Cash May Drive Brooks Out Of NFL
August 21st, 2009There are certain mysteries that weigh on Joe’s mind. Among them:
Why did Adolph Hitler invade the Soviet Union and a few months later declare war on the United States?
Why didn’t Obama just pay off everyone’s mortgage and save the Feds money?
Why doesn’t my neighborhood watering hole have Caybrew on tap, replete with a Caybrew girl serving the elixir?
How many cocktails does it take for Rachel Watson to — ahem, uh, I mean, uh, why hasn’t anyone signed Derrick Brooks?
This riddle (Brooks, not Rachel!) is also on the mind of Ross Tucker of SI.com. He believes it has not to do with Brooks’ talents, but his financial demands.
To be fair, a decent amount of these 30-something’s likely would be on a roster if they were willing to play for the league minimum or in a reduced role. But I think teams are missing the boat on some of these guys; they could provide more value than realized. Yes, they are older and there are some inherent injury and production risks that go along with that. I also know many teams prefer to try to find a younger, cheaper, healthier player.
But the NFL has become a one-year league for the most part because 2010 isn’t really promised to anyone at this point. And you can’t tell me that some of these players can’t gut it out and get the job done for one more season. If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick. Their teams, the Chiefs and Patriots, respectively, have made a habit this offseason of snatching up veterans that many teams shy away from because they presume they are over the hill.
That’s about the best reasons Joe can think of. Joe understands Brooks is being picky with who he chooses to sign with and Joe doesn’t blame him. Why would Brooks want to play for the Rams or Lions?
And Joe is sure Brooks isn’t going to play for the league minimum just to get beat up on for one more year.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Brooks is picky? Really….. The Raiders….. Picky? Brooks hasn’t been taken because people watched him play last year in a limited number of snaps and still he looked old and worn at the end of the season. Sure he had an injury, but he is not the same player, and he just doesn’t rate the bucks anymore. I like Brooks but I’m certainly not going to feel sorry for a guy who got paid really well for playing a game.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Paul:
It’s possible senile Al either was going to throw cash at Brooks or, Brooks just wanted a tryout, any kind of a tryout, to possibly get feedback from some different sets of eyeballs.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Ok, I would say that could be the motivation. I was disappointed in him for going to tryout for the Raiders, but that could make sense. Its sad, I liked the Raiders when I was a kid in the 70’s. They have fallen so far. I hope the Bucs never go that way. We have a nice community reputation that is getting tarnished lately.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Hey Paul
Maybe if we let Talib have more weeend passes or let him party with Tanard Jackson during his 4 week suspension they can continue to deteriorate the Bucs reputation.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Joe says “Why would Brooks want to play for the Rams or Lions?”. I would argue those teams will probably have a better record this year than the Bucs, for one thing.
With Jackson suspended, and Talib next in line, I wouldn’t be surprised if they sign Brooks and move Phillips back to the secondary. I do not want to see #55 in any other teams uniform, EVER!!!
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Quote from Joe “And Joe is sure Brooks isn’t going to play for the league minimum just to get beat up on for one more year.”
REALLY? Why not?
I thought it was for the love of the game that DB wanted to play? Now it’s the $?
A true football player who wants to play does so because they want to win and be a part of the action – if $ is their main motivating force I would question their sincerity – especially after the number of years a player like Brooks has been able to cash those big pay checks.
As for the current situation the Bucs find themselves in:
Can Talib Aquib for 6 games, Can Tarnard Jackson for 6 games as well – make BOTH enroll in a substance abuse program when they are checked in not sitting home with their possee.
Move Jermaine Phillips have to safety where he belongs
Sign Derrick Brooks for a 1 year deal – he’ll know this is his last chance and he’ll play is old ass off.