Derrick Brooks

A man can lose some of his speed, agility and strength, but as he ages he gains experience and keener instincts. And it's not like Brooks is Old Man Linebacker— with 12 years experience, he has just one more year on the job than guys like Zach Thomas, Donnie Edwards and Ray Lewis. OK, they’re all old for the rough and tumble play of an NFL linebacker, but it's not like Brooks is that much older. At 6-foot, 235, Brooks obviously relies on his speed, and he still has plenty of it. Between that, the knowledge of his defensive scheme that comes from experience and the lack of wasted motion, Brooks is always where he needs to be and usually doesn't miss a tackle or pick when opportunities arise. Wait, did we say Brooks is old? Well, he hasn't missed a game in his 12-year career. His impeccable care for his body has translated into fantasy stats over and over again: Brooks has reached 100 total tackles in each of the last 11 years, and he's had an interception in every one of them.

At 33, Brooks is in his second prime. Earlier in his career, from 1997 through 2000, he was Ray Lewis before Ray Lewis was Ray Lewis. In fact, he was better because he turned in amazing performances every year, avoiding injuries. After those four straight years of more than 100 solo tackles, he slowed down considerably, some years posting numbers as low as 71 (2003). A small man who loses critical quickness as he ages, the 6-0, 235-lb. Brooks is reached by blockers more than previously. But while Brooks fell off the fantasy radar for a year or so, he came back strong in 2004 with 109 solos and followed it up last year with 93. Even with physical tools commensurate with his age, Brooks retains uncanny instincts and amazing abilities to tackle in open space. So long as he gets 85 or more solos, he’ll remain fantasy worthy because of his playmaking. He has rare gifts in coverage. Once the premier guy for sacks and picks among linebackers, he’s recorded at least one pick per year since his rookie season. Last year’s three sacks were the second year in a row at that level, and he’s had a sack four years running. Brooks is also among the most likely linebackers to score a touchdown. Finally, in eleven seasons, he’s missed exactly zero games. None. That’s 176 in a row and counting.

Perhaps we shouldn’t have left Brooks entirely off our top-25 list last year. He wasn’t even among the 10 honorable mentions. He’d posted three straight sub-par tackle years, including a paltry 71 solos in 2003 and was being propped up by unlikely interception and touchdown strikes. After nine seasons, the writing seemed on the wall. He responded by leading the NFL in solo tackles in 2004. He’s typically much better with interceptions than sacks, netting at least one every year since his rookie campaign, and usually it’s more like two or three of them. He has a sack in seven of his ten seasons to date and is among the most likely linebackers to score a touchdown. He’s never failed to force a fumble, and it’s usually more than one per year. We’re going to hedge a bit on his tackle numbers since he really can’t do it for forever, but he’s the premier playmaker in the league. Mea culpa, we’ve learned our lesson.

He'll still be the starting MLB and the heart and soul of the Bucs' defense, but he'll never have the fantasy impact that he had in 2002, when he scored all those touchdowns.

No, Brooks won't have five interceptions and four touchdowns again in 2003, but he's one of the very best middle linebackers in the game and is a lock to be among the league leaders in tackles if he stays healthy all season. He's becoming active in state political circles, so we'll make the call now: Brooks will be the Democratic candidate in the Florida governor's race in 2010.