Professor

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=st&type=lgns

Buccaneers restructure LB Brooks

March 6, 2006
TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - More than $8 million over the salary cap, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers restructured the contract of nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks on Monday.

Terms of the restructuring were not disclosed.

Brooks was to count for $11.6 million against the salary cap in 2006. If the Bucs cut him, they would have saved $5.5 million under the cap.

"Derrick's interested in getting another (Super Bowl) ring, so he allowed us to clear up room so that we can sign some of our own players back," Buccaneers general manager Bruce Allen said.

Brooks, who turns 33 in April, has spent his entire 11-year career with the Buccaneers and is the all-time franchise leader with 1,400 tackles. He has been named to the Pro Bowl each of the last nine seasons and was the MVP of last month's game.

Regarded as one of the league's premier cover linebackers, Brooks has recorded 21 interceptions, 20 forced fumbles and 78 passes defensed.

Brooks was named as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, when the Bucs won their first Super Bowl title.

"He's been an outstanding performer and his next stop will be getting fitted for a (Hall of Fame) bust in Canton," Allen said. "I don't think there's any doubt that everybody's intention is for him to retire as a Buccaneer."

MickeyG

good move by the Bucs, they would have lost a great leader and team icon by cutting him.

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bigboy

That is a great move, he was another one I just didn't want to see on a new team. You're right though, they would have missed a whole lot off of that D with him gone.

Professor

this should all but ensure that he will retire a buc, good for him and good for Tampa Bay