Brooks' status for home opener unknown

Linebacker Derrick Brooks suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter and his availability for next week's home opener isn't known at this time.

But the injury was at least somewhat serious considering it is unprecedented for Brooks to leave a game and not return.

"I've never had to do that," Brooks said after the Bucs' 24-20 loss here at the Superdome. "It's the first time I missed that much time in a game."

Asked about his status for next week, Brooks said, "We'll know more tomorrow after I'm able to get the proper tests and see what's going on."

It appears the injury happened on the second of two consecutive plays Brooks made against New Orleans' Reggie Bush. On the second, Brooks swooped in for an impressive takedown of Bush. But it turned out to be a bigger play than anyone knew.

"I tired to run on the next play and I was going to do more harm then help," he said. "I've seen guys, even on our team, when something like that happens, pride gets in the way and pride can end up costing you a season rather than one game. So, I humbled myself and listened to the trainer and we'll see where it is tomorrow."

Comments

[lost buc]

please God smile on our bucs...we cannot put our future in McCoy nor our lame O..ps game ball bidwell

[Andy]

Its absurd that the refs missed that Adams takedown. That play, plain and simple, was the difference of the game. It was also absurd that the Bucs got a personal foul for the Saints dirty play. If we have instant replay why not use it for these events.

[Tom]

The play calling on offense was horrendous. Earnest should've gotten the ball early and often. Garcia's timing was off today. We also got a couple bad missed calls by the refs.

Final note: It is time to put Jermaine Philips on the bench. He blew two TDs today. He was out of position on the first TD pass. Then he whiffed on Bush after talking smack with him. It is time for Sabby Piscitelli to start!

[Anthony Gironda]

I hope we learn from this loss, Now let's forget about it & focus on the Falcons!!!! GO BUCS!!

P.S. Brooks, Get better soon!!!!

[Tim in Seattle]

Totally agree with you Andy. We got robbed with the calls, but now we need to focus on Atlanta and stopping another speed RB in Turner. Hope Derrick Brooks is ok, but until he returns at full strength, June should play the weakside and get another LB to play the strongside. I think Gruden and Allen are regretting the Nece cut. We really needed his run stopping abilities out there in Brooks' absense...

[Carmine]

first off, why is MCCoy in while brooks is down when thought all along Cato June was the guy being groomed to replace brooks?

No knock on McCoy, young guy, aggressive just whiffed on the tackle, but Cato makes that play.

Philips does not need to be replaced, but yea should have had that tackle, and the refs blow chuncks.
I saw the same you guys saw, Trueblood being flagged for retailiation, ho holding on Adams....
Oh poor new orleanians, yea screw that, we get hit CONSTANTLY! why doesn't anyone remember port charlotte, port st lucie et el that got hammered the year b4?

ps- Greg White NEEDS to be playing, by far the best pure pass rusher this team has...

[aaron]

phillips missed some key tackles and plays, so i agree it is time for sabby to start. you dont draft a guy in the 2nd to back up.
why in f*$@ is matt mccoy coming in for brooks. this guy is a cast off. Qunicy Black and Adam Hayward are both better than McCoy. i still think nece should have been kept over mccoy but that is besides the point. hayward and black have been in this system before. matt is new to it. plus after all the stuff we heard in the preseason from monte and grudenabout how good black had been performing i am really surprised he was the one to go in.
d-line did alright, o-line did alright, but needs to pass protect better. need to run a lot more and for gods sake THROW THE BALL DOWN FIELD. oh yeah i forgot our qb cant do that. too bad we got rid of simms.

jackson looked really frightened to be returning kicks. he kept diving to the ground. its too bad we drafted him in the 2nd round. wasted pick. spurlock is better than he is. we could have gotten a quality left tackle. the last time we had one of those was......Paul Gruber.

[Brandon]

What/ No comments about that horrible display of crappy offensive line play by Jeremy Trueblood? I'm sick of you guys that are in love with this guy and his supposed "nasty streak"... Flat-out, the guy sucked the last 3 games last season and was horrendous against Charles Grant today, add in the 3 stupid penalties and he is a human drive stopper. Trueblood needs to straighten up and discontinue his turnstyle version of pass protection. Garcia's skittish enough without guys coming through and into his face unblocked.

[Jimbeaux]

Wait... are you saying if the refs make that call on the Adams takedown that we win the game? When we put together ONE good drive? When Garcia gives the ball away on the most important play of the game? When our D falls down on every play past seven yards? When we pin the Saints inside the ten and they weasel out of it by burning our DE's and corners?

Dream ON, Andy. Dream on...

[Brandon]

Let me not forget about Dexter Jackson, preseason TD or not, this guy needs to settle down and run straight... Too many times the guy took a dive to avoid getting hit or ran around in circles trying to make the play. He did a good job with his decisions and ball security but he needs to step up his game.

[JS]

I will not watch a buc's game without derrick. He's our leader.

[Proud Republican]

D. Jackson looked like a rookie of the year today. He was drafted to highlight his enormous talent and breakaway speed. OHH! That's Desean Jackson of the Eagles I was talking about!

Yeah, I don't know what was up with having McCoy in there. It was in nickel D so you would think Q. Black would be in there since he subs Brooks. McCoy is a backup for Ruud. Plus, Q Black has the talent to be on the field.

Talib looked like a rookie on the first TD. He had his eyes in the backfield instead of staying with his man. And Philips decided to head towards the sidelines instead of covering his half of the field.

[ChargedCBH]

Let's not forget that we looked even worse last year against the Seahawks. We bounced back! I agree that Garcia looked horrible and Gruden's offense is boring and has no guts. Give it a chance.

[STIXX]

Tough loss. But we cant totally blame the refs. We had many plays that didnt work either. Why sit-out BENNETT? Why didnt we run GRAHAMN more..sheeesh. GALLOWAY and GARCIA were way outta sync. Hopefully we get it together for ATLANTA. If we lose the next game coming its all over..two division losses in a row and we`re done. dangit

[jackpc]

Did you hear such a biased game analysis by Brian Billick? First he picks the Sainst to win on the pregame show on NFL network, and then basically cheers the entire game for the Saints. Rookie or not. I thought I was watching home town local broadcast of the Saints game instead of a nationally broadcasterd Fox game. I turned him off right after Bush' alleged 42 yard score - where he didn't get in - but even without a Buc challenge to preserve TO, Billick said it was the single greatest game Bush has played as a pro.

[Jason]

Jermaine Phillips was an embarassment yesterday. He got in Bush's face for hitting him when Bush was already falling backwards and then he whiffed on the tackle on the next play. He also got in Shockey's face after Shockey held on to the ball for first down. You know you are a real toolbox when Jeremy Shockey says "Hey man, you are way too full of yourself"...Jermaine makes some nice hits here and there, but Sabby looks like a better Overall player and should be getting 80% of the snaps from here on out.

[Kurt]

Sabby did look good. Godspeed Brooks!!