When Will Bucs Retire Derrick Brooks’ Number?
June 27th, 2010
Joe’s assuming most Bucs fans heard that Derrick Brooks’ alma mater, Florida State, has decided to retire his No. 10 in a ceremony this fall.
That’s way cool for Brooks, or for any athlete, to have their number retired by their former school. But this news made Joe wonder, how long will it takes the Bucs to retire Brooks’ number?
Joe sincerely hopes it doesn’t take the Bucs as long as it did the Bears with Dick Butkus’ No. 51.
It took some 20 years after Butkus, arguably the greatest linebacker to ever play, finished his playing days, that the Bears finally came around to retire his number. Cynics suggest it was because Butkus sued the Bears because of shady team medical practices that hastened the end of his playing days..
Joe believes it would be unconscionable for any other player to wear Brooks’ double-nickel.
Joe knows it didn’t take Team Glazer very long after Mike Alstott retired to put his No. 40 in mothballs. Joe wonders if the same would happen as quickly for Brooks when he announces his retirement?
June 27th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Yes, the Bucs should retire it as soon as he retires. No one else could do that jersey justice. Derrick Brooks and Leroy Selmon are the greatest Bucs ever, and should be remembered that way!
June 27th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Agree 100%!
June 27th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Yea I have to believe they are just waiting for him to officially retire
June 27th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
lets not forget at how angry Brooks is, from the way they let him go. If Brooks would agree the Bucs would retire his number this year. To retire a number the player has to show up as well. I predict that after the current regime is replaced is when Brooks number will be retired. I also predict that Brooks number will be retired next year.
June 27th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
lets not forget at how angry Brooks is, from the way they let him go. If Brooks would agree the Bucs would retire his number this year. To retire a number the player has to show up as well. I predict that after the current regime is replaced is when Brooks number will be retired. I also predict that Brooks number will be retired next year.
June 27th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I will go and watch Brooks enshrinement in Canton, but the Buc were right to let him go. How does one gracefully let go a player that does not want to go? In the NFL, the only way is to cut the player, right?
June 27th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
JimBuc again goes against public opinion. Now there’s a surprise. If you think the Bucs handled Brooks release with class or the only way they could, you’re a F-O-O-L. That was disgusting how they cut Brooks, with no prior indication or hint at the possibility. They didn’t offer him any other options at the time including an early retirement. I remember when they were in Cap Hell and Brooks agreed to rework his contract for less money to help the Bucs. Some thanks that was. The truth is that if the Bucs would have allowed brooks to play out the last year of his contract in 2009, it would not have hurt the team’s record or rebuilding effort in any way, shape or form. Man, I’ve been so positive and upbeat about this season and now JimBuc’s stupid comments have pissed me off all over again.
June 27th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Hell has frozen over, but I couldn’t agree more with JimBuc! BMA, yes he did rework his contract, but don’t forget he also held out in ’01 and I remember hearing an interview with him at the time and he said that “it was business.” Well, so is letting him go. His number should be retired immediately upon his official retirement as he is arguably the best player in Bucs history, but an organization who has paid him tens of millions of dollars over the course of his career I believe qualifies as having treated him pretty fairly.
June 27th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Sorry LB & brother JB, but I agree more with Brooks and his take on the whole situation than I do wiith two Geniuses like you. I would also like to see his number retired but I seriously doubt the Glazers would do that based on what the jersey costs and the celebration to retire it. Maybe if Brooks paid for it they might do it.
June 27th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Notice how JimBuccy agree’s 100% with CaptTimmy just 1 min apart from each other?
Hmmmmmm… coincidence? I think NOT!
Busted.
June 27th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Rahdomdabest,
Damn skippy JimBuc agrees, after the Smackdown I put on him at ” Buc secondary could be elite if . .” . He learned not to cross mental swords with the Capt!
June 27th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
The better question is: Why isn’t Sapp’s number already retired?
June 27th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
This statement makes no sense:
“They didn’t offer him any other options at the time including an early retirement”
He still has not retired even though there is not a single team that wants him. What other option could there have been.
Let me throw this challenge out. Assume you are the Bucs and at the end of 2008 Brooks tells you he still wants to play and will not retire or accept an “honorary” position. He says he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. What do you do?
June 27th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
JimBuc, you have obviously never heard Brooks tell the story of how he found out he was released, and how it all went down. He was not given any warning or indication of what was about to happen. I believe, and I don’t give a $hit what you think, that Brooks deserved to play out his contract (final year). I believe with all that he has given to the Tampa Bay community and all that he has given to the Bucs, that he earned the right to finish out his contract. Mark Dominick and/or the Glazers felt differently about it, and that sucks. Many fans are still very bitter about it, because we don’t like to see bad things happen to good people. And as far as Good People go, Brooks is the best.
As for your stupid challenge, BMA GM, F_ckin A Yes, I would have kept Brooks on the team, discussed options with him like less playing time and tell him to mentor the kids and help them learn. I would also tell him that in 2010′ I would like to bring him into the coaching staff as the Defensive Coordinator. If he wasn’t interested, I would tell him that we most likely would not renew his contract, and he would have to figure out what he wants to do, with our full support up to and including running for Governor of Florida. This way he would have a full year to plan the 2’nd phase of his career, and not 0 seconds like the Bucs gave him.
JimBuc you’re a Brooks hater on top of all the other troll vomit you spew, and to degrade Derrick Brooks the way you do in this Town is nothing short of Blasphemy. You can respond if you like, but don’t look for anything else from me. You get the last puke. I don’t want to talk to you any more, because you just don’t get it and you never will. I thought you were a smart guy but the truth is that you’re a box of rocks and I’m finished with your dumb ass.
June 27th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
BMA — you obviously cannot read:
“I will go and watch Brooks enshrinement in Canton”
This is the truth. No bigger fan than me. I have met Brooks, talked with him at some length. He is the ONLY professional athlete that I admire. The only one. I already have the trip planned.
Brooks would not have accepted your little Pollyanna fantasy. That was the point.