a stint at the prestigious Duke University Dietary and Fitness Center but didn’t have any luck.
That’s where Roll came in.
“It’s been real intense for me,” Brown said. “I’ve slept in the same house as him, we ate the same foods and we worked out together. There’s a lot of strength coaches that want to sit around and tell you to do stuff. It’s always a plus when they’re doing it with you.
“It really makes you believe in what he’s telling you.”
The result? Brown dropped 75 pounds during his several months with Roll, slimming down to a svelte 330 pounds. Now he has a new one-year contract with the Packers and a new outlook on life.
“I feel great,” Brown said Thursday while addressing the media in KU’s weight room prior to departing for Green Bay’s training camp. “I put the time in, did my time, did what I had to do. Right now I feel like I’m ready to go.”
Brown’s best year as a pro came during the Packers’ Super Bowl championship season in 1996, when he had 56 total tackles. He has 209 total stops, seven sacks and two forced fumbles during seven seasons in the NFL.
But his knee injury which Roll said was “one of the greatest blessings” for Brown changed all that. Now a leaner, meaner Brown wants to prove he still can play in the NFL.
“It’s not like being a rookie again,” Brown said. “It’s kinda like I went on a hiatus or something. It’s time to go back to work. I wouldn’t call it a vacation. It’s like something where you get away for a while. Now it’s time to get back to work.”
Actually, the time Brown spent in Lawrence sounded like anything but a vacation.
Not only did he and Roll go running together, lift weights together and do cardiovascular work together Brown referred to it as the “three-headed monster” but also Roll was able to monitor Brown’s previously-suspect diet.
The defensive lineman, who once had a signature meal named after him at Green Bay-area McDonald’s restaurants, was limited to chicken, fish, some red meat and as many green, leafy vegetables as he could eat. Roll would just prepare the next day’s meals for him and Brown the night before.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life,” Roll said. “It’s been great working with Gilbert. He and I had a good relationship when he was here. We stayed in touch with each other. It’s like renewing an old friendship and accomplishing some things. I knew he could do it if he put his mind to doing it, and he did.
“It’s a great feeling for me and I know he’s got to feel a lot of satisfaction with what he accomplished.”
Roll was so successful with Brown, the two have talked about a joint business venture in the future. Roll already has been contacted by two athletes interested in retaining him.
“I wouldn’t mind doing this again,” Roll said, “but if I do it it’s going to be people I select. I’ve worked with enough good athletes here that I know the people that are serious and really want to do it. I did not want to do this with anybody that it was doomed to fail from the very beginning.
“I was convinced that it wasn’t doomed to fail. I knew this was going to work when Gilbert came to me.”
Earl Richardson/J-W PhotoWhen Green Bay defensive lineman Gilbert Brown first approached Kansas University strength and conditioning coach Fred Roll about losing weight last fall, Roll didn’t take his former player’s request seriously.
That quickly changed.
“He and I sat and watched a Monday Night game when the Packers played and he almost cried,” Roll said, “and I realized how much he missed the game and how motivated he was to get this done.”
Brown, who played at KU from 1989-92, missed the entire 2000 season after suffering a knee injury in the 1999 season finale. Instead of being wooed as a free agent during the offseason, he was criticized for being overweight, reportedly playing well above his listed weight of 345.
Brown had tried other methods of controlling his weight including a stint at the prestigious Duke University Dietary and Fitness Center but didn’t have any luck.
That’s where Roll came in.
“It’s been real intense for me,” Brown said. “I’ve slept in the same house as him, we ate the same foods and we worked out together. There’s a lot of strength coaches that want to sit around and tell you to do stuff. It’s always a plus when they’re doing it with you.
“It really makes you believe in what he’s telling you.”
The result? Brown dropped 75 pounds during his several months with Roll, slimming down to a svelte 330 pounds. Now he has a new one-year contract with the Packers and a new outlook on life.
“I feel great,” Brown said Thursday while addressing the media in KU’s weight room prior to departing for Green Bay’s training camp. “I put the time in, did my time, did what I had to do. Right now I feel like I’m ready to go.”
Brown’s best year as a pro came during the Packers’ Super Bowl championship season in 1996, when he had 56 total tackles. He has 209 total stops, seven sacks and two forced fumbles during seven seasons in the NFL.
