Derrick Brooks
Derrick Brooks
Derrick Dewan Brooksis an American former football linebacker who played in the National Football Leaguefor fourteen seasons. He played college football for Florida State University, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, where he played his entire professional career. An eleven-time Pro Bowl selection and nine-time All-Pro, Brooks was named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, and earned a...
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth18 April 1973
CityPensacola, FL
It was a real big key in doing it. Do you want to stay, or do you want to go.
I stand real humble. I've been here a few times, and I don't have many wins.
I was telling guys over there in the fourth quarter, we've got to hold on to get a win. We had some fun guys this year in the NFC, and I'm just glad I could be a part of it and help contribute to winning.
Chris coming in, that's something he has to learn: Everyone is watching -- everyone. And I want them to watch me so everyone knows what everyone is doing and we all can succeed.
I feel grateful, to be honest with you, ... Thank God for the effort out there, on both sides of the ball. ... Thank God the replay official saw it as we did in our locker room and changed that call. Things like that go your way throughout a ballgame sometimes, and we've been pretty fortunate this year at the end of games to make plays to win games.
Obviously, business decisions are made in this league. Losing the players we lost the last few years, I'm not going to tell you it didn't hurt because it did. It hurt to see you build something with someone and they're gone, not by their own will but by the will and the decisions made by others.
Obviously, business decisions are made in this league,
They get beat up so much. I think these guys stepped up and played well with basically two rookies starting. These guys kept pounding and pounding.
It kind of reminds you of something we've seen on the other side of the ball. Back when we were building this franchise.
For anybody who thought I lost a step, I hope I showed them.
I agree with Pittman in terms of camaraderie. I said it earlier in the season, camaraderie is going to be responsible for a couple games a year. I can honestly say we hung in there and pulled out a couple of tough wins that had nothing to do with football. This team is a closer team.
He (Rice) was saying this is what we do -- close out games. We're not letting them in. That's the short version.
It's just the first leg of the championship - division, conference and Super Bowl. As good as this feels, we're looking to feel even better next week.
A lot of questions have to be answered,