Wiry, fearless and incredibly tough - both mentally and physically - Robert Brooks is poised to make yet another "comeback" after rebounding from nagging back and hamstring problems which hampered him throughout the 1998 season
His injuries required him to miss four games and settle for 31 catches and 420 yards, both modest totals for one of his superior talents
The sinewy South Carolinian, who underwent a second surgery early this past offseason (Jan. 6) to correct a disk problem in his lower back (after undergoing a similar operation during last year's training camp), is confident of once again returning to the NFL's 1,000-yard receiving elite
Pepper Burruss, the Packers' veteran head trainer, has reason to take the remarkably resilient wideout at his word, asserting, "On the basis of toughess per-pound, Robert Brooks has to be perhaps the toughest player I've ever been around in my 23 years in the NFL"
Burruss clearly considers Number 87 a legitimate medical marvel affer seeing him rebound from a devastating, career-threatening knee injury to capture National Football League 'Comeback Player of the Year' honors in 1997 with one of the most remarkable recoveries in pro football history
Punctuating his return to action by once again becoming a 1,000-yard receiver that season, he earned high praise and open admiration from the long-time trainer, who says in wonder, "Robert Brooks could set the standard for how someone should approach conditioning and rehabilitation. He made the greatest recovery I've ever seen in my years as a trainer."
The fleet flanker's spectacular comeback came as no surprise to Burruss or to Brooks' coaches and teammates
A classic example of grit, tenacity and commitment, he has proved throughout his pro career to be one of the most resolute and indomitable athletes in Packers' annals - a performer who openly thrives on challenges
When called upon to succeed the departed Sterling Sharpe as the "go-to-guy" in Green Bay's offense four years ago, he promptly proceeded to eclipse two of Sharpe's all-time club records with a season-long performance of rare brilliance, amassing 1,497 yards receiving to surpass Sharpe's previous mark of 1,461, and registering nine 100-yard receiving days, two more than Sharpe's 1992 record of seven
Then, in 1996, Brooks was presented with an even more formidable challenge when he suffered one of the most devastating knee injuries in team history in a game against San Francisco Oct. 14, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament, the patellar tendon and the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, along with incurring a significant bone chip
Aided by his strong Christian faith, he since has become something of a medical miracle, easily exceeding projections on the length of time his arduous rehab program would require and eliciting profound admiration from the team's training staff for his recuperative powers in the process
"We've seen anterior cruciates come back before and we've seen the patellar tendon come back before," says Burruss of that remarkable recovery, "but never the two together. His recovery is about 99 percent attributable to Robert's dedication and work ethic. He also has been blessed with an extremely strong faith."
One of those patently delighted with Brooks' incredible rehab success is Packers offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis, who observes, "He's such a great example - his work ethic is as good as anybody's I've ever been around. He's dedicated, he works hard. He's a great, great competitor - probably one of the toughest guys I've ever coached."
The former South Carolina Gamecock continued to invade the Packers' record book in 1997, following his story book recovery by pairing with Antonio Freeman to become the first wide receiver tandem in team annals to post companion 1,000-yard seasons, jointly amassing a team-record 2,253 yards (the old record was 2,130 by James Lofton/John Jefferson in 1983)
Brooks, with those 31 receptions last season, has climbed above both Carroll Dale and Billy Howton into seventh place on the Packers' lifetime receiving list with 306 career catches (for 4,225 yards and 32 touchdowns)
Closing out the 1998 season with 4,225 career receiving yards, he has become just the ninth receiver in team annals to scale the 4,000-yard plateau
Has made considerable inroads in the club's postseason record book despite missing the playoffs in 1996, holding two marks: Most Passes Caught (career) - 45; and Most Yards Catching Passes (career) - 651
Also shares three other club playoff records: Most Consecutive Games, One or More Pass Receptions - 11, an active string which he splits with teammate Dorsey Levens; Most Games, 100 or More Yards Pass Receiving (career) - 3 (with Freeman); and Most Consecutive Games, 100 or More Yards Pass Receiving - 2 in 1995 (with Sharpe and Freeman)
Additionally, his 15.3-yard career punt return average (14 for 214 yards) in the postseason is the NFL's all-time best, he also stands fourth in league playoff history for most career punt return yardage
Had held the record for longest pass reception in Green Bay postseason history - 73 yards at Dallas in the 1995 playoffs - until Freeman's 81-yard catch-and-run in Super Bowl XXXI at New Orleans in the 1996 postseason
Tied with three others for 22nd place in Packers career scoring with 210 points
Forever will remain a part of NFL record books as the eighth player in league history to catch a 99-yard touchdown pass, accomplished in Week 2 of 1995 at Chicago - also a team record
Holds two other club marks: Most Yards Catching Passes (season) - 1,497 in 1995; and Most Games, 100 or More Yards Pass Receiving (season) - 9 in 1995
Is the owner of 13 career 100-yard receiving games and two 1,000-yard seasons
Brooks' absence from the lineup for much of 1996 season was a major blow to the fans as well as the team
He had quickly become a folk hero as a first-year starter in 1995, endearing himself to the faithful by leaping into the stands to share his elation with them following his touchdown receptions
Lewis also applauds Brooks' penchant for jumping into the stands to share with the fans
"The fans love it," he says, "and I think it's something that just happened and became kind of contagious, and went through the team. The next thing we know it was all over the country - people were showing it. That's what football used to be like - that's the way it should be."
A productive player in whatever area he is called upon, led the NFL in kickoff returns in 1993 with a 26.6-yard average
Possesses a 24.3-yard career average on 51 kickoff returns, as well as an 8.8-yard average for 67 punt runbacks as a pro