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Saints bank on Brooks for a big playoff push

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 26, 2000

It is a daunting task by any measure, but Aaron Brooks insists such challenges are why he plays quarterback.

Understand, the new starter for the Saints could be playing something else. In high school, Brooks was an all-district basketball player at Newport News Ferguson and matched up several times against Allen Iverson at Hampton High. He also lettered in baseball.

A second cousin of Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, Brooks ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and had a 35-inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Of course, he will need to open up all those athletic gifts against St. Louis today. The Saints are looking to stay in playoff contention despite the loss of quarterback Jeff Blake (broken foot) and running back Ricky Williams (broken fibula).

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," said Brooks, who had a standout career at the University of Virginia. "You look where we're at, a six-game winning streak snapped, in the thick of things. This doesn't get any easier. If anything, it gets tougher. I've got to prepare myself mentally to be better prepared."

The Rams do not have the most imposing defense, but Brooks, 24, will have his mettle tested because of his youth. The challenge becomes greater if the Rams build a big lead against one of the league's best defenses.

Last week, Brooks' first attempt against Oakland was intercepted. But he finished by completing 14 of 22 for 187 yards and two touchdowns. His passer rating was 101.9.

"Our linemen are excited about playing with Aaron," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "They saw him do some things on film that got them fired up. He was doing stuff that even Jeff (Blake) can't do."

THINK ABOUT IT: The Class of '99 could end up with four quarterbacks in the playoffs: Brooks, the Vikings' Daunte Culpepper, the Bucs' Shaun King and the Eagles' Donovan McNabb.

BROTHER 'NOLES: Raiders running back Zack Crockett and Falcons linebacker Henri Crockett, brothers who played for FSU, got the chance to have a family Thanksgiving for the first time since they played in Tallahassee.

The dinner came together thanks to a scheduling quirk and Atlanta's decision to stay on the West Coast between last week's game against San Francisco and this week's game against Oakland. The Crocketts had their mother, Syliviann Hall, fly out. Several teammates joined them for the Thursday feast.

By the way, this is the first time Zack, 27, will play against Henri, 26.

"I told Henri he'd better not hurt Zack and I told Zack he'd better not hurt my baby," Syliviann said.

CANDIDATES: A lot of names are being bandied about in regard to the coaching job for the new Houston Texans. The Houston Chronicle reported that these are the names at the top of the list: Miami Hurricanes coach Butch Davis, Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, Jaguars defensive coordinator Dom Capers, Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris, Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis and Greg Williams.

No one is considered a front-runner and the process won't begin until the regular season is over.

CAP MAGIC: The Vikings have made it clear they plan to sign free-agent running back Robert Smith to a new contract and give receiver Randy Moss a market-value extension. But to do so, the Vikings may have to clear more than $20-million of space to get under the projected cap of $66.5-million.

It can be done, but Minnesota will have to go through a series of contract restructuring and a purge of borderline talent similar to the one endured last year when it parted with veterans Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, Randall McDaniel and Jeff Christy.

MOVE OVER BRIAN: Chicago's Brian Urlacher is not a cinch to win the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year award because Philadelphia defensive tackle Corey Simon is keeping things close. Simon has 8 1/2 sacks; Urlacher has six.

Said Eagles coach Andy Reid: "I have a hard time believing there's another rookie playing as well as Corey."

ET CETERA: The latest rumor out of Washington has owner Daniel Snyder keenly interested in hiring Florida coach Steve Spurrier. ... Broncos quarterback Gus Frerotte lost 7 pounds during last week's game against San Diego, dropping from 227 to 220. ... In their first 10 games, the Jaguars scored 13 points in the third quarter. In the victory at Pittsburgh, they scored 17 in the third quarter. ... Kurt Warner and Trent Green rank first and second in passer rating. If they finish 1-2, they'll become the first teammates to do it since the Rams' Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin in 1951. The Rams' 1951 title was their last until last season. ... The Eagles haven't been in first place this late in the season since the 13th week of the 1989 season. They won't be after today. ... Asked if the Bears finally could provide a laugher for the Jets after so many close calls and comebacks, Jets coach Al Groh stared down his inquisitor and said, "You're my worst nightmare." ... The Chargers have lost four games by two points or fewer, tying the league record of four set by the 1984 Chiefs. San Diego has six losses by three points or fewer, and needs one to tie the '94 Oilers' record of seven. ... Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes invited his teammates over for Thanksgiving and the menu included raccoon. "You got to barbecue it up with homemade sauce. It tastes like brisket."

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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