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Fraley: 13-year veteran Keith Brooking keeps shedding blockers, age
01:00 AM CDT on Monday, September 6, 2010
COLUMN By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News | gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – When the Cowboys open the season at Washington on Sunday night, Keith Brooking will be starting his 13th year as an NFL linebacker.
He has played the position longer than Hall of Famers such as Jack Lambert, Willie Lanier, Mike Singletary and his role model: Dick Butkus. Less than two months from his 35th birthday, Brooking will be the sixth-oldest linebacker in the league on opening day.
"I've been blessed with staying healthy," Brooking said.
Do not ask, "Is Keith Brooking near the end?" The more relevant question for this season is, "What more can Keith Brooking do for the Cowboys' defense?"
The answer: Plenty.
"I still have it," Brooking said. "Sometimes it takes a little more effort to bring it to the surface, but I feel really good."
A year ago, Brooking and Bradie James formed a dynamic inside linebacker tag team. They were principle figures in a defense that allowed the second-fewest points per game (15.6) and fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (90.5) in the league.
Brooking also extended his consecutive-games streak to 144, second-longest among all active defensive players.
"Having Brooking helps, certainly," coach Wade Phillips said. "There's a difference with him, because he's real good player. He's a very good leader."
For an encore this season, Brooking will divide himself into two players.
To avoid burning out Brooking, Phillips often replaced him in the third-down nickel defense last season with the younger Bobby Carpenter. The nickel played a major role in the defense's ability to force punts – 92, third-most in the league – and limit points.
Opponents gained the first down on only 56 of 171 third-down pass plays, a 32.8 percent success rate. The Cowboys overall held opponents to a 35 percent conversion rate on third down, fifth-lowest in the league.
Carpenter is gone, traded to and released by St. Louis . Rookie Sean Lee, a second-round pick, missed too much time in training camp because of injury to play in the nickel at this time.
That forced the Cowboys into a late-camp search for Brooking's stand-in for the nickel. They have legitimate candidates, but the best choice to stand in for Brooking stands right in their face.
Keith Brooking.
Hobbled by a balky left knee that required surgery, Brooking was good in pass coverage last season. He was credited with eight passes defended, the fourth-highest total on the Cowboys. Carpenter, who had more chances in pass coverage, had one pass-defended.
Brooking underwent off-season surgery to clean out the knee. Brooking admitted to being concerned before the surgery about whether he would emerge with less speed and change-of-direction ability.
"Would I have all the things I had before?" Brooking said.
That and more. One play in an exhibition game calmed that concern. Brooking ran stride for stride with San Diego Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates to break up a pass.
With the nickel so important to the overall defense, Phillips can justify using Brooking on third down and resting him at other times. The Cowboys could have a first- and second-down Brooking and a third-down Brooking. He likes the idea.
"My legs feel really fresh," Brooking said. "I plan to make an impact on this team in third down. I know they don't want me to do it every play. I understand that."
Brooking fights the good fight against time.
He is a denizen of the weight room, continuing a long affection for the compound exercise of squat-cleans. He follows a restricted diet. He takes care of his body.
Most of all, the fire inside still roars.
"I don't look at this season as I'm 34 years old and have something to prove," Brooking said. "I just want to compete on a daily basis."
Or an every-down basis. The old linebacker could show new tricks this season.
STILL GOING STRONG
The oldest linebackers in the NFL, based upon current rosters:
Player Team Age Birth date
Jason Taylor NY Jets 36 Sept. 1, 1974
James Farrior Pittsburgh 35 Jan. 6, 1975
Ray Lewis Baltimore 35 May 15, 1975
London Fletcher Wash. 35 May 19, 1975
Mike Vrabel KC 35 Aug. 14, 1975
Keith Brooking Cowboys 34 Oct. 30 1975
Mike Peterson Atlanta 34 June 17, 1976
Takeo Spikes SF 33 Dec. 17, 1976
Clark Haggans Arizona 33 Jan. 10, 1977
Joey Porter Arizona 33 March 22, 1977
PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE:
The most NFL games started among active linebackers:
Player Team Starts
Ray Lewis Baltimore 193
Jason Taylor NY Jets 192
London Fletcher Wash. 176
Takeo Spikes SF 167
James Farrior Pittsburgh 166
Keith Brooking Cowboys 160
Joey Porter Arizona 151
Mike Peterson Atlanta 143
Brian Urlacher Chicago 136
Julian Peterson Detroit 134
• • •
01:00 AM CDT on Monday, September 6, 2010
COLUMN By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News | gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – When the Cowboys open the season at Washington on Sunday night, Keith Brooking will be starting his 13th year as an NFL linebacker.
