Joe must confess. Every morning he surfs the Internet hoping for news of Derrick Brooks signing with a new team. The sadness is painful.

Hearing devoted fans say things like “‘Brooks should go out with dignity,” or “He should hang it up before he gets hurt or really embarrasses himself,” or “Thanfully nobody picked him up and now he can retire a Buccaneer,” all that stuff makes Joe sick.

Joe is most inspired by athletes who play and play and play until they have to be dragged off the field, or court, or rink. If they love their games that much to keep training and fighting, God bless them.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with going out like John Elway; but Joe prefers those who, shall we say, die on their shields and push their bodies until they back down.

John Clayton, The Professor of BSPN.com, said Thursday on ESPN 1040 AM, that Brooks is in a brutally “tough market for outside linebackers and so far the phones aren’t ringing.”

“He almost has to wait for an injury,” Clayton said. “Maybe an injury in Chicago would be a good fit for him. … And then would Derrick want to play for $1 million or $1.5 million? ..”A problem is the market is tougher for him with more teams going to a 3-4 defense. When you go to a 3-4, you need bigger linebackers, and that’s not Derrick Brooks. … It seemed he was on the backburner in Seattle, but they drafted Aaron Curry.”

Joe still holds out slim hope Brooks could be a fit in New Orleans, but the more time passes the more grim things look for those who want to see #55 end it 100 percent on his terms.