On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks joins hosts Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper for a discussion far beyond football. Brooks explains his work as an NFL appeals officer and the mentorship the position has allowed him to carry out. Brooks also reflects on the significance of receiving the first ever Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Later, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer lists his personal Mount Rushmore, which includes his old coach, Tony Dungy.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
To be the first one to win this award. I
will carry your family's name with more honored now that
I'm retired, more than I did when I played s
I owe that to your family that when they's Walter
Payman or the year my name is mentioned, it's with
(00:21):
the highest level of service possible.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
What's up, everybody, I'm Peanut Tohiman and this is the
NFL Player Second X podcast and with him as always
Montrosity co host Roman Harvard.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Why you look so serious?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm not just why you look so well, because you
just yelled at me before we started. So I'm really
excited about this interview. This guy's a legendary player. We
all grew up watching him, yes, from his college days
at Florida State to his NFL career with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers, and you can't wait to sit down and
talk to him about also what he's doing now in
his second acting.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I know it's gonna bee a great one.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Fourteen year NFL VET Walter Peyton, Man of the Year,
NFL Hall of Famer, NFL all time top one hundred player.
So that means he's got you got two coats.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
He got, he got the maroon jacket.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Ain't he got the gold jacket? Oh, there's the maroon jacket.
When you go that one when you bruh, I didn't
know that.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yes, I learned.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's like wine. It's it's a pretty dope color too.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
They say that age is better with time.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, yes, and he's currently the guy. When you get
fine and you don't agree with the fine, you gotta
pill it to this man. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Derek
Brooks to the show.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Yes, thank you, thank you, thank you, my pleasure. It's
my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, Derek Man, get right into that one. Yeah, I
will get jumped right into it. I always talk about
how I never thought that I would be in the
media space, right. The media was always that looked upon
as the enemy. Yes, yeah, I mean I don't know
what the angle they're coming at. And I wonder if
you think the same thing, because you're on the opposite
side of you are now the person that says this
(02:08):
is determinedifying this.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
That and the other.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
We call you the appeal, knowing that you used to
be the one that was trying to call the appill
and all the other Senate So how did you get
into this job. Talk to us kind of like what
exactly do you.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Do or share with well, thank you?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
So, uh, I'm the lead what we would say, the
lead appeals officer for the NFL, And this position is
the only job that was created by the collective bargaining agreement.
So the I like to say, there's no door closed
to this position. No matter if your NFL, nfl PA,
(02:43):
our governing documents, this is the only.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Position that's reference.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
So from that standpoint, I'm truly neutral when it comes
to the governing of the game in terms of the rules.
And I always take a moment to explain to our
fellow players. I tell them, guys, I played longer than
I have been a pills officer, so I do not
find this position. Do not find players I know all
(03:11):
the time because they say, y'all, y'all find I say,
I say, let's define why a L L that does
not contain D R R I C K. So I
just and again when I explain to the men the
position and how I take it serious that this position
(03:33):
is you to talk to me in as colleagues, let's
talk about what the NFL said happened, and either I'm
agree with the NFL. I'm gonna disagree or I'm gonna agree.
But you know what, it wasn't at the economic level
that the NFL says it was, and we call that
(03:53):
it reduced. And what I try to do in that
process is keep the integrity and dignity that these men know.
My colleagues, your voice is not of being heard, but
they're being listened to. Everything you say, and your agent
and the players Association attorneys is going to get considered.
Some things are pretty obvious. Then you know, you go,
(04:15):
God grabs a face, mass he makes a tackle. I
tell you, guy, it ain't about the obvious place. What
I am listening to just to talk to you about
the position you play and how you ended up in
that position. Now, how can you be a better player?
So I treated with that dignity and I always make
myself available, and I think this has really been key.
(04:36):
You know, in the twelve years I've been doing this,
I don't run from decisions. And I tell players, once
you get my decision, if you disagree with it or
want to discuss it, heres how you get a hold
of me. I give him my emails because I want
it on the record, and I give them my phone number,
and I say, I will only talk to you as
(04:57):
my peer. I won't talk to your agent. I want
talk to your representative. I'll talk to you because your
money is being taken. And every year during this time
around the Super Bowl, that is the one compliment. Even
when players disagree, they always come back say, you know what,
I disagree rich and misrs brush, but I really appreciate
(05:17):
how you treated me and I appreciate the conversation you
had with me. And that's all I try to do
in this position and services real serve the men, serve
the game, or do it with the highest level of integrity.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I got a question, does it anybody actually reached back out?
Because yes, I know that's been to me. And I
was just like like once it was over, I was
either mad and just like walked away still mad, or
you know, I'm like.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Okay, I appreciate that they did send that a little bit.
