The real greatness of Derrick Brooks

Derrick Brooks has won a Super Bowl, been named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, selected to 11 Pro Bowls and is a virtual lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But on Monday, Brooks handed out diplomas to the first graduating class from Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School -- with all 16 accepted to college. It may well have been Brooks' greatest accomplishment.

"This is way more than I envisioned,''  Brooks said. "It's beyond my wildest dreams.''

It was appropriate that the commencement speaker was former Bucs and Colts coach Tony Dungy.

Before each season, Dungy would tell his teams that if they won games but failed to contribute to the community, they would not be successful.

Dungy, who retired from coaching earlier this year, turned down more pretigious and lucrative speaking engagements Monday to address the students at BDCHS, fulfilling a promise he made to Brooks two years ago.

Dungy told graduates not to be too concerned with what they were going to do with their lives but to focus on what kind of person they want to be. And he encouraged them to be uncommon, not follow the crowd and "don't leave God out of it.''

Several times Monday, Brooks wiped away tears. Since the first time he handed two Bucs game tickets to children ("also because we didn't have that many fans at the time'), his focus has been to provide opportunity and education for the youth in Tampa Bay. He's accomplished this in a variety of ways, but never more directly or more impactful than developing the charter school with the family of former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo.

Brooks, 36, was released in Feb., by the Bucs after 14 years. He still spends several hours each morning working out in preparation to play a 15th NFL season.

Training camps will open in another six or seven weeks and Brooks still is a man without a team. Like Dungy, he has more opportunity outside of football than he ever anticipated and his calender is full.

If Brooks finds the right opportunity to continue his career, he will consider it. If the New England Patriots called tomorrow, with a chance to be part of another Super Bowl contender, it might be too great to resist.

But watching Brooks and Dungy Monday, their place in NFL history already secure, it's obvious that the true greatness of these men will never be defined by statistics or Super Bowl rings.

If you thought Brooks has had a great career in football, just wait until you see what he does with the rest of his life.

Comments

[Darren]

This is an inspiring message about great men and their positive influence upon society. I hope it is printed in tomorrow's copy of the Times.

[Leo In Canada]

Another great story about 2 class gentlemen!

[Mike/Orlando]

I feel touched to have been influenced by these two men. They are both the epitimy of class and beacons in any community they choose. We should all be thankful they chose ours.

[Opinion Master]

GREAT story!

Why can't there be more stories on the sports networks about guys like Mr. Derrick Brooks, Mr Tony Dungy and other athletes/coaches doing great things with their time/money/influence and less about the vicks/pacmen/plaxicos etc?

Hopefully this story made news yesterday at the local stations as well.

[JC]

Brooks is the kind of guy that you would expect to play for a league minimum just to go out with a curtain call... you know, the way he should have been sent off.

*ahem*

[Jim M.]

That's the great thing about Derrick Brooks: as great as his impact was on the field, it is that much greater off the field. DB (and Dungy) your contributions to the community are greatly appreciated!

[WordySanchez]

Thanks Rick, I know ppl flip you crap from time to time but this was nice to read this morning. Actually makes a difference in my mood, and qualifies as news as a side benefit.

I hear everyone moaning about needing playmakers and they seem too happy to have Plaxico and the like to make that happen. I just wish they'd remember that its possible to have playmakers with character on your team, and even if we don't win another SuperBowl at least you have players worth cheering for.

[Robert]

I love this story! We so often hear about so much negative in sports that it's great to hear these inspirational ones. It reminds you of why you root for these guys. It's not because of the sacks or interceptions. It's what they do with all the blessings the lord has given them. There are some that abuse them and have no appreciation. Then there are some that do such beautiful things such as Brooks and Dungy. MR Brooks, if you still want to play I support you 100%, but when your time is over in the NFL I hope you still plan to inspire others in the TAMPA area. Anyway, great story about great people!

[Kurt]

Well said JC.

[DR]

I tell you one thing, it's great that Gruden is fired. It would eat him alive the way Tony Dungy is being embraced in Gruden's ol' home. We would have heard chants to bring back Tony Dungy before the season ended.
These stories are great to hear and should be the front page of the paper, not just the sports section. Thanks for coming back Tony! And I hope Derrick stays around for a long time as well!

[OAR]

DR you are the true definiton of "hater".

[OAR]

Spin-DR in case you don't get my point. This is an article on Dungy, not Gruden bashing. Man get over it. Better yet get over yourself!

[TriplePlay]

This schools format should be a blue print for how all Florida schools should be organized. If this state is serious about improving education ( and they are not ) programs like this should be widely availalble.

[Kurt]

If I'm not mistaken DR (and I'm not,) Gruden was the one that invited all ex-Buccaneers back to Tampa to be part of the overall Buccanneer family. He effectively lifted the Doug Williams curse that haunted us even through the Dungy years. Give credit where credit is due. I agree with OAR, you are the true definition of a hater (Cowgirl.)

[DR]

Yeah Kurt, I'm sure Gruden was the wise guy who thought of inviting ex Bucs back. That's right, the curse of Doug Williams was haunting the Bucs for years.
Thanks a lot Kurt, your incoherent ramblings have made everybody dumber on these blogs.
It's funny you refer to me as a Cowgirl fan. If they are the Cowgirls and they beat the Gruden led Bucs without their Pro Bowl QB (they had to play Brad Johnson- ha ha) after getting spanked by one of the worst teams in football (Rams), what does that make Gruden's Bucs?

[OAR]

Spin-DR, All hail the great DR Cowgirl extrodinaire! What about the Gruden led Bucs game where they beat your Cowgirls 16-0 in 2003?
BTW; is that the same Pro-bowl QB that botched a field goal hold that would have won that playoff game? Nice.

[DR]

I remember the 16-0 game well mOARon. I remember hearing Parcells tell the team "we don't derserve to score *bleep* today" and he refused to kick a FG to put points on the board late in the game. Look it up. That's why Parcells is a legend and Gruden is already forgotten. Gruden would decide to kick a FG to save his own ego, but Parcells knows that a loss is a loss. that's why Gruden is a joke. I feel bad for anyone who follows a coward in this game. The only defense you have for Gruden is excuses. No great coaches have excuses. Again, all Gruden is, is the Barry Switzer of the 2000's. Just lucky to inherit a great team to ride the coat tails of.
Thanks for reminding me of a story that shows how yellow Gruden is.