Brooks Wears New Colors

April 13th, 2011

Joe’s got to give a hand to Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm owner Jeff Vinik. In addition to the complete one-year transformation of the Lightning and massive upgrades to The Forum, Vinik went out and hired Derrick Brooks to run his fast-food/pinball football team.

Brooks was announced this week.

So Derrick Brooks wanted to stay in town and build a football management resume and he works for the Storm? Something’s wrong with that picture, although the Arena route was good enough for John Elway.

Hmmm, Joe wonders whether Chucky is still breaking down film in the bowels of the Forum.

“Look 55, you and I are cut from the same fuc*n cloth. We eat and sh*t this game. My brother played Arena ball. I know the damn game. You want to pack the building and sell sponsorships, you freakin’ hire me as an assistant coach. We’ll bring home another ring and rip some money out those Glazer pockets at the same time. Did Parcells or Walsh or Belichick get an Arena Bowl ring? Huh? Huh? You think I don’t want this? I love you, man.”

It’ll be interesting to see how visible Brooks is with the Storm. He’s got massive marketing value to the team, if he’s willing to bang the streets.

Yeah, it’s nuts. But Joe wonders whether Brooks might put the pads on for one more game.

11 Responses to “Brooks Wears New Colors”

  1. BigMacAttack Says:

    Vinik is one smart savvy cookie. It appears that he makes offers that people just can’t refuse. Steve Yzerman, now Derrick Brooks. I hope his next offer is to Joel Glazer, and then he will complete the Championship Trifecta.

  2. WeNeedDefense Says:

    If John Elway did why would it be a bad idea for Brooks to do this?

    This is a great idea on so many levels.

  3. Derek 'OldSchool' Fournier Says:

    Great move. Now they need to go get the talent level back up and restore teh Storm to prominence. I was a long time season ticket holder when they played across the water and I lived in Lakeland. IT is a really good time if you don’t go in expected NFL football. It is a different game and there should be no shame in that.

    Looking forward to what 55 can bring to the team.

  4. Pete Dutcher Says:

    I think it’s cool and all, but I would rather him have become part owner of the Bucs or joined the staff.

    The arena league is on it’s way out, so it won’t last long.

  5. WeNeedDefense Says:

    “but I would rather him have become part owner of the Bucs or joined the staff”

    See Marky D and RAHeeeem for that reasoning why he’s NOT.

    Brooks isn’t stupid. You ever listen to his interviews about the details of the Cover-2 defense? This dude KNOWS EXACTLY what he is talking about.

  6. OAR Says:

    Good for Brooks! And, the Storm!
    BTW I didn’t know 22 years wasn’t a long time? Even after their financial problems and one season suspended, from bankruptcy liquidation to bankruptcy reorganization, the league looks it might work again?!
    Yes, it would be cool, if he was still part of Bucs, but it takes two to tango!

  7. Pete Dutcher Says:

    @WeNeedDefense
    I agree! Brroks is perhaps one of the smartest and wisest players ever to be on a Bucs team.

    And his personal standards rank pretty high as well.

  8. Apple Roof Cleaning Says:

    I was hoping Tampa would add him in some capacity. What a disgrace to Brooks to be hyping Arena Football.

  9. OAR Says:

    Apple,
    What a disgrace to disgrace Brooks!? I mean he signed up for it, nobody was forcing ole “double nickel” to join the Storm! Just be happy for the man and be glad he’s staying in the Tampa community!

  10. BeTanked Says:

    THE STORM!!!??? Why has’nt the Glazers scooped double nickel as the Bucs lineacker coach? Derrick can run our defense in his sleep!

  11. Joe Says:

    BeTanked:

    At this point in his life, Brooks doesn’t want to coach at all. He’s a multi-millionaire with a lot of businesses to run. He doesn’t feel like putting in 100-hour work weeks for low six figures when he could be putting in that time to make more millions.

    Plus, Brooks coaches his kid’s Pee Wee football team. Could Brooks coach? Probably. He just isn’t motivated to do so.

    Brooks has way too many oars in the water to coach with the Bucs, or any other team. His businesses, his charities, his school, now the Storm.