They knocked that down.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Yeah, but they do. And here's I tell all the
player appeal everything. Yeah, don't just willingly you didn't willingly
be in that position on the football fields, or don't
willing need to give into the price You've earned that right,
use it and going through it. When they reach back out,
(06:08):
it gives me a chance to have other conversations. And
that's really the secret that I've really trying to get
to with the players and guys do when they reach
back out, they say, we'll talk about the play. I'll
give them my opinion, and then I ask some other things.
How is your locker room, how are you doing, how's
(06:28):
your health? Where you're at this stage of your career.
A young player that I may see or know things. Hey,
you know what you're playing the game a little. They
could have done this, but they didn't. But let me
warn you about this. The scheme you're playing, especially with linebackers,
I love talking to them. And why you're lining the
seven yards deep?
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Man?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
You know it's an obvious run r PO tendencies. What
do you studying? I say, his on defense, reading the quarterback,
breaking on the football. What why you're backpelling five steps
when you can hop three and break later on? I
never thought that, Yeah, how about try that when you
get a pick? Der Brooks chaities will appreciate that. So
(07:11):
it gives me in a fun way. It gives me
that other connection, you know, to the players, and a
lot of them when they do, then what tends to happen.
Guys reach out to me that don't get fine because
they teammate has my information, so they end up reaching
back out to me.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
And that's how I stay connected with the players.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Our show was my I think when I used to
get fine, Our show was my guy.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Yes, Art schell Art was And I said, just like,
obviously you're a peanut punch. When players was getting fined
for that, they the rules says, obviously they throwing a punch.
But now that's a part of the turnover technique. And
(07:59):
I asked he was writing in that by four or
five years ago to the competition committee and trying his staff. Hey,
we need to look at this act very y different.
This is not the act of throwing a punch violence.
This is a turnover technique that we need to really
look at from the rules standpoint, look at and consider
in governing the rules. So I get a chance through
(08:22):
the position to make those recommendations. I tell the PA,
here's what I think you guys should be fighting for
when it comes to the players. Now, whether they do
it or not, again, their choice, whether the competition committee
listens to me, their choice, But they see the decisions
that are being made, you know, by myself and prior
to James Thrash. We write these recommendations and now, like
(08:46):
I say, just that turnover technique itself, it's really helped
the players now and then obviously we get players that
abuse it on the other side. Oh mi, bro, I'm
just trying to do the bean that punch man. You
swinging at the dude, Joe the ball there's nowhere near
where you were going. But again that's again that's some
of the things that goes on up under the hood
(09:06):
with the position.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Now, since you've had this position, have you seen, uh
the fins go down?
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, it has, and it goes in trends. So for instance,
you know, you look at concussion data, concussion data has
gone down, which is very good for everybody because now
players are being more conscious in how they're tackling. The
defensive player side of me, see the mistackles three times
as much has defended without looking at defensive stats. So
(09:38):
you know, and again it's just certain areas of hip
drop tackle. What's the big thing last off season this season,
you just see a lot of that in terms of
the technique and when it was happening. We had a
chance to discuss how it was happening, you know, with
a player momentum, with a player open field, in these positions,
positions angles, if you're coming up from behind versus coming
(10:02):
from the side. So when they do those things and
those rules go in, this process gives you a chance
to go. Because there was a lot where John running
his staff, they find guys loud of these was rescinded,
you know, by myself, and we had three new guys
this year, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawai, and Jordy Nelson. They
all came on this year because there was a lot
(10:25):
to handle for two people. But as I was bringing
these guys in the process, they had a chance to
have a great appreciation too. I mean, it's ain't gonna
say silly, but when you think about things like celebrations
and obviously Roman you in this space with college football,
you see these guys.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It's out of control and Colge thank you. That's where
it starts, exactly. You guys are trying to break the
tendency now in the league.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Exactly, So how do you how do.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
You tell a rookie coming in, hey, you're not gonna
be a This is for the cost you money, these
type of celebrations. So I try to tell guys, you
see that Cameron in zone. They want celebrate, They want
this content, but they want it as a unit. So
now when you start to see defensive players, everybody run
(11:14):
to the opposite zone. Those are guys that was listening
to this process. Celebrate all you want, but let's do
it with three or four other people. Let's do it
on your sideline. If you get a turnover on your
opponent's sideline, man, run them twenty yards to the middle
of the field. Find your guys and go to the
end zone instead of turn around looking at their sideline.
(11:35):
They know you made a play. You ain't gotta show them.
You ain't got to You ain't got to brag about
it because you want to come at you again so
you can make another play.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
So go find your teammates.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So again, just that when I'm talking about celebrations and
how do we govern that when the NFL content side,
when they go post these celebrations for views, guys getting fined.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
It's a mixed message.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
It is.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Yeah, this process allowed those two to connect.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Ops.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
You got to connect with the content team. You can't
find guys if the content team is posting these things
as hey, look at the beautiful NFL and celebrate. Let's
get views, but it costs you twelve thousand dollars. So
this process allowed for more efficiency on their side. Even
to the teams. Teams better be careful about posting this
(12:29):
content because I'm a player. The team posts something I
did and I got fine, I'm going to see the gym.
