Pick a plot, any plot -- just end it

SHELTON E-mail: Click here Archive

By GARY SHELTON

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 7, 2001

Ten possible ways the holdout ends ...

1. AUG. 13: The Tampa Bay Bucs surrendered to outside linebacker Derrick Brooks on Monday.

"We were amazed by the strength of Derrick's resolve over the past two weeks," team vice president Joel Glazer said. "And so we caved in. Hey, it happens. Let's go win a Super Bowl."

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, as the check given to Brooks was blank. Brooks said he would take some time to figure out how many zeroes to add. The length of the contract was five years, which, Brooks said, "ties me up for the next three."

As part of the deal, Brooks now owns between the 20- and 30-yard lines on the south end of the field.

"It's the best deal anyone not named Glazer has received in Tampa," Glazer said.

2. AUG. 20: Derrick Brooks ended his monthlong holdout Monday with a single word.

"Oops."

Brooks rushed into camp, he said, once he read the fine print in his contract.

"It was all a misunderstanding. I have a five-year contract. I thought it was for three years. Whoever wrote out this contract makes their numbers funny. You can imagine my embarrassment."

Brooks said he would still like the raise he was promised.

"Raisin," a Bucs spokesman said. "We promised him a raisin."

3. AUG. 27: Derrick Brooks came in to camp Monday. How long he will stay is anyone's guess.

Brooks, still upset with a contract that has two years to run, says he came into camp as a show of good faith.

"The Bucs said they wouldn't negotiate with me until I was in camp," he said. "Well, here I am, for now. I am officially giving the team two weeks notice to get a deal done, or I'm going right back out."

The rest of the Bucs' defensive players had this to say about Brooks' return: Yippee.

4. SEPT. 3: The Tampa Bay Bucs today announced the return of former No. 1 draft pick Broderick Thomas, who said he was "rough, rested and ready" to take over his former spot at right outside linebacker.

"Derrick Brooks? Who is Derrick Brooks?" said vice president Bryan Glazer. "Brod is our right linebacker. Just you watch: The Sandman cometh."

Thomas, who once made a tackle for the Bucs, although it could be argued the running back actually tripped over him, vowed to make Bucs fans forget about Brooks. "Take it from me," said Thomas, "I forget lots of things, usually assignments."

Brooks' agent had no comment, perhaps due to his uncontrollable laughter.

5. SEPT. 10: Derrick Brooks is back with the Bucs, whether he likes it or not.

Ten men wearing red jerseys abducted Brooks, 28, as he slept and carried him to his locker in the early morning hours Monday. Later, witnesses said the numbers included 99, 47, 78 and 21. Brooks was later located in a meeting room at One Buc Place alongside general manager Rich McKay. The room was bolted and there was no food or water. Several defensive players guarded the door.

"When they work something out," Warren Sapp said, "we'll let them out."

6. SEPT. 17: Trade talks between the Bucs and the Atlanta Falcons continued Monday concerning holdout linebacker Derrick Brooks.

Brooks, the Bucs' MVP last season, has not played this season in a contract dispute.

"We don't want to trade Derrick Brooks," vice president Ed Glazer said. "But in this league, there is always a high possibility that some pigeon will do something extremely stupid and offer us a ridiculous deal. It's a shame Mike Ditka left the league, but we have hope for the Falcons."

Agent Guy said he had not had contract discussions with the Falcons. "But it's a state with an SEC team, so it knows about big payrolls," he said.

7. SEPT. 24: The long holdout of Derrick Brooks ended Monday. His anger did not.

"I'm playing out my contract," Brooks said. "I'm going to be a free agent. The way I see it, it's my only choice."

Brooks said that NFL teams have a decided advantage in holdouts such as his. "I stopped getting paid," he said. "They didn't."

Despite that, Brooks said he was close to sitting out the rest of the season.

"This wasn't about the money," Agent Guy said. "It was about the cars and houses and stuff you get with the money."

8. OCT. 15: An unnamed source today said holdout linebacker Derrick Brooks will rejoin the team after signing a contract for an unspecified number of seasons for an unannounced amount of money.

The unnamed source, who also does not have a job or a car, said Eddie DeBartolo would purchase the team, hire Bill Parcells as coach and sign Brooks to play a position that, as yet, is undecided.

Also, the source said, there was another gunman on the grassy knoll.

9. NOV. 12: The Bucs and Derrick Brooks agreed to terms Monday, ending a warm, fuzzy holdout that did not affect his team in the least.

"Hey, we're buds," Brooks said, throwing his arm around team president Malcolm Glazer. "We all knew it would work out. No one was ever angry."

Brooks signed a perfectly fair contract that he planned to honor. The Bucs said they were delighted by the reasonable nature of the holdout. The Bucs have begun the season with a 7-0 start and are leading the league in defense, offense and kickoffs returned for touchdowns.

"Things have gone perfectly," Brooks said. "This is a happy ending. My absence didn't hurt a bit."

In similar news, Elvis Presley attended the signing, accompanied by the Tooth Fairy.

10. JAN. 25: For the first time in six months, Bucs general manager Rich McKay had discussions with Agent Guy, agent for Derrick Brooks.

The two met at the shrimp table at the Commissioner's Super Bowl Party.

"You were supposed to call me back," Guy said.

"No, you were supposed to call me," McKay said.

"Oops."

"Shame about the season."

"Yeah."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright