Orlando Predators offensive specialist Jimmy Fryzel catches a pass during practice Wednesday as the team prepares for Sunday's ArenaBowl. Fryzel, Orlando's leading receiver, was diagnosed with diabetes during the season. Photo by John Locher.

Jimmy Fryzel would run two deep patterns and come off the field panting as if he had just finished a marathon.

He thought he was in good shape, so the apparent lack of conditioning made no sense.

Maybe it was his imagination. So Fryzel watched videotape. He appeared to be slower, no longer able to break past defensive backs the way he did in 2005 when he became one of the Arena Football League's best offensive specialists.

The tape confirmed his fears that something was wrong. But what?

Orlando Predators coach Jay Gruden also was flustered. Maybe his star receiver was out of shape. Maybe he wasn't trying hard. Maybe it was time to bench him.

Six games into the season, Fryzel finally scheduled a doctor's appointment.

His grandfather, father and brother had diabetes. Fryzel now, too, was diagnosed with the disease.

"After I talked to everybody and they said, 'You probably are diabetic,' I kind of went in there hoping that I was," said Fryzel, whose Predators play the Chicago Rush in the ArenaBowl at noon Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center. "I didn't know if I had (mononucleosis). I didn't know what it could've been. I was worried more if it wasn't diabetes.

"I wouldn't have to stop what I'm doing (with diabetes). I wouldn't have to change my life at all. I have to be a little more careful about my diet."

Before the diagnosis, Fryzel (5 feet 11 inches, 199 pounds) was averaging 73.8 yards a game, quite a bit off his 115.9-yard average last season.

Gruden was constantly on him to pick up his game and couldn't understand the decrease in production.

He also wondered why Fryzel was in such poor shape that he needed to take frequent breaks. Fryzel's weight dropped 11 pounds, and he was constantly dehydrated.

Gruden would yell to pick up the pace, and Fryzel would yell back he was tired and didn't know what was wrong.

"He was getting really tired all the time, and it was killing me," Gruden said.

"There wasn't some good blood between us," Fryzel said. "He still gives me a hard time about it."

Once Fryzel received his diagnosis, Gruden put him on injured reserve, meaning the receiver had to sit out at least two games.

Fryzel must prick a finger two or three times a day to check his blood sugar level. He usually gives himself about five insulin shots each day.

"Thank God it's diabetes because now I can get healthy," Fryzel said. "I can play 100 percent of the snaps instead of about 50 (percent) of them. I don't know if it's really changed my play. My weight, I've gotten back to normal, so I feel as I'm just as normal as I was before."

His performances have mostly returned to normal.

He played the final half of the season, catching 48 passes for 665 yards, an 83.1-yard-per-game average. Fryzel finished the regular season with 87 receptions, 1,108 yards and 23 touchdowns, all team highs.

Once again, he has become the reliable receiver the Predators need.

"From a football standpoint, I'm happy that's what it was," Gruden said of Fryzel being diabetic. "From a personal standpoint, obviously he's a good friend of ours, and we're happy he's OK."