Hey man, somebody need to pay that. Ain't at y'all
to post that. So it's better communication even amongst teams
and content when it gets to the operation of the game.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
That's a great point as far as we talk about
the money the content, Like, I really hadn't thought about that.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
I see it a lot in college.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Though it starts down everybody's doing this celebration, they start
flashing like that.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
That was the new one. That was just bananas this year.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
But I want to talk about some of the numbers,
the actual numbers. I looked at some of this. So
football in the stands now, is this being kicked thrown?
It's a difference right versus handed out? Yes, right, if
you throw it fine, right if you kick it fine,
if you hand it we're all good, correct, Yes, all right?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
What about a toss?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
That's exactly what I said.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I can't I can't really get it to my mama,
but I want mama just for you.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
But it's a general toss now.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
And again that's where in these processes, like with our
process and when I do I handle on field playing stuff.
So when it comes to throwing the balls in the stands,
that's another area with John Wrightan and that who But
to your point, sometimes common sense intent, yes.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
So I just want to know how do they come
up with the numbers. So the first offense is seven thousand,
eight hundred and seventy eight dollars, get to change, yes,
the next one, the second offense is thirteen thousand, five
hundred and six dollars.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
The one that's even crazier.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
To me is a physical contact with the referee, which, yes,
sometimes happens, should never happen, but you know, it's an
emotional game played by emotional people, so we.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Know things happen.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
First offense thirty nine thousand, five hundred and.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
One dollar one.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah, really, and then the second offense seventy nine thousand,
zero and four dollars seventy nine thousand and four dollars.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
How do you come up with those numbers.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
And you're forgetting you forgetting the other one, they can
suspend you.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Right after.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Yes, nothing, Oh I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Yes, so anything the way that the rules are ridden
and I use they can go from zero to one
thousand off the egregiousness of the act. So somebody runs
and you know, say, for two hands shoves of ref
you ain't gonna see those numbers. You're gonna see him out.
So they have that jurisdiction. And those numbers are actually
(15:11):
collectively bargaining negotiating.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Okay, I thought someone just came up one of the.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Number.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
They use these different formulas in negotiation with our players union,
and those numbers are a direct reflection of what's in
the CBA. Okay, the CBA defined schedule of the CBA.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
All right, So how does that so Rom and I
playing different teams? I hit him, push him, whatever he
goes down, I get a flag. I get my personal foul.
I know I'm probably get fined or something like that.
I'm gonnat a FedEx letter explain how the appeals process works.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
So in that case, that act is going to be
looked at by NFL op staff and I'll just headed
by John Ryan reports up Detroit Vincent. So they'll look
at the egregiousness of what happened. What the referee report says, wegreiousness.
I beat them up real good, you beat them up.
(16:16):
Now they'll look at what you did to instigate it,
in what level that caused. Second, they'll look at the
response that he had in responding to that I knocked
him out. The third thing, they'll look at who came
off the sideline, who chose to participate in said confrontation.
Because it also says in our rules you as a
(16:38):
player shouldn't run to the pile. Let the RELs do
their job. So you come to that power you're getting
yes years, yes, so, but this process, so you guys
go through. You get the FedEx letter. Now you have
ten days to appeal, so usually your agent automatically appeals
it for you. Within that ten days, you get on
(17:00):
a schedule of when you have free time, and we
have slots that the agents or the player. When you
log in, it will show you slots of time based
on your schedule to have the hearing. So every hearing
it is thirty minutes max or some even go a
little longer because I let players voice their opinion. So
(17:22):
then we'll get a day and we'll get a time,
so that day in time, you'll have all your representatives
and you able to have anybody on the phone represents
you you want, but typically it's a lawyer from the
union player and represents agents and who they want. So
we'll go through mark hearing. So I'll get on the phone.
(17:45):
I'll say p NAT tillman. Appreciate you exercising your right
to go through the ap pills process. I'm Derrick Brooks,
You're a pills officers. Please not everybody on this phone
represents you. Will have an opportunity to get me testimony
regarding as the legs. Fine, and know that the NFL
(18:05):
is representative from the NFL office is listening in, but
he or she will not speak. But you have the
right to know who's listening to this appeals. Please give
me everything you want me to consider, and I go
back and watch this play.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
You will speak.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
First, your agent will speak second, the unit speak third,
and then I come back to you to give me
any final testimony.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Out to hearing.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Everybody speak, because I want your word to be the
first in the last that I hear. I read the letter.
Now I'm going to read the letter. I read the letter.
Then I start you first, get it right down here
what they say. I come back to you say, hell,
are you satisfied with the representation you had today?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
You'll say yes.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
I say, Now, finally, once you get my decision, you
have any comments, questions, concerns, please reach back out to
me directly and let's have that Conversation's colleagues emailed me.
