Brooks takes over

With Hardy Nickerson gone, Bucs' Derrick Brooks assumes the mantle of leadership.

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By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 27, 2000

TAMPA -- Four years ago, Derrick Brooks had a souvenir Pro Bowl T-shirt bestowed upon him as a gift from Hardy Nickerson, the Bucs' representative that season at the NFL's all-star game. Brooks wore it under his practice jersey every day with the implied message he was good enough to begin his own collection.

He did, accompanying Nickerson to the past three Pro Bowls in Hawaii.

In March, the Bucs bid aloha to Nickerson, a 13-year veteran who signed with Jacksonville as a free agent. Now Brooks is ready to try Nickerson's leadership role on for size.

"It's going to be fun this year," Brooks said. "I've had Hardy to depend on when things get tough, and now guys are looking at me to be that rock. When things get tough, they're going to lean on me. I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. As tough as it is, it'll be that exciting.

[Times photo: Toni L. Snndys] Derrick Brooks explains he can't sign autographs because he injured a hand trying to catch a pass. Story

"I kind of put myself in the same position I was in at college when Marvin Jones left Florida State, you know, stepping up and taking on that leadership role. It's expected of me to do it, and I accept the challenge."

That Brooks would lead the Bucs in something other than tackles, as he has done three of the past four seasons, is not a surprise.

But Nickerson's departure put so much focus on his replacement -- third-year pro Jamie Duncan -- that what went unnoticed was that Brooks' voice would be the loudest in the huddle.

"One thing that I think people wrongly perceive is that Jamie is going to step into that role," general manager Rich McKay said. "No. Jamie is going to step into the role as the player, but from a leadership standpoint, I think we're in pretty good stead that some of our guys who've been here will step up and get that done."

The logical choice was Brooks, because unlike Duncan, he will not come off the field during passing downs. Duncan has no problem deferring to Brooks, the only Buc other than Warren Sapp to receive votes last season for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

"I'm not going to step on his toes, but I'm going to help him out," Brooks said. "He's excited, too. I'm sure he's tired of hearing about it. It's just not Jamie's responsibility, but the other 10 guys. We're all going to have to pick our game up. Not only because Hardy is leaving, but the other offenses are going to get pumped to play this defense."

Brooks' improvement has mirrored that of the defense, which allowed one touchdown or none in 12 games last season. Meanwhile, Brooks set career highs in interceptions (4), passes defensed (18), forced fumbles (2) and sacks (2), and was named the club's MVP for the second straight year. But Brooks still believes he can do more.

"I think first, I've got to realize I can improve. I think that was the key," Brooks said. "When I broke my game down this off-season, I realized there were some plays out there that I left on the field. Secondly, I can improve by capturing the opportunity when it comes, knowing my chances may be a little more limited because defenses are going to key on me, so I can't waste a step. Thirdly, I just have to go out and do it. People don't believe after you have a year like that you can improve. I want to get 200 tackles in 16 (regular-season) games. The other thing is I've got to score a touchdown. It's been six years since I've touched that paint, and I'm anxious. I've got to score somehow, some way. I've got to get it in the end zone -- period."

As good a player as Brooks is, he is a better person off the field.

In the off-season, he funded a trip to Africa for 20 youths from the boys and girls clubs in Tampa and Orlando. The 10-day tour, on which he was accompanied by Bucs coach Tony Dungy, included stops in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa, and Swaziland.

Today, Brooks will be presented with the The Good Guys Award from the Sporting News. Brooks appears on the cover of the magazine's July 31 issue, which features his Brooks Bunch Africa 2000 trip.

"Once we got there, to see the kid's reaction when we landed, it got kid of emotional for me," Brooks said. "I was touched and very grateful I was in a position to do this.

"Having them keep journals of what they saw and what they thought, they really shared and opened their hearts to me, and I appreciate that. They let me know the work that I had done, that the foundation is really solid."

For Brooks and most of the entourage, the highlight of the trip was a visit to Robben Island, where former South African president Nelson Mandela spent 26 years in prison fighting apartheid.

"I think everyone was shocked that this man was confined to this small of an area for 26 years," Brooks said. "For a man of his size in that small of a cell, it was a struggle. He's a big guy, 6-3, and couldn't even lay down in his cell."

"We had a former inmate as a tour guide. He shared his experiences and what they stood for. Basically, they just wanted to be treated like human beings through the whole movement. They gave Mandela 26 years and others 10 or 15 just on the principle of wanting to be treated like a human. It made me step back and realize their struggle. As an African-American, it made me appreciate what my ancestors went through just to be treated equally. It just kind of reminded me to always treat people with respect."

With Nickerson gone, perhaps no player on the defense will command more respect than Brooks.

"To be a great leader, you have to be a great player. Derrick has proven he can do that," linebackers coach Lovie Smith said. "Derrick just happened to have a guy who was born to be a leader in the past with Hardy here. Now I think he'll lead the linebacker position more by example. When you're a good player, you seem to have confidence. When you have confidence, you do a little more talking. I think Derrick is going to step up and be a vocal leader. He's ready for that role. He's our bell cow at linebacker and probably the defense. Somebody needs to be saying something, and who better than him?"

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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