“Let’s Not Be Fooled”
December 10th, 2015
Bucs legend Derrick Brooks also tells fans not to be “naïve.”
You want real talk about Tampa Bay linebackers? Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks might be your man.
Brooks had passion in his voice yesterday during Tampa-2 on WDAE-AM 620, co-hosted by Brooks and Steve Duemig.
The subject of replacing suspended starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander arose, and Brooks said the Bucs are facing a huge loss to their defense.
“You have to have a next-man-up mentality, but let’s not be fooled. This young man will be missed,” Brooks said
No. 55 went on to talk about how the Bucs won’t have to just replace Alexander, but other linebackers will need to do more to “overcome” the loss. That’s pretty hefty praise for a 21-year-old rookie, from the greatest linebacker in Bucs history.
Brooks almost had a laugh in his voice at the suggestion that the Bucs are only now preparing to replace Alexander.
“Let’s not be naïve,” Brooks said. “They knew that this appeal [of Alexander’s four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy] was out there. [Danny Lansanah] has been taking reps behind the scenes. You know, you just got to plan for that.”
Brooks went on to say the Bucs are in good shape to have a veteran who has played the position to fill in for Alexander, and the preparations surely were in place for weeks.
Today, Leslie Frazier lamented the serious loss of Alexander, saying multiple times that his “playmaking” ability was the primary reason.
December 10th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Kwon Alexander might just be the most physically gifted middle linebacker on PEDs that the Bucs have ever had!!!!!
December 10th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
America’s troll, The Buc Realist, puleeze go away! There was no need to make such a stupid comment.
December 10th, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Joe, I’ve said this before, but I have no idea what Kwon got busted for. Or when his ‘violation’ was first identified. Did Kwon know beyond a doubt that he was taking a banned substance? Was it before the draft or after the draft? Why has it taken so long for the NFL to decide to suspend him?
This is a major hit to the Bucs defense, and to our playoff chances. There seem to be lots of questions surrounding what happened, but very few answers. That’s a bunch of horsepuckey.
December 10th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Everyday on JBF, Pablo learns something new…..All along, Pablo thought PEDs stood for “Peni$ Erectile Drugs”……Pablo certainly doesn’t need them but that’s what Pablo thought. Pablo has an “elongated arc” like Hamus…..Pablo’s answer to Kwon’s absense is simple….More Hamus, Hamus, Hamus!!!”
December 10th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
As for missing Kwon……of course he will be missed….all you have to do is watch him play…..but here is a question…..if you are already tagged for PED use, could you continue to take them without further penalty?…..
December 10th, 2015 at 2:34 pm
Kwon’s statement about it is that t occurred during off-season he drank an energy drink that contained a banned substance. He said it was his fault for not being dilligent about checking labels.
I can certainly believe that. Coming into the league as a rookie, it’s probably quite an adjustment having to scrutinize label of absolutely everything you buy to make sure it doesn’t contain something on the NFI’d banned substance list. I also find it hard to fathom that something one can ingest from a canned drink you can buy at a convenient store can appreciably enhance any athlete’s performance. That’s flat-out ridiculous. Note to NFL: just stop it.
December 10th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
Note to my phone: stop trying to help me write.
December 10th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
@Realist,
You might just be the most intellectual poster on crack that JBF has ever had.
December 10th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
@TBBF,
I think once you test positive, you are tested more frequently. At that point, if you got caught again, you would face a longer suspension. I’m not 100% sure about that, but it seems logical. Then again, logic and the NFL don’t always go hand in hand.
December 10th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
@Hawaiian
For recreational drugs, you are tested more frequently, but, you have the opportunity to get out of the program. If you aren’t in the program, you get tested once a year, and funny enough, it’s around 4/20 of every year. If you pass, you can partake as much as you want until the following test time. That’s why I never understood how guys got popped. You know, generally, when it’s coming.
Although not sure if it works the same for PEDS.
December 10th, 2015 at 4:12 pm
It makes sense that you wouldn’t get a pass on continuing PEDs……as for recreational….they should be completely random…..it make no sense to test at around the same time of year….then not to test again…..unless the NFL/Players Union tacitly are OK with it.
December 10th, 2015 at 4:24 pm
@TBBF
Well, I’m sure the Union was aware players want to smoke, and kept that in mind in negotiations. This allows the NFL to say they care about stopping drug use on a PR level, while still allowing players to partake. Which is way better than destroying their livers which pharmaceuticals.
And they should be able to. On a local level, St. Pete is looking into decriminalizing under 20 grams. This is just the first step of the inevitable. Too much tax money to turn down.
December 10th, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Not passing judgement on the weed…..just amused by the farce…..the Bronco fans can all smoke legally….but not the players…..truly a joke.
December 10th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
I do not partake in the wacky tabacky!! But, I am sure that there are some national corporations that are in Denver that still have drug test that do not allow positive test for weed. So you can be a fan and live in Denver, and not be able to smoke weed!!!
December 10th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
You know this whole Kwon thing just helped make since of LVD’s early season struggles. At least partly…
If indeed LVD was struggling because he was covering for Kwon on the field… Like I was speculating on and a article Joe later produced verified, LVD was perhaps, at least partly struggling, because he was covering for Kwon off the field as well…
Notice LVD’s game really has been coming on as of late!!! In fact it would be interesting to know when exactly LVD really started regaining his stride??? Was it not right before Kwons historically magic game. Also known as “the week before Kwon got exposed” game???
Point being, perhaps LVD was trying to prepare his mind to be playing without Kwon, is what was distracting him on the field because of what he knew of it!!!
The importance of this, if true? LVD as well as the rest of the guys have and are prepared to play without Kwon…. In which case I am expecting no less from our D then what we have been getting as of late!!!
One of are vets needs to go all Matt Hasselbak for 4 weeks and DOMINATE!!!!
I am no less confident with Kwon out short term than with him in!!!
BUCS WIN 31-17 and Kwon’s replacement goes off for 10 plus tackles and a pick six!!!
And thank all you former Fans of Depressions for coming over to One Love, myself and very few others side… You know which one I’m referring to!!! Thank you all for becoming Fans of Inspiration and not Trolls!!!
12th Man Rising!!!
Rays Up, Be The Thunder and Siege The Day!!!
December 10th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
The league may have done us a favor by giving us as much time to prepare for this as possible!!!
Clearly ATL beats us the first game if not for Kwon… So that’s at least one game he has helped us to win… They could have suspended him early and wrecked his invite rookie season…
So this is starting to feel better and better to me!!! Dare I say destany!!!
The BUCS are destined for the PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR!!!!
All setting up to perfect!!!
Hottest team to be heading into the playoff in 2016???? Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers!!!
Riding a 5 game win streak and winners of 7 of their last 8… One in done my A$S…
BELIEVE!!!!
Its as
Simple
As
That
It really is!!!!
December 10th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
You can prepare all you like for a player’s absence……but that doesn’t mean you still won’t miss him…..and I suspect that will be the case with Kwon….let’s just hope it isn’t a game changer….
December 10th, 2015 at 11:37 pm
It has been reported that Lavonte David injured his ankle in practice yesterday and did not practice today. That is about the worse news we could get. With the Cardinals defeating the Vikings, it just makes Sundays game with the Saints even more important. Tell me it ain’t so Joe, because if it is, the motto “next man up”, has never been more clear. It would mean a LB corp of Danny Lansanah, Bruce Carter and newly re-signed Orie Lemon.
December 11th, 2015 at 3:51 am
JAB83…take a deep breath and your meds. in no particular order. this is the NFL, not the X Files…