So I went on the record, Dick dot Brooks at
NFL dot com. Here's my phone number.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
You can call me.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
I will only talk to you. I will not talk
to any one of these other representatives on the phone.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Here's over.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Do you are like a black robe when you have
these conversations?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Then you get guys on that we and we doing
the hearing we have like you, hey man, roomman?
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Did this?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
I said, Now you think you actually think he was
gonna have advantage on you?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
That called you this?
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Something happened early in the game that made you feel
So I'll you my colleague. So it's I want to
hear from you for a reason. You'd have the first
and last word for a reason, so I attempt as
best I can. Yeah, they encourage guys to talk to me.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
My my favorite one is h number one. You didn't
rescind the one when I hit a quarterbro at one time.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Oh, you already knew.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
What it was.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
He ducked bro.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
He did, He ducked and like, I'm got my target
and then he changes his level.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
He dug he didn't have he didn't have no adjustment time.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
No, I didn't. It's fine. I hate that. I can
tell you.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Still bothered by that a little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
He's like, he ducked, he chucked and ducked and then
I hit him. Fine. Whatever. My favorite one though is
Merton Hanks.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I had no no white showing in my socks uniform violation.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Yeah, I'm glad shout out to Hanks. He took care
of me because I was like, I had no white showing.
I was like, why am I even mind? He was like, dude,
you got to like just try and get reduced like whatever.
I'm like, there's nothing to reduce. I had no white
like nothing, but he was like, yeah, what's up. I
was like, why did I not have any white? I
(20:54):
was like, dude, this Monday night football. He's like, I
get it.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
You gotta on Monday night. I'm gonna take care. I
give you like, you know what.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
I appreciate that, just for just hearing me out, working
with me what you're saying, and just be like, you
know what, just be making the call.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
We're gonna take a short break and we'll be back
in a minute. I got a question for you. You
mentioned this earlier. You talked about tackling. The skill level,
the technique in tackling has not been as good as
where you would see it or like it. What would
(21:37):
you rate your what would you rate yourself as a
tackling your technique, your ability to do it, and then
what would give young people kind of advice to try
to clean it up?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
That was my That was really one of my assets, yo.
Role just I wasn't a hitter. I wasn't no big thumper.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
No, you weren't even like that big one linebacker, one
of the first smaller will linebackers. And that cover two
really kind of made it more.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yes, everybody that so I was on, Yes, it was
on the cuzzle, changing the game. Then I was coming
along and coming in. Yes, you know, it wasn't the
size of Lawrence Taylor's, you know, Wilbert Marshall's. You and
your say, it was more the offenses opening up. You know,
back mid to late nineties, the ball was coming out,
(22:23):
offenses were scoring. You saw a lot of flex. You
didn't see the big running backs. You saw the Marshall
folks of the world coming in and Edrin James doing
Fred Taylor. So you saw a difference with that, and
more teams were going to it. So for me, it
was a by playing in space. I wasn't a hitter.
I was a tackler. I was a grabber, get you
(22:47):
to the ground. A lot of my tackles were not
against bigger players, against receivers, backs, you know, tiny obviously
guys is having the ball. But it wasn't at the
line of scrimmage. It usually was in space. And then
when I'm actually having to tackle in the hole. For us,
it was by game tackle. We had that philosophy. No
(23:07):
one except a corner out on the island, and even then,
no one should make a tackle alone. That was Manti
Kiffen Lovey herb all day and grained at in US
and practice. If two guys wasn't getting touched. We was
running to play again, like no one should make a
tackle alone. It was just we were brainwashed to that's
(23:31):
what we believe. So when I graved myself to the
highest degree, because that's that's what I made. Very few
times you catch me having big hits today, they don't
get a chance to practice that as much as we did,
and it's killing us. Everything is being governed and again
(23:52):
rightfully sold to get a healthier game. Right to guys
in our position now could live a full, you know,
life to the best of his capabilities, not having all
these car wrecks. I understand it, but that don't mean
I have to accept it just because you can't practice
as a team. There's nothing wrong with you doing something individually. Linebackers,
(24:16):
there's nothing wrong with you getting a teammate and you
guys walking through tackling and open field. You don't need
a coach governing that. You just need two willing bodies
that want to get better. That's what I tell them.
There's no excuses, no explanations. Yes, the fire system and
the physicality has governed the game, but nothing has governed
(24:39):
the fact that there's going to be collisions in some
of these open fields that you're literally not grabbing the guy.
You're trying to knock him down with your shoulder instead
of grabbing it wrapping him up. That is the safest
thing to do. And nowadays runners especially, they're making investment decisions.
(25:03):
Once you grab them, they going They they going down.
But guess what, you gotta grab them. You can't not
try to knock them down with the shoulder. Well, assume
they feel your home, you feel your paws. Man, they're
going down. To the going down, man, get to the
next play. I got my fifteen, got my twelve.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Yeah, they going down.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
And like back when we play bigger receiver, like we
need that extra two or three.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
They're not doing that anymore.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
So get back to the art of grabbing, getting very
intimate and bringing them to the.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Ground body on the body. Yes.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Do you think it's because the lack of guys are
I just see guys just diving that legs and stuff,
and they got their eyes closed. They're not really looking
at what they're seeing in the hit. And it's also
what you're saying, they're just trying to show their tackle.
