After all these years, he's still hitting hard

By GARY SHELTON, Times Columnist
Published December 2, 2007

TAMPA - There are hits, vicious hits, that tend to rattle the senses of the designated target.

These are the tackles that punish and intimidate, and Derrick Brooks has built his legend upon them. These are the blows that numb the mind and sap the spirit, blows like the one Brooks made in the 1999 championship game against Torry Holt of the Rams. The next trip through Brooks' zone, Holt fell down rather than try for the reception.

There are hits, violent hits, that seem to hurt the tackler as much as the tackled.

These are the hits that exact a toll, that peel days from the end of a career. Brooks hasn't had a lot of those. Still, there was the time at Florida State, when he hit a Georgia Tech receiver so hard that it knocked both players out of the game.

Then there are the hits, memorable hits, that make a statement to a man's critics.

These are the hits that look a lot like last week's, on fourth and 1, when Brooks sliced through a gap on a young man's legs and, in one moment, stopped Washington running back Clinton Portis and silenced all those fans with calendars.

In short, this is what that tackle said:

"I'm still here, and I'm still Derrick Brooks."

Lately, it seems the doubts have begun. After all these years, after all these moments, there are those who tend to think of him as what he used to be rather than what he still is. When a man reaches age 34, when his team keeps bringing in other linebackers who have played his position, when his paycheck and his playing time have been reduced, it can be fashionable to think of him in the past tense.

On the other hand, there is this:

Man, that Brooks guy still manages to make a lot of tackles.

"Derrick is still a very good player," said Ronde Barber, the man who has spent the past decade lined up behind him in the Bucs defense. "None of us are the same guy we were years ago, but he's played good, and he's had a couple of great games in a row. He still makes big plays on Sunday."

For instance, even though Brooks is playing roughly 10 fewer snaps a game than a year ago, he is averaging 11.5 tackles (solo and assists) per game. That's the second-highest total of his career, since he averaged 11.8 in 1998, his second Pro Bowl season.

"I would like to say to look at my play this whole year, not just on that fourth-and-1 play," Brooks said. "At that particular time, that play stood out. But I look at myself this whole season, and I know I've had one of my better seasons. That's why when I miss a tackle or don't make a play, it gets so much attention."

Well, that and the age thing.

At age 34, Lawrence Taylor was in his final season as a Giants linebacker. At age 34, Jack Ham, the Steelers linebacker whom Brooks is often compared to, was in his final season. At age 34, Chiefs Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Bell was in his final season. At age 34, Bears linebacker Mike Singletary was in his final season.

By age 34, Dick Butkus of the Bears, and Jack Lambert of the Steelers and Willie Lanier of the Chiefs were all done.

And so there are those who speak of Brooks in twilight, almost as if he were yesterday's star. Always a big-play linebacker, Brooks has scored only one touchdown since 2003. It is natural there are those who wonder how many games Brooks has remaining.

For the record, he is not one of them. Neither is Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

"I would never put a timetable on Derrick Brooks,"Kiffin said.

Oh, Brooks has heard the talk, and he knows how some perceptions have changed.

"I always say I respect people's opinions," Brooks said. "They can say what they want. But at the end of the day, Derrick Brooks is going to bet on Derrick Brooks. I think more people will bet on me than will bet against me, I promise you that."

In the offseason, Brooks studies tapes of himself, particularly of his feet, because for a linebacker who plays in space, speed is essential. It's one of the reasons he is playing 7 to 8 pounds lighter - at 228 - than in past seasons. For years, he has had an inner circle of former coaches and players he trusts to evaluate his game. He urges them to be blunt.

"When the time comes, when I can look at myself and say, 'You ain't got it no more,' I will be the first one to see it," Brooks said. "There is nobody harder on me than me. I'll be the first to say, 'Kiffin, maybe I could serve this team better playing 20 less snaps a game, 30 less snaps a game. Maybe I can only play in base defense to help this team win.' When the time comes, I'll be the first to do that."

If you follow professional sports, you know that a lot of fading stars are unable to do that. Brooks swears he will be able to. After all, he is splitting time on third down with Cato June. He has already taken a pay cut.

"I have always put this team first," Brooks said. "I'm not so selfish that I have to eat the whole pie."

Ask him what he has lost, and he shakes his head. Ask him how long he has left, and he shrugs.

For now, Brooks is playing well. He has never been a player to shout his own name or thump his own chest. But there is a fierce pride to Brooks. You ask him, bluntly as you can, if he still considers himself to be among the top outside linebackers in the game.

Brooks pauses a minute. Finally, he nods slowly.

"Yes," he says. "Yes, I do."

Gary Shelton can be reached at (727) 893-8805.

[Last modified December 1, 2007, 16:49:30]