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Brooks, Bucs on the verge of agreement for new deal

Linebacker says, "Most of the issues ... are kind of over and done with.''

By DARRELL FRY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 17, 2001

TAMPA -- The Bucs and linebacker Derrick Brooks have virtually reached an agreement on a new contract.

The Bucs and Brooks' agent talked again Thursday and essentially agree on all major aspects of a new deal, Brooks said.

All that's left are minor details such as structuring the deal under the salary cap. Brooks' Indiana-based agents, Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker, are expected in Tampa early next week when the deal likely will be announced at a news conference.

"Most of the issues that were addressed are kind of over with and done with," Brooks said Thursday. "Now it's just a matter of them working out details."

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but it is believed Brooks, a four-time Pro Bowl player, will be the NFL's highest paid linebacker. His current deal would have paid him about $3.5-million a year for the next two seasons, making him fifth highest.

But after the team sweetened deals for receiver Keyshawn Johnson, fullback Mike Alstott and safety John Lynch in recent years, Brooks began seeking to renegotiate his contract, which has two years remaining. He said he had been told by the Bucs that something would be worked out by late last season.

Brooks, the team leader in tackles the past three seasons, participated in the team's offseason workouts but held out of training camp for 10 days until he received assurances from team officials that the issue would be resolved soon. Brooks gave the Bucs a deadline of the Sept. 9 season opener.

An announcement could come as early as Monday.

"It'll definitely be happy because you can move on and then totally focus on football," Brooks said, predicting his emotions when a new deal is announced. "Right now I'm focused on football when I'm on the field, but when I'm away from the field, I want this thing to get behind me."

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