There's a lot more and I don't know why that's happening,
and it's got to start earlier. Though you guys, I
(25:56):
didn't tell anybody NFL we really don't teach. We ain't
got time to teach you how to tackle. You've got
to be that when you show up here or you
ain't gonna stay. It's a college thing, though, I think
that's a college thing.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I had a conversation with high schools.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yes, and and yes, we're trying to infiltrate from the
top down every areas of our game or growth down
to high school, whether it's officiating, where it's coaching, whether
it's rules.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
I commend you know, the NFL, even their investment in flag,
because why are you're teaching grabbing? I could work with
that when now, because that grabbing a flag is going
to work, and grabbing a jersey, grabbing a pant leg
is grabbing something you're not used to the art of tackling.
Even in flag, you're doing it. So I commend them
(26:43):
in doing it. But we just got to continue to
educate that us former players that are getting involved in
coaching in the youth leagues, we know better equipped us
with these techniques, these rules to help because these kids
are going to listen to us because they're trying to
get where we were. So our word is going to
(27:04):
carry more whether we like it. Whether we like it
or not, it is what it is, so let's embrace that.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
So, so I see that, uh that that pain you
got on your left lapel. That's that's kind of that's
kind of that's kind of cool. You got one of
those kind of those pens. You do not, mister Brooks,
can you can you explain to one.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Mister Harper what that what that pen is?
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Sir?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
It is? But no, please please do.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
I'm just I figured, you know, you would be able
to it's it.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Looks good on you, sir. Can you please explain what
that that?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
This is the Walter Payne Man of the Year lapel
and I was blessed enough to uh be awarded this
the first year that they renamed after mister Peyton in
two thousand. So I didn't know at the time. I'm
(28:00):
you know, twenty five years later the impact of hey,
the NFL Man of the Year to the Walter Payton
NFL Man of the Year. But those two words in
front of that would me I didn't grasp it in
the year two thousand because I was so busy with
my foundation and youth work and Tampa, educating these kids
(28:23):
and getting them out of the projects. Just wondered, Hey,
I'm diving into youth education. Okay, this is a recognition
that's going to help me do more. Let's okay, so
be it. But as I mature over the years, I
started to understand what he meant to this game in
(28:43):
terms of service beyond the game. I grasped it. Unfortunately,
probably two thousand and nine after I retired, and it's
like people started, hey, we really appreciate what you do
it off the field more you did on the field.
Those were things I was hearing around this country in
(29:07):
terms of Derreck Brooks. And that's where I actually called
talked to Jared Peyton and I say, you know what, Jared,
to be the first one to win this award, and
obviously you know what mister Payne means in Chicago, I
will carry your family's name with more honored now that
(29:30):
I'm retired, more than I did when I played. I said,
I owe that to your family that when they's Walter
Payman or the year my name is mentioned, it's with
the highest level of service possible when I told him that,
and that's what that's what it means to me.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Yeah, I didn't.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I didn't even know you wanted the first year that
they had renamed it or put his name in front
of that.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yes, we're going to take a short break and we'll
be right back. So you got I'm as we say
of the young kids, say, I'm gona give you a flower.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
So you.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Fourteen amazing years, Pro Bowls, all Pro NFL Hall of Fame,
Top one hundred players, Man of the Year, all the
foundational charitable stuff that you do off the field, you
also built. You built the high school.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Show.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Yes, like you've done amazing you one hundred percent graduation rates,
one hundred percent graduation rate and throw that in there.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Derek.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Let you.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
If you had to have a personal Mount Rushmore of
four people that have helped you become you today. Oh man,
who would those four people be?
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Wow? Uh?
Speaker 3 (30:56):
On the field?
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Off the field man, you Well, I'm just obviously I'm
gonna say this name, and not as a Mount Rushmore,
but just my foundational you know, being obviously my faith,
in my service, my relationship with God. That's obviously nothing
to compare to that. I think of my family, it'll
(31:22):
be a combination of my stepdad and my mom. You
know one thing my stepdad did that changed my life
was he whooped me in front of my fifth grade
class Spencer Bibs Elementary, second floor, Room two or five.