But his knee injury which Roll said was “one of the greatest blessings” for Brown changed all that. Now a leaner, meaner Brown wants to prove he still can play in the NFL.
“It’s not like being a rookie again,” Brown said. “It’s kinda like I went on a hiatus or something. It’s time to go back to work. I wouldn’t call it a vacation. It’s like something where you get away for a while. Now it’s time to get back to work.”
Actually, the time Brown spent in Lawrence sounded like anything but a vacation.
Not only did he and Roll go running together, lift weights together and do cardiovascular work together Brown referred to it as the “three-headed monster” but also Roll was able to monitor Brown’s previously-suspect diet.
The defensive lineman, who once had a signature meal named after him at Green Bay-area McDonald’s restaurants, was limited to chicken, fish, some red meat and as many green, leafy vegetables as he could eat. Roll would just prepare the next day’s meals for him and Brown the night before.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life,” Roll said. “It’s been great working with Gilbert. He and I had a good relationship when he was here. We stayed in touch with each other. It’s like renewing an old friendship and accomplishing some things. I knew he could do it if he put his mind to doing it, and he did.
“It’s a great feeling for me and I know he’s got to feel a lot of satisfaction with what he accomplished.”
Roll was so successful with Brown, the two have talked about a joint business venture in the future. Roll already has been contacted by two athletes interested in retaining him.
“I wouldn’t mind doing this again,” Roll said, “but if I do it it’s going to be people I select. I’ve worked with enough good athletes here that I know the people that are serious and really want to do it. I did not want to do this with anybody that it was doomed to fail from the very beginning.
“I was convinced that it wasn’t doomed to fail. I knew this was going to work when Gilbert came to me.”
Earl Richardson/J-W PhotoWhen Green Bay defensive lineman Gilbert Brown first approached Kansas University strength and conditioning coach Fred Roll about losing weight last fall, Roll didn’t take his former player’s request seriously.
That quickly changed.
“He and I sat and watched a Monday Night game when the Packers played and he almost cried,” Roll said, “and I realized how much he missed the game and how motivated he was to get this done.”
Brown, who played at KU from 1989-92, missed the entire 2000 season after suffering a knee injury in the 1999 season finale. Instead of being wooed as a free agent during the offseason, he was criticized for being overweight, reportedly playing well above his listed weight of 345.
Brown had tried other methods of controlling his weight including a stint at the prestigious Duke University Dietary and Fitness Center but didn’t have any luck.
That’s where Roll came in.
“It’s been real intense for me,” Brown said. “I’ve slept in the same house as him, we ate the same foods and we worked out together. There’s a lot of strength coaches that want to sit around and tell you to do stuff. It’s always a plus when they’re doing it with you.
“It really makes you believe in what he’s telling you.”
The result? Brown dropped 75 pounds during his several months with Roll, slimming down to a svelte 330 pounds. Now he has a new one-year contract with the Packers and a new outlook on life.
“I feel great,” Brown said Thursday while addressing the media in KU’s weight room prior to departing for Green Bay’s training camp. “I put the time in, did my time, did what I had to do. Right now I feel like I’m ready to go.”
Brown’s best year as a pro came during the Packers’ Super Bowl championship season in 1996, when he had 56 total tackles. He has 209 total stops, seven sacks and two forced fumbles during seven seasons in the NFL.
But his knee injury which Roll said was “one of the greatest blessings” for Brown changed all that. Now a leaner, meaner Brown wants to prove he still can play in the NFL.
“It’s not like being a rookie again,” Brown said. “It’s kinda like I went on a hiatus or something. It’s time to go back to work. I wouldn’t call it a vacation. It’s like something where you get away for a while. Now it’s time to get back to work.”
Actually, the time Brown spent in Lawrence sounded like anything but a vacation.
Not only did he and Roll go running together, lift weights together and do cardiovascular work together Brown referred to it as the “three-headed monster” but also Roll was able to monitor Brown’s previously-suspect diet.
