Novel idea: Brooks looking on

The veteran will stay in a rotation with Cato June.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Published September 18, 2007

Coach Jon Gruden said that he plans to use Brooks and Cato June at weakside linebacker in passing situations.
	[James Borchuck | Times]

TAMPA - Bucs fans can expect to see more of Derrick Brooks playing less.

Coach Jon Gruden said Monday that he plans to use Brooks and Cato June at weakside linebacker in passing situations.

For the first time in his 13-year career, a healthy Brooks was taken off the field for about a dozen plays in Sunday's 31-14 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Brooks, 34, made it clear Monday that the strategy was not his idea, but he is willing to see if it will help him and the defense remain fresh during a long season. Brooks had nine tackles against the Saints and forced a fumble.

"Going into the game, they said we were going to get some plays in where you guys will come out and we'll get more of a rotation going," Brooks said. "Then the weather. It was hot out there. A lot of guys came in and out and we seemed to be the fresher team at the end of the ball game. Maybe this will work. We'll see."

Was Brooks okay with the move from a personal standpoint?

"Ah, again, it's one of those things man, you look at it and say let's see before you knock it, see what it's like. ... It seems to work, and we'll see where it goes from here."

Durability has always been one of Brooks' trademarks. He has started 191 straight games, more than any other active defensive player in the league.

But Brooks has increasingly heard whispers that he has lost a step. He was put on the defensive last week after missing a tackle of running back Shaun Alexander at Seattle and losing coverage on a touchdown pass to running back Maurice Morris.

June, 27, excels in coverage and had an interception Sunday with Brooks on the field. Most of Brooks' bench time came with the Saints in the two-minute offense, with three receivers or both.

"You can say what you want to say and make it as big of a story as you want to make it," Gruden said. "But to me, this is just about winning and taking advantage of two very good players that happen to play the same position.

"We've had to take Keyshawn Johnson out of the game and put Keenan McCardell in," Gruden said. "We've had to take Jerry Rice out on occasion and put Tim Brown in. We've had to take Ricky Watters out of the game and put Charlie Garner in. We're talking about winning football games, and Derrick Brooks is a big reason why we're going to win. A big reason. And there's some time in a football game, particularly when the heat index is 130 degrees, that we're going to make a substitution, keep them fresh and put a guy in that's also very talented."

Brooks left the locker room Sunday without speaking to reporters. He said it was because he had to take his daughter to the airport.

Brooks said June did a good job in his place.

"It wasn't like he wasn't used to it," Brooks said. "Obviously, in practice, that's what he plays. He went in and did a good job from what I can tell.

"We still didn't play as well as we wanted to play - when you get a team down, you want to finish them. You don't give them a ray of hope. The way we gave them that first touchdown seemed to give them a little spark, and we don't want to do that."

Brooks' contract ends after the 2008 season. He has renegotiated numerous times to give the club salary cap relief. He has played with a revolving cast of defenders since the 2004 season.

Missing a play here and there is another sacrifice he's willing to make if it helps the Bucs win.

"I've proven time and time again about putting this team first, whether it's now, contract-wise, my whole career," Brooks said. "It's about winning. Again, that's just me as a person."

[Last modified September 18, 2007, 06:43:32]