Miss Katie Lett was a teacher nineteen eighty five, farewear
to ninth. Remember the day the guy that tripped me
(31:47):
when I was running He had on brown socks. Yes,
I'm still looking for that dude, but I was being
a class clown. He came up to the school, he
whooped me right in front of my class and say,
sure you how to get last for a lifetime, but
you won't get paid, and he did it. Got home
that night, told me, you're taking a gift that God
(32:10):
gave you in terms of being academically blessed, and you're
abusing it by making fun of others. Why don't you
be an asset son help kids that's not as smart
as you instead of being a distraction, Why don't you
help them? He never disciplined me again. Definitely had to
put him and my mom then forcing my mom would
(32:32):
have told me that, oh I'd have bleed her. One
thousand percent.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Not my dad. He's always working.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
He ain't got My mom said it, Hey straighten up
you for real, So you know, just had to put
I was my parents. The next person I would say
is two coaches had to be Coach Bowden and Coach
Dungee as my two and three just from the standpoint
(32:57):
of faith, family football and to see the way that
Coach Bowen did it all different diversities of backgrounds. He
was solid man every Friday night building into us as men.
He gave his own chapel with every one of his
teams every Friday night, and it was so unique because
(33:20):
he would take a game playing point and have a
biblical story behind it, going to us that Saturday to
win every Friday night, and it was just him and
the team, no coaches, no trainers. He's like he said,
just me, me and my men. It's my time with them,
(33:41):
nobody else. And Coach Dungee when he got to Tampa,
really gave me a direction for where I need to
channel on my gifts of God when he said, we
will be a team that never loses a game because
we'll be a team that's playing the game of life.
(34:03):
And he would be a coach that coached a team
that this community would be proud of by how we
serve it, not by how many games we win on
the football field. Those things will take care of themselves.
And when coach gave that speech in front of the team, man,
I's like, who is this dude, Man, we just lost
(34:24):
twelve games last year. He come here talking about the community.
They wanted us to win on man, don't want to
Nobody had him as a head coach. This was me
in nineteen ninety six. I'm sitting there like, Man, I
lost twelve games. I ain't lost twelve games, and since
playing football so I was eight. He talked about the
community don't want a winner. They got bags on their
(34:47):
heads right here. Man, that was my attitude first team meeting.
I loved him tell the story because he tells how
I was sitting there East House.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
I was looking at him crazy. I look at Sap,
Sath look at me.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
I'm gonna go talk to him. I said, I'm gonna
go talk to him. When I did, walked in his office.
Out we went to first practice, walked in his office. Hey, coach,
all due respect, Man, I lost twelve games. This community
want to winner. You never talked about winning the community. Okay,
but what about he said, Dear, God's expecting this conversation
(35:24):
about how usually acting. Let me explain to you. We're
talking about the game of life. That's what God has
in store for us. We're serving people. We're just using football.
The game of life doesn't keep scoring. Because God doesn't
keep scoring. We'll never lose a game. It would play
(35:46):
the game of life. We're gonna prepare all the football things.
We're gonna be accountable. Those things will take care of themselves,
but we have to start here how we're gonna serve.
And the light went off. I got a coach so
he would be there, and probably the fourth had been
(36:10):
my wife, Carol.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
A man.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
This lady has known me since we were nine years old,
uh Spencer Bibs where I met her being a class clown.
She she'll tell us she couldn't stand me when we
were younger. The most she's like I was the most
irresponsible disresplantion. She hated me because I made life visible
for everybody. But she's known me my entire life. And
(36:39):
to say that, you know, for her to be solid,
you know, man, I sixth sixth grade, I looked at it.
That's my wife. I'm gonna make sure that. But she
made me work for it too. Man, you know, back
in my day to write the little letter, Hey you
go when you go out with me? Still and didn't
get no answer to what got high schools? Like, yeah,
(37:00):
you can take my books a class. Then I show
up around the corner. Man, three friends, I gotta take
all their books of class. Yes, hey take it to
the movie. Sure, I show up to the movie. I'm saying,
three friends there, like all right, y'all ain't getting on
the drinks. She gets a popcorn. Y'all get in the movie.
(37:20):
They win and watch the movie. I ain't have nothing
to get my own ticket.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Outside.
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Yeah, so but it all seems just she would be
she would be there for.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Like that I do.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Man well, Derek Man, thanks man, and I love the
story you shared.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
With Coach Dungee as well.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
It's almost the same things I try to talk to
my kids in mine, especially my son about is that.
You know Coach Dungee more words than I. It's just
saying it's like, if you do the right thing for
the right reasons, not when you want to or when
it feels right. But all the time, usually good things
will follow that. That's what he's just trying to say.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
This is the baseline of where we're at.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
When nobody else is watching, We're just gonna be doing
the right thing and then God in time's gonna take
care of everything else for you. And so you are
a walking testament to that. So I appreciate it, man,
Thanks for pouring pouring out to us. Man, it's been
great finally getting to meet you. And well i've seen
you meet you, yes, yeah, in this chapter in your life.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Man, you're wearing it well.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Brother, Well, thank you, Thank you number forty one. You
keep doing your thing.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Man Aside, You guys are truly a testament to preparing
to life out the football and being proud of that transition.
And I really really hope that we continue to have
platforms to share with the men that's playing this game.
