The silence has nearly been deafening for veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks.
Ever since being abruptly released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February as a salary-cap casualty and the victim of a youth movement, Brooks has been earnestly trying to find a new NFL employer.
It's been quiet, way too quiet for Brooks' taste.
And the 11-time Pro Bowl selection and former NFL Man of the Year has struggled to land a new job at age 36.
Despite Brooks' 895 career tackles, 25 interceptions and 13 1/2 sacks in 14 NFL seasons, his underwhelming 2008 season where he didn't record a sack and registered less than 100 tackles for the first time this decade and his age are apparently working against him.
In an interview with former NFL defensive lineman D'Marco Farr of ESPN Radio St. Louis, via Sportsradiointerviews.com, Brooks made it clear that he's not giving up.
"There's enough interest out there from teams for me to keep the fire burning," Brooks said. "So, I'll continue to stay in shape and we'll see what happens."
Although Brooks was caught off guard when the Buccaneers cut him loose, the former Florida State star says he isn't harboring any bitterness.
"That's the business again of the NFL," Brooks said. "Everybody knows that when you come in and expect anything different, then you're going to get disappointed. But with me, the news itself, you know I dealt with it for 14 years.
"I just wanted it to happen. It could have been handled a little bit better in my opinion and I would have been ok with that I think. But the news itself, no i had no problem with that."
Brooks' name has been mentioned in speculation with at least two teams: the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints
However, nothing tangible seems to be brewing at the moment.
As an undersized linebacker at 6'0," 235 pounds who thrived in the Tampa 2 defense, Brooks denied a suggestion that his lack of a job might be due to less NFL teams employing the scheme.
"No it's not because if you play defense, you play football," Brooks said. "So from that standpoint it's meaningless. We made that defense what it was honestly with those classic battles against the Rams.
"And what our primary zone defense did was Cover-2 because of the front that you had to rush the pressure. Right now, you're not getting as many combination of rushers that can rush like we could in our heyday."
Even though Brooks obviously isn't going to play special teams at this juncture of his career, it's still hard to fathom that he couldn't still be a valuable contributor to an NFL defense with his combination of athleticism, intelligence and experience.
At this point, though, NFL doors seem to practically be slammed shut in Brooks' face.
Someone needs to tell Taco Bill we're on the new site now. Or did he die alongside Derrick Brooks' career?
Sorry, I was just looking for a lame segue to complain about Taco Bill's laziness in a completely unrelated thread.
I wouldn't mind seeing him in New England for a season or two, rotating in and out, and then eventually sliding into a sideline position. He's smart, vocal, and is a genuinely good guy.
I actually met him at a charity thing back in the late 90s, and he couldn't have been nicer. He autographed a picture, and was like "You got anything else you want me to sign? You sure?"
Conversely, Mike Alstott showed up 45 minutes late, kept his head down, signing the pics and passing them off, and only looking up to smile for pictures with hot girls.
Those games against the Rams were the best. Unfortunately, we lost the most important one. Fortunately, we won every one after that.
Wilson, where have you been all day?
Perhaps teams want to lock up their young players to contracts first in light of the upcoming pretend work stoppage. Why is it pretend you might ask yourself? In times of economic disruption you don't shut down the circus. Anyhoo. Honestly I don't know why this guy isn't getting signed. What's he asking for?
He gets 100+ tackles a year, even at his current age. I would gladly take him over Philip Wheeler for Indy to start for us.
Derrick, take a small contract and play next to Ray Lewis. Win a few late career rings. Purple and black in the super bowl this year.... You heard it here first.
As a Giants fan, I'm shocked that Reese isn't taking a look at this guy as a backup at least. Brooks "underwhelming 2008 season" still looked better than Pierce's piss poor 2008 season. If the guy will take veteran's minimum, NY should bring him in for a lookover.
"EdReed4prez says:
July 2, 2009 7:35 PM
Derrick, take a small contract and play next to Ray Lewis. Win a few late career rings. Purple and black in the super bowl this year.... You heard it here first."
Really? Did they get a real QB yet....or are they still trying to go with the game-manager-can-win partyline?
Whooo! Joe Flacco! He doesn't single-handedly lose games! All-Pro!
Brooks has 1698 tackles.
This kinda surprises me.
http://panthersfanatic.net/
Oh, I definitely want him in Indy. Even if he doesn't play full-time, having him as a mentor to Wheeler and Session would be huge, especially since Brackett is the only true leader on that D. Come on, Polian, make it happen!
Sorry to be "that guy", but as a lifelong Bucs fan, I'd like to point out a "slight" statistical inaccuracy. Derrick has way more than 895 tackles. He has 1,698 carrer tackles and over 1,200 of those were solo. The Tampa 2 almost never ruskes linebackers. They cover tight ends and receivers. That's how fast they have to be. He may be old, but he's still got gas left in the tank. I'd love to see him play next to Ray Lewis. I hear they're great friends.
he may have ONE more season in him.
TFBuckFutter- absolutely all we need is a game manager. We have the luxury of not needing 4000yds from our playoff winning qb(who by the way won more post-season games than drew brees), because we have a smothering defense, power running game, and the browns and bungles in division.
It works ask super bowl champion turn-over Trent Dilfer.
Umm....you just pointed out how successful your system is by referencing a time when Trent Dilfer was your starting quarterback, the Olsen Twins were 13 and Miley Cyrus was 8.
But yeah. That systems working well for you.
The Redskins need help at SAM. Seems like Brooks would be worth a look, the Skins have cap room to swing it. Do it Dan!
One game from the super bowl with a rookie signal caller... Yeah the system works. Time of posession and limiting turnovers is way more effective than quick scores and a defense that's always out on the field.
What team do you follow?
I love you D. Brooks...You could be one of my 53 any day...