Future Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks has stated numerous times he's not ready to retire. After being released this past offseason by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- with whom the 36-year-old had played his entire 14-year career -- Brooks couldn't find interest from anyone. Well, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Brooks has finally received some interest.
We tend to forget that there are human beings behind statistics -- the touchdowns, the passes, catches and tackles. The victories, mistakes and losses. Then Steve McNair, once a powerful, influential football player, but also a husband, father of four and a friend, was gunned down.
As the shock of his sudden death staggered friends and fans, the details quickly became muddled and disturbing. Why was McNair shot multiple times, including twice in the head? Who was the 20-year-old woman, found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head, lying near McNair's feet in the former quarterback's rented Nashville condominium?
The Tennessee Titans' signature player and a beloved figure in the Nashville community, gone at age 36.
Send your NFL questions (along with your name and location) to NFLFanHouse@gmail.com. Each Thursday, we'll answer the best -- or, if nothing else, most entertaining -- in our NFL Mailbag.
Excluding Brett Favre, which remaining free agent can play the biggest role in 2009?
The easy answer (INCLUDING Brett Favre!!) is Plaxico Burress. He's a high-ceiling, high-impact wide receiver. You saw the way the Giants' offense missed him at the end of 2008, and we've seen a handful of teams express interest in him -- even though nobody knows if he's going to play in 2009. If he is allowed to play, he's your answer. But it looks increasingly likely that he'll be suspended for at least part of the season, if not all. So in the non-Burress division, I have three veterans who could make an interesting impact in the right situation:
Everyone makes mistakes. But when those mistakes are magnified by intense scrutiny of the NFL draft, well, they become much more embarrassing than, say, my typical Friday morning, mustard-stain-on-khakis incident.
Which is why the NFL FanHouse braintrust got together to determine who is the biggest bust for each NFL team. They're not listed in terms of stupidity -- they're all stupid relative to a team's total draft performance. Meaning, of course, some teams "bust" is much different than another organization's; we did it this way to avoid just linking you to DetroitLions.com.
Instead, we're putting it in current draft order, sans trades, and allowing this list to serve as a reminder of each's team's ability to properly execute a fail. The "bust factor" was based primarily on three things: statistical production (or lack thereof), position in the draft and other available options during that year's draft.
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
What started off as a promising season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned into an embarrassing finish, as the team lost its final four regular season games in 2008, missing the postseason for the third time in four years. When all was said and done, it was enough to cost head coach Jon Gruden his job, while the team said goodbye to several starters, including Derrick Brooks, Jeff Garcia and Cato June.
After releasing Cato June and Derrick Brooks to open the offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quite a need for some help at the linebacker position. Apparently, they're not only willing to scour the free-agent market, but also think outside the box -- or blindly throw darts at the wall, depending on your perspective -- when it comes to improving the position.
On Wednesday, the team signed free-agent linebacker Angelo Crowell, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, to compete for the strongside linebacker spot. The Buccaneers also plan to move safety Jermaine Phillips to weakside linebacker.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayesdidn't have a particularly good Saturday evening, as his 19-year-old girlfriend allegedly stabbed him in the head with a pair of scissors, and then followed that by stabbing him in the neck with a knife, according to Josh Poltilove of the Tampa Tribune.
Hayes' girlfriend, Shevelle Bagley, has already been released from custody after having bail set at $25,000. Hayes was released from the hospital after being treated for a "superficial wound" to his head.
Derrick Ward has left the band. The only current free agent member of "Earth, Wind, and Fire," the Giants' trio of running backs, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last night, inking a deal that is reported to be worth four years and $17 million ($6 million guaranteed).
Ward joins a running back corps that now includes Earnest Graham and a broken down Cadillac Williams, the latter of whom dealt with two serious injuries in 2008. The signing by the Bucs is another interesting move in what has been an already "bizarre" offseason in Tampa Bay.
Aside from having a new coaching staff and a new front office in 2009, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also going to have quite a few new faces on the field.
Future Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks has stated numerous times he's not ready to retire. After being released this past offseason by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- with whom the 36-year-old had played his entire 14-year career -- Brooks couldn't find interest from anyone. Well, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Brooks has finally received some interest. 
We tend to forget that there are human beings behind statistics -- the touchdowns, the passes, catches and tackles. The victories, mistakes and losses. Then 
Send your NFL questions (along with your name and location) to 
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call 
After releasing 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker 
Aside from having a new coaching staff and a new front office in 2009, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also going to have quite a few new faces on the field.
