How about Keith Brooking for Mo LB?

[Chocolate Lab]

Thanks to Cowick on another board for the find... Was this discussed? If so, I missed it.

Falcons set to part with WLB Brooking

By Dan Parr
Feb. 12, 2009

We hear Falcons WLB Keith Brooking is likely to be released before Feb. 23, when sources say he's due a $1 million bonus. The Falcons' offseason plans include revamping their defense — they are looking to add speed and fresh legs to a unit that ranked 24th last season. The 33-year-old has slowed down considerably in recent years, and it appears the club is ready to replace him after 11 seasons. Brooking has a large cap figure of $8.3 million for the 2009 season and while releasing Brooking, who went to Georgia Tech before spending his entire career with the Falcons, would be an unpopular move with the team's fan base, GM Thomas Dimitroff won't bring him back unless a significant pay cut is involved. We hear Brooking still thinks he can play and will explore options with other teams if he's let go.

I'd love this, as long as it was cheap enough. Brooking may not have many years left, but he's been an excellent and intense player for years now.

Decisions and more decisions for the Cowboys

Profile3_tiny by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on Feb 12, 2009 12:32 PM CST in News

Update: Here's another possible veteran linebacking option to consider: The Falcons may release long-time LB Keith Brooking later this month. The 33 year old Brooking has been a mainstay on the Falcons D since he was taken 12th overall in the '98 draft but may have overstayed his contract -- he's due to make over $8M this year and is due a $1M roster bonus on February 23rd.

He's no longer the all-around monster who made five consecutive Pro Bowls between 2001 and 2005, but he may still have what it takes to provide a relatively low-cost upgrade over Zach Thomas, should the Cowboys find the free agent ILB talent pool depleted in the next two weeks.

Brooking has played WOLB in the Falcons 4-3 lately, but consider that his two best statistical seasons came in 2002 and 2003, when Wade Phillips ran a 3-4 scheme for Dan Reeves. In those years Brooking played left inside linebacker. Brooking no longer has the wheels to play in space, but he's listed between 240 and 245 lbs., depending on where you look, and may have the smarts and size to provide productive 1st and 2nd down play in Phillips' scheme.

He won't cost as much as Ray Lewis, that's for certain.

-- Rafael Vela

 

[Rampage]

Is there any middle linebackers that are under the age of 30?

 

[Woods]

Thanks to Cowick on another board for the find... Was this discussed? If so, I missed it.



I'd love this, as long as it was cheap enough. Brooking may not have many years left, but he's been an excellent and intense player for years now.

Tell you the truth, I'd prefer paying a lot less for Brooking than potentially overpaying for R Lewis.

And in either case, we still need to draft another guy this year.

 

[Alexander]

I would prefer younger and cheaper. This is another Zach Thomas signing waiting to happen.

The only plus is that I am sure Wade Phillips is familiar with him and some of his best seasons were in his 3-4.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't see an upside to this

 

[Alexander]

I don't see an upside to this

That tends to be the issue when you look at battle axes.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

That tends to be the issue when you look at battle axes.

 

[Alexander]

30-something veteran ILBs usually do not have an upside.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

30-something veteran ILBs usually do not have an upside.

ah, gotcha, I just don't see the use of bringing him in, he really adds nothing that we don't already have, a slow, fire-breather in the middle

we really don't need his veteran leadership, James, Ware, Hamlin (unfortunately), and Newman already bring that

 

[Alexander]

ah, gotcha, I just don't see the use of bringing him in, he really adds nothing that we don't already have, a slow, fire-breather in the middle

The biggest concern I have is the fact that if we don't sign Burnett again, we will need a starter. So the logical choices are Lewis and now, apparently, Brookings.

I don't see any inside linebacker likely to be available in the draft that could be expected to step in and start. I keep seeing Beckwith associated with us and I hate that idea.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

The biggest concern I have is the fact that if we don't sign Burnett again, we will need a starter. So the logical choices are Lewis and now, apparently, Brookings.

