Derrick Brooks, You Have A Job Offer
January 5th, 2011
Chatting on WDAE-AM 620 this afternoon with Steve Duemig and Derrick Brooks, Raheem Morris talked about how Brooks is one of his trusted, regular advisors behind the scenes.
It was something Raheem talked about in more detail on WDAE-AM on Tuesday morning with host Dan Sileo. (Joe will have more on that tomorrow morning).
But interestingly today Raheem called Brooks his “secret agent” and nearly challenged Brooks to come join his staff.
“When Derrick wants to be employed by me, he knows where to come,” Raheem said.
Although it’s ancient history at this point, all this love for Brooks makes it hard to believe Raheem was on board with removing Brooks from the building after the 2008 season. Interesting.
Joe wonders whether Brooks might be more intrigued about joining the Bucs in a coaching role after such a strong season and the likelihood of the team bringing in some fresh talent at linebacker.
Obviously, Brooks would be an incredible acquisition on all fronts for the organization.
Brooks said he wants to be a “transition piece” for the current Bucs and he believes they are as good as their record.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
WHO’S YOU FAVORIT COACH!? MR DEREK BROOKS!
January 5th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
I got so excited I dropped the E off of favorite.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
and spelled Derrick’s name wrong
January 5th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
That would be awesome if Brooks came on board as a coach in some sort…. GO BUCS
January 5th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
I think having Brooks as a coach would make every Buc fan happy, even Buc You and Thomas. Okay, well maybe that’s too much of a stretch, but most will be ecstatic. He belongs as a part of this organization.
As for Raheem being on board with his removal, I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. Raheem is an employee. Employees have to do what the bosses say, or at least go along with it, especially when they were just hired in place of a guy who (reportedly) just got fired for not going along with what the bosses said.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Not only would that be awesome how about having Ronde as a player coach next year? (or assistant)
January 5th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
I posted a while ago that Ronde might make a good assistant defensive coordinator. Maybe Brooks could take on that role. Be Rah’s right hand man and maybe call plays or sit back & give input for adjustments etc. I could see these guys (Ronde included) coming up with defensive innovations.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
It really seams like 55 is enjoying life after football w his gigs on first and ten, the legends hr w big dawg and his work w his school..I just don’t see 55 getting back into the grind of football yet maybe down the road a bit but not anytime soon..and I dont think just bc rah thinks so highly of 55 he wasn’t on board w him being let go…as much as I love 55 it obviously wasn’t a bad decision since no one took him on, and yes I know 55 had certain requirements to play w another team ( money, playing time, etc)..
January 5th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Brooks and Steve White next year. Now THAT would be great.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
I saw Derrick yesterday on ESPN…Doing a ‘Love, Hate’ segment alongside Warrick Dunn.
Would LOVE to see him coaching up ruthless defensive players.
Also, the ONLY Bucs jersey I have ever owned? Derrick Brooks.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Letting Derrick go two years ago was akin to having an intervention for a drug addict—he couldn’t really play anymore, a young Geno was better & needed the reps, & no team picked him up henceforth. But then it took him a year to decide to retire. He was never going to leave the building willingly, part of his charm as a player, but…
January 5th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
i think Ronde has the intelligence & the savvy to be Raheem coordinator in ’12. Even Raheem today said he would give up that role soon, just not next year.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Raheem said he wants to be like Billicheck. What did Billicheck do just before the first Superbowl season in 2000, cut the ever popular Lawyer Milloy (I think it was him). Everyone said they had lost it and it was a huge mistake. Turns out, the team did pretty good. And Lawyer hasn’t played to his pre-cut level since.
I think the world of Brooks. He is one of my all-time favorites. But this is a business of winning. And if they thought Brooks best days were behind him and that the coming year would see him lagging enough to have regretted keeping him, they had to make the move. Doesn’t mean they didn’t like him.
I think that was the first Billicheck-like move for Morriss and Dominik.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Sign him up…
January 5th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I would love to have both Brooks and Barber as coaches on this team. However, to consider them as a Defensive Coordinator is just plain ridiculous. You have to work your way up to that, and it takes time. Nobody ever has and ever will go straight to being a DC. There is too much to learn, and there is much more to it than just “knowing” the system. That’s an insult to how much work it takes to get to that level. They can still contribute mightily as a position coach, or even just as an adviser, but not as a coordinator. At least not right away.
January 5th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
I’ve heard Derrick say before that he has no interest in coaching. Could have changed his mind but i doubt it.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
Derrick and Rhonde sat at the feet of Monte Kiffen for a lot of years and learned a lot. I would have no trouble putting them up there but as position coaches, Rhonde must be doing this now and I believe Derrick is giving Raheem the same, they would be great plus no one in their right mind would ever take them as not knowing what they are doing. I would prefer Rhonde to have one more year of playing to go out with a champion team. I don’t know too much about the present position coaches but from the results of the “who are these guys” rotation they must be doing a great job also, so Rahem must make the decesions on this.
I do want to see Warren, John Lynch, and Derrick in the ring of honor along with Mike Alsott this coming year, they played as a team and should go in as a team and if they have to wait, Rhonde should join them also.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
d-money- “I’ve heard Derrick say before that he has no interest in coaching.”