Now that's don't understand all the ramifications of what owning
(38:51):
content being in the media. How do you leverage this
to when no one cares about what you're doing every
single day. They care about what you're doing, what you get,
and you guys could can't and will continue to show
them about how you guys carry your sales man in
front of these cameras. And again, as someone's watching watching
(39:14):
it all, I appreciate that, and again, continue, please continue
to maximize your platform because probably more of these young
players are watching us than we realize. And they tell
us that when I'm having these conversations with them, and
I just thank God for the platform of a pills
officer position get a chance to dig into those conversations
(39:38):
with them because they know, as one of them players say, man,
I got more resources being on a practice squad than
I ever thought I would, you know, And he just
got fined his first game. He's like, I don't even
know what to do with it, but I wouldn't not
have had a chance to talk to that young man.
Have you went and talked to the financial service your
(39:59):
sponsorship of your team and there financial services partner, They
will be gladly have an opportunity to talk to you,
you know, build those relationships side side the locker room.
And saw it again. I want to protect this his name.
Saw this young man two days ago.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Thank me.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
He has a trust, set up, insurance policies, a budget.
All these conversations happened from a young man getting fined.
Now he feels he's got his foot and he's a
major contributor for his team. Now, dope.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
I like that boy.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
He we thank you for coming on the part. I
feel like we should take a collection. I feel like
I feel like I was in church.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
A collection for this guy is awesome.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yeah, and all of that, But mister Derek, you also
one of the few brothers that you know got the
great waves, do you know just.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
About Like yes, sir, That's why I mcfally man I
hit to make fall all the time. Man say man,
we do great wave brothers, like.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
The Wave Brothers, great wave brother That's awesome, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
We appreciate you coming out.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Oh man.
To be the first one to win this award. I
will carry your family's name with more honored now that
I'm retired, more than I did when I played s
I owe that to your family that when they's Walter
Payman or the year my name is mentioned, it's with
(00:21):
the highest level of service possible.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
What's up, everybody, I'm Peanut Tohiman and this is the
NFL Player Second X podcast and with him as always
Montrosity co host Roman Harvard.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Why you look so serious?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm not just why you look so well, because you
just yelled at me before we started. So I'm really
excited about this interview. This guy's a legendary player. We
all grew up watching him, yes, from his college days
at Florida State to his NFL career with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers, and you can't wait to sit down and
talk to him about also what he's doing now in
his second acting.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I know it's gonna bee a great one.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Fourteen year NFL VET Walter Peyton, Man of the Year,
NFL Hall of Famer, NFL all time top one hundred player.
So that means he's got you got two coats.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
He got, he got the maroon jacket.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Ain't he got the gold jacket? Oh, there's the maroon jacket.
When you go that one when you bruh, I didn't
know that.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yes, I learned.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's like wine. It's it's a pretty dope color too.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
They say that age is better with time.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, yes, and he's currently the guy. When you get
fine and you don't agree with the fine, you gotta
pill it to this man. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Derek
Brooks to the show.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Yes, thank you, thank you, thank you, my pleasure. It's
my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, Derek Man, get right into that one. Yeah, I
will get jumped right into it. I always talk about
how I never thought that I would be in the
media space, right. The media was always that looked upon
as the enemy. Yes, yeah, I mean I don't know
what the angle they're coming at. And I wonder if
you think the same thing, because you're on the opposite
side of you are now the person that says this
(02:08):
is determinedifying this.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
That and the other.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
We call you the appeal, knowing that you used to
be the one that was trying to call the appill
and all the other Senate So how did you get
into this job. Talk to us kind of like what
exactly do you.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Do or share with well, thank you?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
So, uh, I'm the lead what we would say, the
lead appeals officer for the NFL, And this position is
the only job that was created by the collective bargaining agreement.
So the I like to say, there's no door closed
to this position. No matter if your NFL, nfl PA,
(02:43):
our governing documents, this is the only.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Position that's reference.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
So from that standpoint, I'm truly neutral when it comes
to the governing of the game in terms of the rules.
And I always take a moment to explain to our
fellow players. I tell them, guys, I played longer than
I have been a pills officer, so I do not
find this position. Do not find players I know all
(03:11):
the time because they say, y'all, y'all find I say,
I say, let's define why a L L that does
not contain D R R I C K. So I
just and again when I explain to the men the
position and how I take it serious that this position
(03:33):
is you to talk to me in as colleagues, let's
talk about what the NFL said happened, and either I'm
agree with the NFL. I'm gonna disagree or I'm gonna agree.
But you know what, it wasn't at the economic level
that the NFL says it was, and we call that
(03:53):
it reduced. And what I try to do in that
process is keep the integrity and dignity that these men know.
My colleagues, your voice is not of being heard, but
they're being listened to. Everything you say, and your agent
and the players Association attorneys is going to get considered.
Some things are pretty obvious. Then you know, you go,
(04:15):
God grabs a face, mass he makes a tackle. I
tell you, guy, it ain't about the obvious place. What
I am listening to just to talk to you about
the position you play and how you ended up in
that position. Now, how can you be a better player?
