DMN Blog: Keith Brooking Lives By This Rule

[Hostile]

Keith Brooking lives by this rule:

8:00 AM Sun, Mar 01, 2009

Barry Horn

I was watching a video about the Cowboys newest linebacker and he happened to mention his playing philosophy. I think I heard him correctly when he said, "Take the blame and give all the credit. That's the key...That's the great thing about football. If it's not for the other 10 guys you're not going to have success."

Yes, he says that. I listened to it again. He says it around the 1:50 mark in the video.

I think it's been awhile since those words were uttered in the Cowboys locker room.

Thanks to DCF for posting the YouTube.

[youtube]Ugi__M3Xts4[/youtube]

 

[adbutcher]

We do need to get back to playing selfless football. Hopefully, some of Brooking will rub off on the team.

 

[BigBoy63]

This is the kinda attitude that this team needs.

 

[CATCH17]

Keith Brooking lives by this rule:

8:00 AM Sun, Mar 01, 2009

Barry Horn

I was watching a video about the Cowboys newest linebacker and he happened to mention his playing philosophy. I think I heard him correctly when he said, "Take the blame and give all the credit. That's the key...That's the great thing about football. If it's not for the other 10 guys you're not going to have success."

Yes, he says that. I listened to it again. He says it around the 1:50 mark in the video.

I think it's been awhile since those words were uttered in the Cowboys locker room.

Thanks to DCF for posting the YouTube.

[youtube]Ugi__M3Xts4[/youtube]

We have a Head Coach that does that but everyone hates him for it.

 

[Stash]

I just hope that Brooking is more assetive in his leadership than Zach Thomas was.

 

[adbutcher]

We have a Head Coach that does that but everyone hates him for it.

Hmm. Good point.

 

[Manster54]

We have a Head Coach that does that but everyone hates him for it.

Everyone, that is, except his players...

 

[Wrangler87]

The constant comparisons to Thomas are really unfounded. Okay, they are both white. Let's get over that. Now, Brooking is much bigger, somewhat younger, and obviously appears to be ready to be a leader, which Thomas never took on. I don't know where Brooking is speed wise. Some posters want to say he's slow right off the bat. Is he slower than Ray Lewis? How could anyone really know. It's all about how you play. I think Brooking will be able to stand up to the blocks better than Zach did last year.

Hopefully (hope against hope) something will click with Carpenter this season, and he and Brooking can eventually split time, which will help Brooking stay healthy.

 

[Hostile]

The constant comparisons to Thomas are really unfounded. Okay, they are both white. Let's get over that. Now, Brooking is much bigger, somewhat younger, and obviously appears to be ready to be a leader, which Thomas never took on. I don't know where Brooking is speed wise. Some posters want to say he's slow right off the bat. Is he slower than Ray Lewis? How could anyone really know. It's all about how you play. I think Brooking will be able to stand up to the blocks better than Zach did last year.

Hopefully (hope against hope) something will click with Carpenter this season, and he and Brooking can eventually split time, which will help Brooking stay healthy.

I never even think about skin color until someone else points it out to me.

Blue, silver, and white with a star. That is what I see. I don't care enough about the rest to give a hang.

 

[speedkilz88]

The big key to me is that Brooking played in this defense before with Wade so he and Wade both know what to expect. I don't think Zach knew what he was getting into.

 

[CowboyWay]

I just hope that Brooking is more assetive in his leadership than Zach Thomas was.

I think we all underestimate how hard it is for a new player to come into an established team and all of a sudden be a "leader".

Think of a new hire where you work, and if he came in and all of a sudden started being the alpha male. It just wouldn't go over well right away.

The only guy who may have been able to pull it off would have been Ray Lewis, just because he's Ray Lewis. I don't think Zach or Brooking can pull it off in year one.

 

[Manster54]

I never even think about skin color until someone else points it out to me.

Blue, silver, and white with a star. That is what I see. I don't care enough about the rest to give a hang.

Me neither, BUT the general stereotype is that
white=less athletic, slow, but smart and hard worker...
:shatfan:

 

[TheCount]

We have a Head Coach that does that but everyone hates him for it.

Not exactly true. He definitely took credit for the defensive turn around last year.

As far as Brooking, this is the same stuff we heard about Zach last year, he's selfless, he's a leader, etc. and it never really turned into anything. You can't buy leadership, but we'll see how it turns out. Either way he doesn't have a lot invested here, and he won't be here long.

 

[Alexander]

"Take the blame and give all the credit.

Oh, this will not go over very well in the Dallas locker room. He will have a chore on his hands getting this message out to our collection of finger-pointers.

 

[Vintage]

I can't wait until we see Ellis, James, and Brooking on the field together.

It will be the slowest, unathletic, and worst LB coverage unit possibly to grace the NFL.

Should make for some exciting stuff.

 

[Clove]

This is the kinda attitude that this team needs.

This team needs focus and execution on the field.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I've actually changed my mind on this, but now I feel that there's a reason why it was tough for Zach to be a leader and why Brooking may have some trouble as well.

Bradie James is the vocal leader on defense. I actually think Bradie is a good leader, but I would imagine it's tough to have two leaders playing such a close position together like that. Zach was a newcomer, didn't want to step on Bradie's toes...I get the feeling that Brooking may wind up being the same way.

I've been thinking that most good sides of the ball, be it offense or defense, tend to have at least two vocal leaders usually at different positions. For years the Eagles had Dawkins and Trotter. The Ravens have Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

I also think that it's key to have *vocal* leaders because football is a loud, violent game very much based on attitude and energy. And that's what I *think* is part of the problem with the Cowboys. They have a vocal leader in Bradie, but while I like guys like Ware, Ratliff, T-New, etc, none of them really seem like vocal leaders. And while I like Romo, Witten and Barber, there's not really a vocal leader on the offense. Sometimes Witten and Colombo speak up, but they don't seem to do it on a consistent basis. Owens...maybe, but I think he probably polarizes too many people.

The Steelers had at least 3 vocal leaders on their team with Big Ben, Willie Parker and Harrison (and probably Ryan Clark, Farrior and Holmes as well). The Pats had Brady, Vrabel, Harrison and Bruschi.

Even if Brooking does become a vocal leader, I'd like to see somebody in the secondary step up and for all of the talk from Romo trying to copy Tom Brady, he should take a cue and become more of a vocal leader as well.

Just some of my thoughts the past few days.





YAKUZA

 

[speedkilz88]

Hamlin is suppose to a leader also. At least that was the claim when they signed him and re-signed him.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I like Brooking. He's a good guy, a good player, a hard worker, and he seems to have the right attitude. Hopefully some of that attitude rubs off and he brings some leadership out there.

 

[Vintage]

I like Brooking. He's a good guy, a good player, a hard worker, and he seems to have the right attitude. Hopefully some of that attitude rubs off and he brings some leadership out there.

That describes Demarcus Ware, too.

good guy, (great) player. hard worker, right attitude.


If its not working with Ware rubbing off on other players (which is implied), then why would a washed up Brooking change anything?