Tampa Bay Sports Blog

The Bucs have had an interesting off season so far and we all can argue about most of what they’ve done, but the Brooks thing is still killing me. I know it’s the fan in me feeling it, but I still can’t find a legitimate reason for what they did there. I could understand salary cap issues or something like that, but they are far from having cap issues. I love the addition of Derrick Ward and Kellen Winslow. I like that they moved on from Jeff Garcia. I’ll break it down to what I think is positive and negative.

Positive moves:

• Signing Derrick Ward. Ward is an animal and should combine with Earnest Graham to make a devastating backfield similar to what he was a part of with the Giants.
• Trading for Kellen Winslow. Say what you want about this guy, he can flat out play. He may have caused some problems and may be injury prone, but I feel this is one of those guys that a change of scenery and atmosphere may help more than anyone realizes.
• Firing Gruden and Allen. I’ve already spoke my piece about this so I won’t delve into it again. Good riddence.

Negative moves:

• Re-signing Jerramy Stevens: Why the hell do we need this A-hole? He’s just not good enough to justify the off-field nemisis he is.
• Giving Michael Clayton stupid money. Was this move just to get farther away from the salary floor? The Bucs are closer to the floor than the cap and needed to spend some money, but why this guy? He hasn’t earned $10.5 million in guaranteed money no matter how anyone tries to spin it.
• Releasing Derrick Brooks. Why, why, why?!

It’s basically a toss up right now that could go either way on whether this has been a good or bad off season so far. It’s still early, I know, but it’s worth discussing. I really like the offensive direction the team has taken (other than Clayton) but I still can’t see any reason that Mr. Brooks shouldn’t have a spot on this roster. I can only hope that they’re discussing things with him and look to bring him back. I think that even he understands that he is better off playing less downs and would be willing to come back in a reduced role. If there has ever been a player that warranted starter money in a reduced role, it’s Derrick Brooks. If I’m annoying anyone with this banter, too bad! I’m not going to let this go. I want Brooks back and there is no excuse good enough not to.

Technorati Tags: Bruce Allen, Derrick Brooks, Earnest Graham, Jeff Garcia, Jerramy Stevens, Jon Gruden, Kellen Winslow, Michael Clayton, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As you all know by now, no one was happier than I was and still am that the Gruden era is over. That being said, I have to start wondering what the hell the Bucs new front office is doing right now. I think most of us have problems with a lot of moves that are made and, being fans first, we tend to get a little too emotionally attached to players like Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, etc. But when new ownership takes over and the first major moves made are cutting a Hall of Fame linebacker and trading for a hothead like Kellen Winslow, it makes you stand up and take notice, and not in a good way.

The Pewter Plank jumped out on this today and did a great job of putting it all out there and that led me to pile on as well.

In releasing Dunn, Brooks, Hilliard and company last week the Bucs got my attention and sent me into a confused whirlwind wondering what the hell they were doing. I can understand and get on board with the release of everyone there but Brooks. The only explanation I can come up with as to why Brooks is no longer a Buc is that the new regime wants to cut ties with the past immediately and officially start from the bottom. I can almost understand that, but why not offer him something in a lesser role and look to re-sign him? Is there a better mentor for young players in this league than Mr. Derrick Brooks? This move is a disaster to me.

Now let’s get to the Winslow deal. I don’t want anyone to get a wrong impression by thinking that I think it’s a bad move to bring this guy in, but it goes back to the Brooks thing to me as well. If you’re going to bring a guy like KII in, wouldn’t you want to have a guy like Brooks in the locker room to help keep him on track? Makes too much sense to me. Now I do think a change of scenery will help Winslow out and I think he will be successful here, but he is always one click away from exploding and that could mean problems on and off the field.

What happened with Michael Clayton now is absolutely absurd and needs to be ridiculed over and over again. How in the hell can these guys hand a number three receiver over $10 million in guaranteed money? Are you telling me that you need to let Brooks go and bring back Michael Clayton (while overpaying him in a silly way)? What direction are you trying to take this team? What’s next? How bout we throw $20 million at Kyle Boller or Kevin Jones? Oh shit, they might actually do something like that so I better slow down.

I understand that the NFL is a funny place and some strange crap happens that makes fans upset. This could all go away fairly quick if the Bucs put together a winning team that comes out and shocks the worlds this season, but it’s highly unlikely. God help Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik if they don’t have a clear plan with this thing because it doesn’t look pretty right now.

Technorati Tags: Ike Hilliard, John Lynch, Jon Gruden, Kellen Winslow, Kevin Jones, Kyle Boller, Mark Dominik, Michael Clayton, Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Warrick Dunn

I got a ton a phone calls and text messages yesterday when the Bucs released Brooks, Dunn, June, Hilliard and Galloway. Thank god I was at work or I may have done something stupid. I can understand or deal with all of those moves except for Derrick Brooks. Why Brooks? Is there a plan to bring him back? I can’t fathom this and I really don’t know what to say about it yet. I will try to get my head around it this weekend, but I just don’t see the sense in it right now. I have to throw a tantrum before I go to work now, so I’ll catch up with you later.

Technorati Tags: Cato June, Derrick Brooks, Ike Hilliard, Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Warrick Dunn

• Full Name: Derrick Dewan Brooks
• Birthplace: Pensacola, FL
• Born: 04/18/1973
• Position: OLB
• How Acquired: 1st round draft pick (28th overall) in 1995

What we know: Derrick went to Florida State University and was a four year letterman standout in college. While at FSU he was part of the 1993 National Championship team (bs by the way, no offense Derrick) and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business communications, which he followed up with a masters degree later on. Derrick was one of the core members of the Dungy/Kiffin defense that would wreak havoc through the NFL for over a decade, capped off with a Super Bowl in 2003. Under the defensive prowess of Dungy and Kiffin, and alongside John Lynch and Warren sapp, Brooks was a core piece in the innovative and much copied “Tampa Two” defense that has become a staple of nearly every teams defensive schemes from High School to the NFL. Derrick is as celebrated for his charity work in the community off the field as he is for his defensive dominance on the field. He is one of the most decorated athletes in the NFL receiving multiple awards throughout his career, topped off with his Defensive Player of the Year award in 2002.

What we think: As an absolute Hall of Famer, it’s hard to find anything negative to say about Derrick Brooks. While his career is winding down, he is still a great performer on the field and a great teammate. Brooks came up as a speedy, undersized linebacker that flew around the field and punished anyone in his line of fire. He has performed at an elite level for over ten years and even though he has lost a step, still makes his presense felt. As the Bucs vaunted defense was picked on in the 2008 season, Derrick included, one thing early on really made an impression on me. Derrick was sharing large chunks of time for the first time in his career, and no one noticed because he kept his mouth shut. In a time where it seems like every athlete complains about playing time and older players clinging on to the death, even if it’s detrimental, Derrick shared time with Geno Hayes and did nothing but perform and tutor his teammate in a professional manner. Mister Derrick Brooks may be on his last leg, but I can’t think of an athlete that has made more of an impact on me, or the Buccaneers for that matter, than him.

For stats click here.

Technorati Tags: Derrick Brooks, Florida State University, John Lynch, Monte Kiffin, National Championship, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tony Dungy, Warren Sapp