The defensive lineman, who once had a signature meal named after him at Green Bay-area McDonald’s restaurants, was limited to chicken, fish, some red meat and as many green, leafy vegetables as he could eat. Roll would just prepare the next day’s meals for him and Brown the night before.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life,” Roll said. “It’s been great working with Gilbert. He and I had a good relationship when he was here. We stayed in touch with each other. It’s like renewing an old friendship and accomplishing some things. I knew he could do it if he put his mind to doing it, and he did.
“It’s a great feeling for me and I know he’s got to feel a lot of satisfaction with what he accomplished.”
Roll was so successful with Brown, the two have talked about a joint business venture in the future. Roll already has been contacted by two athletes interested in retaining him.
“I wouldn’t mind doing this again,” Roll said, “but if I do it it’s going to be people I select. I’ve worked with enough good athletes here that I know the people that are serious and really want to do it. I did not want to do this with anybody that it was doomed to fail from the very beginning.
“I was convinced that it wasn’t doomed to fail. I knew this was going to work when Gilbert came to me.”
Earl Richardson/J-W PhotoWhen Green Bay defensive lineman Gilbert Brown first approached Kansas University strength and conditioning coach Fred Roll about losing weight last fall, Roll didn’t take his former player’s request seriously.
That quickly changed.
“He and I sat and watched a Monday Night game when the Packers played and he almost cried,” Roll said, “and I realized how much he missed the game and how motivated he was to get this done.”
Brown, who played at KU from 1989-92, missed the entire 2000 season after suffering a knee injury in the 1999 season finale. Instead of being wooed as a free agent during the offseason, he was criticized for being overweight, reportedly playing well above his listed weight of 345.
Brown had tried other methods of controlling his weight including a stint at the prestigious Duke University Dietary and Fitness Center but didn’t have any luck.
That’s where Roll came in.
“It’s been real intense for me,” Brown said. “I’ve slept in the same house as him, we ate the same foods and we worked out together. There’s a lot of strength coaches that want to sit around and tell you to do stuff. It’s always a plus when they’re doing it with you.
“It really makes you believe in what he’s telling you.”
The result? Brown dropped 75 pounds during his several months with Roll, slimming down to a svelte 330 pounds. Now he has a new one-year contract with the Packers and a new outlook on life.
“I feel great,” Brown said Thursday while addressing the media in KU’s weight room prior to departing for Green Bay’s training camp. “I put the time in, did my time, did what I had to do. Right now I feel like I’m ready to go.”
Brown’s best year as a pro came during the Packers’ Super Bowl championship season in 1996, when he had 56 total tackles. He has 209 total stops, seven sacks and two forced fumbles during seven seasons in the NFL.
But his knee injury which Roll said was “one of the greatest blessings” for Brown changed all that. Now a leaner, meaner Brown wants to prove he still can play in the NFL.
“It’s not like being a rookie again,” Brown said. “It’s kinda like I went on a hiatus or something. It’s time to go back to work. I wouldn’t call it a vacation. It’s like something where you get away for a while. Now it’s time to get back to work.”
Actually, the time Brown spent in Lawrence sounded like anything but a vacation.
Not only did he and Roll go running together, lift weights together and do cardiovascular work together Brown referred to it as the “three-headed monster” but also Roll was able to monitor Brown’s previously-suspect diet.
The defensive lineman, who once had a signature meal named after him at Green Bay-area McDonald’s restaurants, was limited to chicken, fish, some red meat and as many green, leafy vegetables as he could eat. Roll would just prepare the next day’s meals for him and Brown the night before.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life,” Roll said. “It’s been great working with Gilbert. He and I had a good relationship when he was here. We stayed in touch with each other. It’s like renewing an old friendship and accomplishing some things. I knew he could do it if he put his mind to doing it, and he did.
“It’s a great feeling for me and I know he’s got to feel a lot of satisfaction with what he accomplished.”
Roll was so successful with Brown, the two have talked about a joint business venture in the future. Roll already has been contacted by two athletes interested in retaining him.
“I wouldn’t mind doing this again,” Roll said, “but if I do it it’s going to be people I select. I’ve worked with enough good athletes here that I know the people that are serious and really want to do it. I did not want to do this with anybody that it was doomed to fail from the very beginning.
“I was convinced that it wasn’t doomed to fail. I knew this was going to work when Gilbert came to me.”
