Derrick Brooks Takes His Shot with ESPN

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Derrick Brooks—dumped by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers then courted but not signed by the Saints, Bears, and Patriots—has gone the route of his former coach, Jon Gruden.

Brooks has finally signed, but it's with ESPN, according to reports in the Tampa Tribune.

Brooks will join ESPN2 and appear on First Take.

So there will be no double-nickel on the playing field this season—not unless he gets a call in the next few weeks. Most likely his ESPN agreement has an "out-clause" if he gets an acceptable offer from an NFL team.

Brooks did get offers from a number of teams, but most were for veteran minimum salary.

Brooks expressed no interest in that pay grade.

So now he moves to our television sets as an analyst.

Perhaps he'll get a chance to analyze what's going on with his former team.

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