When news emerged that Pats linebacker Jerod Mayo has a Grade 3 MCL sprain, which could knock him out of action for up to two months, many presumed that the Patriots would dial up Junior Seau or Tedy Bruschi.
But they might be going in a different direction in their search for an aging linebacker.
Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald, citing an unnamed source with knowledge of the team’s thinking, reports that linebacker Derrick Brooks could be joining the team.
“They’re kicking it around,” the source told Rapoport.
Rapoport suggests that Adalius Thomas could be shifted to the inside, with Brooks then playing on the outside.
The loss of Mayo hurts a defense that has gotten dramatically younger and less experienced with the departures of Rodney Harrison, Seau, Bruschi, and Richard Seymour. Mayo was expected to be the leader of the unit — they’ll now need leadership to emerge from others.
Brooks, a fixture in Tampa since the days of the Creamsicles, was linked to the Bears earlier this week, and in the offseason he flirted with the Saints. By signing with the Pats, he’d get a chance to face his old team next month in England.
I think this would be a great pick up for them.
Sorry but while the Herald claims “sources” they don’t. Rappaport’s likely source is his proctologist. If Reiss reports it then there might be some meat to the story.
This would be an ideal pick up. Derrick has allot of experience and has always played like a winner!
Might be good for Derrick to get his career back on track. AD does have a year of experience at MLB in the 3-4….
The body you need and the experience you want! Win-Win!!!
Sign his ass Chicago.
I still dont understand why Brooks doesn’t have a team this late. It must be that he wants too much money but with the potential to get one of those rings with New England, his asking price might drop a little bit.
Do it.
Lets be honest. They are several players away from being an above average defense. They are going to live and die by the arm of Brady this year.
Maybe as a contingency plan, but Brooks is a coverage guy and not a run stuffer.
Mayo’s injury hurts.
killachap
He has a ring so I don’t know if that matters all that much to him. I would much rather he go the NE than to Chicago though
Brooks doesn’t have a team yet because: 1) teams didn’t see him as coming in and starting; 2) he doesn’t play special teams, which backup LBs are expected to. It makes sense for NE to do it, although I don’t know how well he would fit into a 3-4 at OLB, since he’s not known as a pass-rusher.
makes no sense to me. brooks played in a tampa 2, pats play a 3-4, and brooks is way too small to play outside linebacker in a 3-4, at least 30 pounds too small. i don’t see how they could do it.
Brooks doesent have a team cause he is old and he doesent have anything left in the tank every team in the NFL is happier with what they have than having this guy. Of course the Pats will get him they will sign anybody. But they made a mistake getting rid of Seymour that guy is a beast and by looking at the Pats D monday night they suck ass ! Seymour was huge part of that now it’s gone. And yea how is Derrick Burgess workin out for ya ha ha aha ha Knew that guy was a washed up joke years ago!
Hey Kravon:
Look at my name and now I have to tell you that I agree big time. They say that defense is what wins championships and the ones they have it was certainly the case. I have a funny (bad) feeling that Bill wants to prove that wrong and try to win it with offense this year. Do they have a bad defense? No, but I wouldn’t call it good either. Decent is what comes to mind.
As far as Brooks coming here – give me a break. The guy was great in his time, but his time is over. If this happens, I can see a similar thing happening to him as what happened to Jr. This is not a position and this is not a team for someone who is up there in years and has lost a step or two because of it.
Brooks isn’t signed with anyone yet because he has clearly lost a step. He just isn’t the same player he was 2 years ago. However, the pats are great at salvaging old safety’s and linebackers careers….I think brooks could have some success in NE. I don’t feel the same about it if he goes to the bears for some reason, i just think they would ask too much of him, that wont happen in NE.
Kind of funny – The Bills almost beat you, and now everyone says the defense sucks.
Im not saying they are wrong, but time will tell, so far, their numbers are actually pretty good.
Look it up.
Great! thats what we need!! another linebacker ready for social security…
Somebody needs to sign Derrick Brooks. I don’t know why the Bucs cut him in the first place.
