Former Dallas Cowboy Andre Gurode says workout partner Josh Brent “working his butt off” to return to NFL
By Brad Townsend / Reporter
btownsend@dallasnews.com
10:16 am on August 20, 2014 | Permalink
IRVING _ Today is alumni day at Valley Ranch. About two dozen former Cowboys watched the morning practice.
One of those ex-players is five-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Andre Gurode, who has become a workout partner and mentor of sorts for former Cowboy nose tackle Josh Brent at the Michael Johnson Performance Athletic-Training Center in McKinney.
Brent, who was convicted of intoxication manslaughter in the Dec. 8, 2012 death of former Cowboys teammate Jerry Brown Jr., met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Aug. 7 and is awaiting word of whether he can resume his NFL career. The Cowboys have made it clear they will welcome 26-year-old Brent back to compete for a job if he receives a favorable ruling from Goodell.
“He’s looking good,” Gurode said of Brent. “Physically strong. Motivated. Very much centered. He’s ready to contribute in any way. He’s been working his butt off. He’s looked very impressive.”
In January, Brent was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation. He was released from jail June 15 and allowed to spend the final 45 days of his jail sentence in rehabilitation. Brent was released from his residential substance-abuse program on July 30.
Gurode is a natural workout partner for Brent. Gurode spent most of his 2002-2010 Cowboys career at center, going head-to-head with the NFL’s top nose tackle. Gurode, 35, has hopes of continuing his NFL career after playing 13 games with the Bears in 2012 and 10 with the Raiders last season.
Gurode said he and Brent have “done some drills together,” but did not elaborate on the extent of their workouts and friendship. Gurode did make it clear, though, that he likes Brent personally.
“He’s a good guy,” Gurode said. “An unfortunate situation happened, but he has a good heart. I think he wants to have a second chance, and in life people have to work to get that second chance. Hopefully he gets it, and we’ll see what happens from there.”