Former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks said Tuesday that he does not plan to retire and he has heard from several teams interested in signing him. Brooks plans to play for at least one more year and added that he is not ruling out any teams, including those that are supposedly rebuilding. Re-joining the Bucs, should they want him, could be an option, he said.

Brooks was cut Feb. 25 by Tampa Bay, where he spent his entire 14-year career.

“I’ve still got the Jones to play,” Brooks, who turns 36 on April 18, told NFL.com. “I committed myself to playing one more year. I had one more year left on my contract before I was released. I wanted to finish that out and get to 15. Getting to 15 is still my plan.”

Brooks, an 11-time Pro Bowler, said if prospective offers aren’t to his “liking,” he could retire – but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Brooks said he has been working out in preparation to join a team. He said he is in no rush to sign, but judging by some of the contact offers he has received from undisclosed teams, he appears to be in the “second wave” of free agents of interest.

“The only difference in what I’ve done from the past is where I’m working out,” Brooks said. “A few teams have called, and at some point, we’ll talk a little further. Right now, I’m just evaluating.”

Posted in: News  | comments  |