Harry Carson is available.
Brooks would not sign for the veteran minimum in New Orleans nor Chicago, and I doubt he would in New England at this time. They have the cap space due to that head scratching Seymour deal, but they are usually frugal and can use Tedy and Jr. as bargaining chips.
Why aren’t the Bears or Pats kicking Zach Thomas’ tires?
He’s a viable 1-year option (if healthy – which he claims he is).
shake&bake, I’ve told you this before: Stop mid-day drinking! People who do drink at this time of the day have a tendancy to write (and speak) in a manner that makes them sound dumb, immature and jealous. But, maybe you are just a Sh!t for brain?
I would really like to know other than the retirement of 2 slow aging defenders and the trade of an over-rated defender… what makes NE’s defense average to below average?
They have played one game with this unit (all but 9 plays without Mayo)
They gave up less than 200 yards passing and less 100 yards rushing.
They gave up 17 points on defense – 10 of which came after questionable (at best) ‘roughing the passer’ calls that extended stalled drives. Also those 10 points were the only points that Buffalo scored in the 2nd half.
For all of the people that complain about the ‘Miracle TD’ or ‘Miracle Comeback’ I give you the Miracle Phantom Personal Foul (x2).
So one week into the season (and one power ranking) what exactly leads people to believe that the Defense is shaky?
The only shaky things I saw on the field were Brady’s 3 quarters of rust and Ref’s who didn’t understand the new QB Protection Rules.
The bills had 90 yards rushing and 189 yards passing. Yip, that defense (Thats shifted from 3-4 to 4-3 after Mayo got hurt.) really sucks huh?
I could see Brooks helping out I’ll take smarts over speed. I’d rather have Bruschi back for six weeks or even Junior.
poor Brady, hopes he’s ok….
Maybe Billy B should give Seymour a call, I’m sure he is just itchin to get back into the fold. How long does it take to get the “kool aid” out of the system??
Hey Florio, Pats are not signing Brooks, they will be signing LB Kevin Malast who was cut by the Bears. You can thank me later buddy
I am sooooo tired of all this Patsie talk. “So and So signs with the Patsies becuase he wants to win.” Or, “it’s a good pick up for the Patsies. They know how to use his talents.”
Whatever.
This guy is so over the hill, that he can’t help anyone any more. What’s even more laughable is that stiff Junior (er….Senior) Saeu who says he wants to come back. Why not bring back Bill Nelson or Andre Tippet, too?
The Patsies haven’t won jack in years, and with losers like Candy Moss on the team, when the going gets tough, they’ll fold (see playoff games in Denver and Indy over the the recent years…WHEN they even made the playoffs).
Let’s be real Patsie fans. Monday night was a gift from God, just like the Raider game back in ’02 (yes….it was a fumble). Championship teams don’t need fluke wins, nor do they put themselves in a situation to have to have them. As the season unfolds, you can all say that I told you so. This team is average, AT BEST.
Wow. Brooks must feel like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.
Sorry Lipschitz (Katmandu). It was not a fumble.
Happened only one time previous that season Kurt Warner vs. Atlanta
3 time Super Bowl Champs.
You’re put on notice
# Vox Duh says: September 16, 2009 12:45 PM
Maybe Billy B should give Seymour a call, I’m sure he is just itchin to get back into the fold. How long does it take to get the “kool aid” out of the system??
_____________________________________
As a Pats fan I can tell you that Seymour never ever “drank the koolaid”. He wouldn’t even sip the koolaid. Neither did Law, Vinatieri or Samuel.
Just because they are Patriots does not mean they drank the koolaid.
Hey Frank good thing nobody cares what you think!!!!! YOU ARE MEANINGLESS NOBODY KNOWS YOU AND NOBODY WANTS TO KNOW YOU DID I SAY YOU ARE MEANINGLESS ? WELL IF I DIDNT YOU ARE MEANINGLESS. And this is the last time you will get a response from anyone.