LAKE BUENA VISTA - Derrick Brooks, the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, returned to training camp Wednesday and looked nothing like a guy who had been away from the team for eight days.
July 29, as the Bucs got ready to board a plane for Japan, Brooks left for Pensacola to be with his mother, Geraldine Mitchell, who was in poor health.
Brooks said his mother did not have a heart attack as reported in the St. Petersburg Times.
"(She's doing) a lot better," Brooks said. "I don't want to get into specifics about it. I thank everybody for their prayers and concerns about my family. Just to let everybody know she's getting better and hopefully everything will be all right in the near future."
Brooks, 30, said that not being in Tokyo with the team was not ideal but was unavoidable.
"Obviously, it got to the point where football was becoming a distraction and I dealt with it," Brooks said. "I went home to be with my family. I took all I could take and I thank God I've got a supportive head coach and a team here that realizes when things are important, you address it."
Coach Jon Gruden said the team didn't think twice about letting the six-time Pro Bowl selectee leave for Pensacola.
"That (compassion) goes for anybody," said Gruden, who allowed safety John Howell time to deal with his depression during last year's camp. "If you have a situation where someone in your immediate family is ill, and critically ill, let's be honest, you only live one time. Life is precious, man. We'll meet an extra hour and a half if we need to catch him up, but if you have an opportunity to go be with your mom and support her and lead her and inspire her for a while instead of your teammates, that's more than appropriate."
Of course, Brooks could not abandon the Bucs entirely. He got up early to watch the game.
"Actually, it was 4 o'clock in Pensacola," Brooks said. "I was up. My mom was up. We were checking it out. I saw the guys having fun. (It was) a little bit (weird) because I'd never been in that position before so I didn't know what to expect. ... They did well (in Tokyo). I'm proud they won a ballgame without me, but I told them, "Hopefully we don't have to get used to that."'
Teammates were happy to have Brooks back.
"I don't want to make too much out of it," Brooks said. "The guys, they moved in ... and dealt with me not being there. We have three more leaders on this team that were able to do it. Obviously, when someone's missing, it's always welcome to have everybody back."
Mitchell's condition is improved and Brooks said her health will not weigh too heavily on him.
"When I'm on the field, I'm at work. When I'm here, that's what my mind's on," he said. "I am happy to be back. I'd like to think they're happy that I'm back."
Added Gruden: "It's great to see him. You've got the MVP of the NFL walking in and practicing. That's also great because it means that his mom is improving in terms of her health and that's the most important thing. That's why he wasn't here and we feel great about that."
IT'S ABOUT THE RING: It's not The Ring, but it's A Ring. Oakland Raiders legend Ted Hendricks visited Bucs training camp with a special mission. On behalf of the Raiders organization, Hendricks presented Bucs running back Terry Kirby and strength and conditioning coordinator Garrett Giemont with their AFC Championship rings.
"They told me it was coming, so it was not a complete surprise," Kirby said. "But it was nice to have. Being in the Super Bowl is something I can be proud of. It symbolizes hard work. There were only two teams in that game and unfortunately, there had to be a winner and a loser. How many people can say they actually got there."
And what does the ring look like?
"It's white gold and it has the four Super Bowl trophies on the top in diamonds," Kirby said. "And it has your name, position on the side. It's real nice."
BUCS TRADE: The Bucs traded a conditional pick in the 2005 draft to the Cowboys for tight end/long snapper Jeff Grau.
INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Ronde Barber practiced and showed signs of being slowed by his sore left knee. Barber missed the preseason opener in Tokyo but likely will play against the Dolphins. Cornerback Brian Kelly has turf toe and missed the afternoon session. He should start Friday. Linebacker Jack Golden (shoulder stinger) and receiver Fabian Davis (strained glute) are day to day. Guard Cornell Green (left ankle sprain) is out.
