Player/Coach Derrick Brooks?

August 27th, 2009
Joe can’t count how many stories have been written about current Bucs players and coaches who in turn mention that Derrick Brooks is advising, mentoring and coaching them from his living room.

Here’s another one today about young Geno Hayes from Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times.

“I think learning two different positions (strongside and weakside) and playing them at a high tempo, limiting mistakes and showing a lot of good hustle on tape, I’ve shown I’ve improved from last year,” he said. “I think I’ve been showing the coaches some urgency on my assignments and being on top of the details.”

He has had some help with those details, too. The man who played Hayes’ position for 14 seasons, Derrick Brooks, was released in February but has kept in contact with Hayes.

“He’s looking out for all of us,” said Hayes, who says he often consults Brooks for advice.

Given the Bucs loss of projected starting linebackers Jermaine Phillips and Angelo Crowell, and given Brooks’ apparently effective role right now as teacher/mentor and his desire to play, wouldn’t it make sense to offer Brooks at least a player-coach role with the club?

Would linebackers coach Joe Barry really object?

If Raheem The Dream and Mark Dominik want to go with a youth movement at linebacker, fine. But wouldn’t Brooks help the cause most teaching in practice and backing up on the field?

4 Responses to “Player/Coach Derrick Brooks?”

  1. Jason Says:

    Couldn’t agree more! Why not?

  2. OAR Says:

    The Bucs (Hayes isn’t the only player he consults/helps) are lucky Brooks is The Man that he is, cause they were/are going to miss his leadership!

  3. Ron Nado Says:

    Brooks is the man! He is the face of the franchise even still and always will be! I could’nt agree more Joe. He would be a huge asset to the Bucs if they brought him for that. They need to swallow their pride and pick up the phone, we need him. With all the injuries and suspention to Tanard they could do it and still save face. I know they want to go younger, but does’nt the best player play period? The other linebackers might be good, but if they were that good they would have just beat out Brooks to begin with. An older Brooks is better than anything we have right now, PERIOD!
    Good article Joe!

  4. Jorge Says:

    Why not?