He has played the position longer than Hall of Famers such as Jack Lambert, Willie Lanier, Mike Singletary and his role model: Dick Butkus. Less than two months from his 35th birthday, Brooking will be the sixth-oldest linebacker in the league on opening day.
"I've been blessed with staying healthy," Brooking said.
Do not ask, "Is Keith Brooking near the end?" The more relevant question for this season is, "What more can Keith Brooking do for the Cowboys' defense?"
The answer: Plenty.
"I still have it," Brooking said. "Sometimes it takes a little more effort to bring it to the surface, but I feel really good."
A year ago, Brooking and Bradie James formed a dynamic inside linebacker tag team. They were principle figures in a defense that allowed the second-fewest points per game (15.6) and fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (90.5) in the league.
Brooking also extended his consecutive-games streak to 144, second-longest among all active defensive players.
"Having Brooking helps, certainly," coach Wade Phillips said. "There's a difference with him, because he's real good player. He's a very good leader."
For an encore this season, Brooking will divide himself into two players.
To avoid burning out Brooking, Phillips often replaced him in the third-down nickel defense last season with the younger Bobby Carpenter. The nickel played a major role in the defense's ability to force punts – 92, third-most in the league – and limit points.
Opponents gained the first down on only 56 of 171 third-down pass plays, a 32.8 percent success rate. The Cowboys overall held opponents to a 35 percent conversion rate on third down, fifth-lowest in the league.
Carpenter is gone, traded to and released by St. Louis . Rookie Sean Lee, a second-round pick, missed too much time in training camp because of injury to play in the nickel at this time.
That forced the Cowboys into a late-camp search for Brooking's stand-in for the nickel. They have legitimate candidates, but the best choice to stand in for Brooking stands right in their face.
Keith Brooking.
Hobbled by a balky left knee that required surgery, Brooking was good in pass coverage last season. He was credited with eight passes defended, the fourth-highest total on the Cowboys. Carpenter, who had more chances in pass coverage, had one pass-defended.
Brooking underwent off-season surgery to clean out the knee. Brooking admitted to being concerned before the surgery about whether he would emerge with less speed and change-of-direction ability.
"Would I have all the things I had before?" Brooking said.
That and more. One play in an exhibition game calmed that concern. Brooking ran stride for stride with San Diego Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates to break up a pass.
With the nickel so important to the overall defense, Phillips can justify using Brooking on third down and resting him at other times. The Cowboys could have a first- and second-down Brooking and a third-down Brooking. He likes the idea.
"My legs feel really fresh," Brooking said. "I plan to make an impact on this team in third down. I know they don't want me to do it every play. I understand that."
Brooking fights the good fight against time.
He is a denizen of the weight room, continuing a long affection for the compound exercise of squat-cleans. He follows a restricted diet. He takes care of his body.
Most of all, the fire inside still roars.
"I don't look at this season as I'm 34 years old and have something to prove," Brooking said. "I just want to compete on a daily basis."
Or an every-down basis. The old linebacker could show new tricks this season.
STILL GOING STRONG
The oldest linebackers in the NFL, based upon current rosters:
Player Team Age Birth date
Jason Taylor NY Jets 36 Sept. 1, 1974
James Farrior Pittsburgh 35 Jan. 6, 1975
Ray Lewis Baltimore 35 May 15, 1975
London Fletcher Wash. 35 May 19, 1975
Mike Vrabel KC 35 Aug. 14, 1975
Keith Brooking Cowboys 34 Oct. 30 1975
Mike Peterson Atlanta 34 June 17, 1976
Takeo Spikes SF 33 Dec. 17, 1976
Clark Haggans Arizona 33 Jan. 10, 1977
Joey Porter Arizona 33 March 22, 1977
PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE:
The most NFL games started among active linebackers:
Player Team Starts
Ray Lewis Baltimore 193
Jason Taylor NY Jets 192
London Fletcher Wash. 176
Takeo Spikes SF 167
James Farrior Pittsburgh 166
Keith Brooking Cowboys 160
Joey Porter Arizona 151
Mike Peterson Atlanta 143
Brian Urlacher Chicago 136
Julian Peterson Detroit 134
• • •
