GREEN BAY (WLUK) - You can call James Brown the semi local boy but true underdog story of this year's Green Bay Blizzard roster. Less than an hour from his hometown of Menominee, Michigan (as he said it 30 minutes if grandpa is driving to watch) Brown living out his dream of playing football for a paycheck. Although on his roster bio it says "can do magic tricks", to get his foot in the door he had to just basically bust it open. From a tryout after thought to now leading the entire IFL in tackles. Fox 11's Cody Krupp has his story.
"All I do is just like that -- and make it reappear," James Brown says as showing a magic card trick.
Whether it is a deck of cards for Brown or making a move on a pull guard, there is always a trick up his sleeve making people see what they once couldn't believe.
I believe out of any motivation proving someone wrong to me is the biggest motivator. I have a lot of people out there who told me I couldn't make it, Brown said.
In high school felt he was underrecruited and then overlooked at Northern Michigan.
"I did feel like giving up, football felt a little lost to me," Brown said.
No longer playing football the next three years instead a waiter at Red lobster and an accountant for his mom and dad's restaurant.
"Little mom and pop store literally, they make gourmet hotdogs. I am the brains behind the operation, I got them kind of off the ground got their books right, Brown said.
As rewarding as that is helping dad and mom...
"When you think about how you feel with your career than I think about how I feel when I play football, and it's just night and day. Reignites that fire in you every time," Brown said.
Deciding to give a shot at IFL tryouts but again just told he is not good enough.
"I went to several tryouts before GB, and a lot of coaches told me no. I even went to the Green Bay tryout and for the most part they told me no too," Brown said.
"I looked at the film and thought he's alright we can find better," Blizzard head coach Corey Roberson said.
Not begging but...
"I like to use the word desperate," Brown answered.
"Actually I did not sign him at the tryout, funny I signed him the day before report date. Tried to get this other cat but he's not coming through so said James come, thinking he is just going to be a camp body," Coach said about Browns tryout.
"Got myself a lottery ticket that day cause I considered myself super super lucky," Brown smiled.
"And now look at him, leading the league in tackles just going to say the sky is the limit for the young man. All it takes is just one break and he could be at the next level CFL, USFL or maybe have an opportunity across the street with the Packers who knows?" Coach said.
"I can't describe how much fun I am having cause it is just too much, too much fun is the answer," Brown said.
"No not the card?" as Brown showed Krupp a failed card trick.
Don't quit your day job.