I’m glad every former star player isn’t as delusional as Mike Singletary.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
1. They botched his release.
2. It would be awesome if he was on the coaching staff.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Eric — try to answer this: how could the Bucs have not “botched his release?” These are the parameters: Brooks wants to still play and not in a subordinate role. He wants the starters role. Look forward to your response.
January 5th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Agreed! Brooks AND Steve White in Tampa Coaching!
January 5th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
I would love for him to help, but I expect him to stay with ESPN…
January 5th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Didn’t he have political aspirations..? Or was it just that others saw him as a good politician?
Brooks is going to do Brooks. I think it would be an amazing thing if he found a home coaching here for years to come, but Derrick might have feet too big for those shoes. OR his feet may just be happier in the sandals they’re in now. Ya dig?
January 5th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
My answer,
Let the man play, you went 3-13 anyhow.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:06 am
Eric, obviously playing was not an option as proven by the fact that there was not a single team in the league that made him an offer. Very easy to say the Bucs “botched his release” but as your answer illustrates there was no real way out.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:09 am
@Eric,
Again, I think we all hated to see Brooks go. He was my all-time favorite Buc. However, unfortunately in pro sports, this is the way it ends 9 times out of 10. If it can happen to Michael Jordan, Dan Marino, and Barry Bonds, it can happen to Derrick Brooks. It is a business, and they had to do what they had to do. It may or may not have been a good decision that year (I personally think they may have won a couple more games with Brooks that season), but long term it was probably the right call. They got to evaluate some of their young talent and see what they have. We all know with Brooks on the team, that wasn’t going to happen. He has forgiven and moved on, I think it’s time you do the same.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:18 am
Brooks would have retired on his own had they played him. He has made that clear.
I struggle to see how he would have disrupted the 09 defensive effort. Matter of fact a guy like Brooks ould have helped hold them together IMO.
Brooks has said he had offers to play but the right fit did not materialize.
Is there some reason you do not believe him?
January 6th, 2011 at 12:32 am
@ pete… Ronde is our second best defensive player, he’s not ready to coach yet.
Joe, what makes you say that Raheem was on board w/ getting rid of Mr. Derrick Brooks? Is this something i missed?
January 6th, 2011 at 12:41 am
Never agreed with the brooks cutting, thought it was done with no class but look where we are now? cant complain too much.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:47 am
I would be very surprised if Rah wanted to release Brooks. Thats probably why they have remained in touch and Brooks has helped him.
Again, showing what a class act DB is, but it was not returned in 09 IMO.
But, glad to hear he and Rah talk and Brooks is helping out. All good.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:24 am
Eric — so your only answer was to let him play? That pretty much proves the point.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:50 am
cant we just all get along and welcome number 55 back with open arms to make it all right. Think we would all love to see Mr. Brooks prowl the sidelines yelling at the other team and refs like we’ve seen so many times in his playing days…..the new guys couldnt help but get pumped up with HOF coaching them and if they didnt then they can fly West and play for the 49’ers.
Brooks as Linebacker/asst defense coach=sick
January 6th, 2011 at 1:52 am
That was a great segment on the Legends hour today. While Mr. Brooks didnt take the job, he didnt exactly turn it down either. Would great to see him as a Buc again. He would be an excellent mentor to this young team.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:42 am
Yep, playing Brooks was the answer.
Releasing him was the disgrace.
January 6th, 2011 at 4:26 am
Joe says:”Although it’s ancient history at this point, all this love for Brooks makes it hard to believe Raheem was on board with removing Brooks from the building after the 2008 season. Interesting.”
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Why? The idea that Brooks was passed his prime, proven by the free market consisting of 31 other teams that sniffed and took a pass on him, and Raheem’s desire to have Brooks’ knowledge and experience on his staff are mutually exclusive?
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@eric,
Wasted snaps in 09 would hinder a) the development of Geno Hayes and b) the new regime’s ability to understand what value they had, if any, at the weakside linebacker position. The first half of 09 was an extended training camp. They still had to get over canning Jags and still needed to flush Bates and his “system” (although, to his defense, I don’t think the Glazers allowed him to go out and get any of “his”-type players).
It’s ignorant to say, “oh well they sucked anyways, might as well have let [Brooks] play”.
One of the most important things that I learned from playing sports, is that you learn a hell of a lot more from losing than you do from winning. You are undervaluing the experience that Geno Hayes gained last year. I bet you, Derrick Brooks can agree with that.
No disrespect, 55, you are the greatest, off and on the field.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:24 am
Hire,
Wasted snaps and hindering their development was the hiring of Bates and the entire first half of last season. Now that’s wasted snaps and development. Think of how much further along they would have been this year, had they not WASTED time learning new defensive scheme, gaining weight, etc.
Again I believe Brooks about there were teams and offers, just not what he wanted. So please give up on the “all 31 other teams didn’t want him!” CRAP!
January 6th, 2011 at 10:56 am
One things the “powers that be” at One Buc Place should have done is have some sort of ceremony at halftime at one of the games this year honoring Derrick. Not the Ring of Honor thing, that will come in time, but just a ceremony (perhaps retiring his jersey). They did this for Mike in 2008 and it was great. Sometimes the Glazers don’t do sentimental well.