I don't see any inside linebacker likely to be available in the draft that could be expected to step in and start. I keep seeing Beckwith associated with us and I hate that idea.

they both would play Bradie James' spot, would they not?

I hope those aren't the only logical choices

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The biggest concern I have is the fact that if we don't sign Burnett again, we will need a starter. So the logical choices are Lewis and now, apparently, Brookings.

I don't see any inside linebacker likely to be available in the draft that could be expected to step in and start. I keep seeing Beckwith associated with us and I hate that idea.

Right. He obviously doesn't have upside, but you still need a starter who can play well, and Brooking could do that. Plus you need some kind of an edge to land a guy in FA, and short of a silly bidding war, maybe it could help that he has the Wade connection.

But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't give him a mint at his age.

And why do you hate Beckwith? Just curious.

 

[Woods]

The biggest concern I have is the fact that if we don't sign Burnett again, we will need a starter. So the logical choices are Lewis and now, apparently, Brookings.

I don't see any inside linebacker likely to be available in the draft that could be expected to step in and start. I keep seeing Beckwith associated with us and I hate that idea.

I think that if we end of letting both Z Thomas and Burnett go, we have to get one veteran ILB. And I have little faith in Carpenter.

I'd think that Brookings will be significantly cheaper than R Lewis. And while neither player is a long term answer, if both play at "close to" the comparable skill level, might as well take the cheaper option.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Right. He obviously doesn't have upside, but you still need a starter who can play well, and Brooking could do that. Plus you need some kind of an edge to land a guy, and short of a silly bidding war, maybe it could help that he has the Wade connection.

But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't give him a mint at his age.

And why do you hate Beckwith? Just curious.

if Brooking or Ray Lewis is the starter next to James, we will have one of the slowest middle Ds in the league, teams will be killing us in the middle of the field

Brooking/James/Hamlin/Roy Williams

sloooow

 

[CowboyWay]

I'd love this, as long as it was cheap enough. Brooking may not have many years left, but he's been an excellent and intense player for years now.

I watch alot of Falcons games because my brother is a big fan. I can tell you Brookings is DONE. Zero upside. He should have retired years ago.

We literally watch Falcons games and laugh at the guy.

I'll pass.

 

[Future]

Tell you the truth, I'd prefer paying a lot less for Brooking than potentially overpaying for R Lewis.

And in either case, we still need to draft another guy this year.

I agree with all of that.

 

[EveryoneElse]

I'd rather draft someone for that spot in the 3rd or 4th round and trust that our scouts can actually find someone that can be coached up. Maybe find our own players at some point.

Bringing in these over the hill 1 or 2 year stop gap bums hasn't worked.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I watch alot of Falcons games because my brother is a big fan. I can tell you Brookings is DONE. Zero upside. He should have retired years ago.

We literally watch Falcons games and laugh at the guy.

I'll pass.

Well, that's cool. I admit I haven't seen him play in years.

We need some solid vet to hold the fort until a rookie could be ready, though. I've said before that I have great confidence we're going to get a very good ILB out of this draft, but I doubt they'd be good enough or know the defense well enough to start right away.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

here's some UFA LBs

Jordan Beck, UFA, Denver Broncos
Monty Beisel, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Angelo Crowell, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Channing Crowder, UFA, Miami Dolphins
Tyjuan Hagler, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Leroy Hill, UFA, Seattle Sehawks
Willie McGinest, UFA, Cleveland Browns
Carlos Polk, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Sam Williams, UFA, Oakland Raiders

that's in addition to Ray Ray, Bart Scott, Karlos Dansby, Terrell Suggs, Mike Peterson, Eric Barton, Jonathan Vilma, all who I don't think would be worth the cost, and RFA Michael Boley

if Leroy Hill is a UFA, he's the guy I go after, ultra-speedy and productive

 

[Chocolate Lab]

if Leroy Hill is a UFA, he's the guy I go after, ultra-speedy and productive

We liked him coming out, too, IIRC. He just wasn't big enough for Parcells. But he would be in this system.