Buccaneer Training Camp 2011: Mason Foster Gets Sage Advice from Derrick Brooks

You will like Mason Foster.

The third-round draft pick of your Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a no-nonsense, "yes sir" and "no sir" kind of young man.

He received a wealth of sage advice on Wednesday at Buccaneer training camp. He got it from one of his idols, the double-nickel, No. 55, Derrick Brooks.

It's all here for you on WDAE620. Do yourself a favor: listen to Brooks' running commentary of the Buccaneers practice. You WILL learn something about football.

Foster is learning a lot about football these days as he competes for the starting Mike linebacker job on the defense. He's battling with Tyrone McKenzie and after the sweaty session, he met Brooks face-to-face for the first time.

Here's how it went down:

"Yes sir, nice to meet you," is how Foster greeted Brooks.

Brooks then had his own questions for Foster and a lot of advice.

"They're not gonna water down anything for you," Brooks told Mason in regards to competing for the starting slot. "You've got to show you can get it done."

Brooks knows. When he was drafted, he was thrown into the mix as the starter the first day he stepped foot into camp.

Brooks gave Foster a short litany. But when it came down to the summary of advice, this is how he put it:

"Pace yourself. Appreciate the learning curve. Stay in that book! If you have questions, PLEASE, get them answered."

Foster then found out Brooks' nickname during his playing days.

"The Don."

Rookies on defense had better get close, get an audience with "The Don."

The Don?

"Ask the guys in the room about that one," Brooks told Foster.

A reference to Don Corleone from The Godfather, no doubt.

That's the sort of respect Brooks commands.

Yes, sir.