So I treated with that dignity and I always make
myself available, and I think this has really been key.
(04:36):
You know, in the twelve years I've been doing this,
I don't run from decisions. And I tell players, once
you get my decision, if you disagree with it or
want to discuss it, heres how you get a hold
of me. I give him my emails because I want
it on the record, and I give them my phone number,
and I say, I will only talk to you as
(04:57):
my peer. I won't talk to your agent. I want
talk to your representative. I'll talk to you because your
money is being taken. And every year during this time
around the Super Bowl, that is the one compliment. Even
when players disagree, they always come back say, you know what,
I disagree rich and misrs brush, but I really appreciate
(05:17):
how you treated me and I appreciate the conversation you
had with me. And that's all I try to do
in this position and services real serve the men, serve
the game, or do it with the highest level of integrity.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I got a question, does it anybody actually reached back out?
Because yes, I know that's been to me. And I
was just like like once it was over, I was
either mad and just like walked away still mad, or
you know, I'm like.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Okay, I appreciate that they did send that a little bit.
They knocked that down.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Yeah, but they do. And here's I tell all the
player appeal everything. Yeah, don't just willingly you didn't willingly
be in that position on the football fields, or don't
willing need to give into the price You've earned that right,
use it and going through it. When they reach back out,
(06:08):
it gives me a chance to have other conversations. And
that's really the secret that I've really trying to get
to with the players and guys do when they reach
back out, they say, we'll talk about the play. I'll
give them my opinion, and then I ask some other things.
How is your locker room, how are you doing, how's
(06:28):
your health? Where you're at this stage of your career.
A young player that I may see or know things. Hey,
you know what you're playing the game a little. They
could have done this, but they didn't. But let me
warn you about this. The scheme you're playing, especially with linebackers,
I love talking to them. And why you're lining the
seven yards deep?
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Man?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
You know it's an obvious run r PO tendencies. What
do you studying? I say, his on defense, reading the quarterback,
breaking on the football. What why you're backpelling five steps
when you can hop three and break later on? I
never thought that, Yeah, how about try that when you
get a pick? Der Brooks chaities will appreciate that. So
(07:11):
it gives me in a fun way. It gives me
that other connection, you know, to the players, and a
lot of them when they do, then what tends to happen.
Guys reach out to me that don't get fine because
they teammate has my information, so they end up reaching
back out to me.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
And that's how I stay connected with the players.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Our show was my I think when I used to
get fine, Our show was my guy.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Yes, Art schell Art was And I said, just like,
obviously you're a peanut punch. When players was getting fined
for that, they the rules says, obviously they throwing a punch.
But now that's a part of the turnover technique. And
(07:59):
I asked he was writing in that by four or
five years ago to the competition committee and trying his staff. Hey,
we need to look at this act very y different.
This is not the act of throwing a punch violence.
This is a turnover technique that we need to really
look at from the rules standpoint, look at and consider
in governing the rules. So I get a chance through
(08:22):
the position to make those recommendations. I tell the PA,
here's what I think you guys should be fighting for
when it comes to the players. Now, whether they do
it or not, again, their choice, whether the competition committee
listens to me, their choice, But they see the decisions
that are being made, you know, by myself and prior
to James Thrash. We write these recommendations and now, like
(08:46):
I say, just that turnover technique itself, it's really helped
the players now and then obviously we get players that
abuse it on the other side. Oh mi, bro, I'm
just trying to do the bean that punch man. You
swinging at the dude, Joe the ball there's nowhere near
where you were going. But again that's again that's some
of the things that goes on up under the hood
(09:06):
with the position.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Now, since you've had this position, have you seen, uh
the fins go down?
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, it has, and it goes in trends. So for instance,
you know, you look at concussion data, concussion data has
gone down, which is very good for everybody because now
players are being more conscious in how they're tackling. The
defensive player side of me, see the mistackles three times
as much has defended without looking at defensive stats. So
(09:38):
you know, and again it's just certain areas of hip
drop tackle. What's the big thing last off season this season,
you just see a lot of that in terms of
the technique and when it was happening. We had a
chance to discuss how it was happening, you know, with
a player momentum, with a player open field, in these positions,
positions angles, if you're coming up from behind versus coming
(10:02):
from the side. So when they do those things and
those rules go in, this process gives you a chance
to go. Because there was a lot where John running
his staff, they find guys loud of these was rescinded,
you know, by myself, and we had three new guys
this year, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawai, and Jordy Nelson. They
all came on this year because there was a lot
(10:25):
to handle for two people. But as I was bringing
these guys in the process, they had a chance to
have a great appreciation too. I mean, it's ain't gonna
say silly, but when you think about things like celebrations
and obviously Roman you in this space with college football,
you see these guys.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It's out of control and Colge thank you. That's where
it starts, exactly. You guys are trying to break the
tendency now in the league.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Exactly, So how do you how do.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
You tell a rookie coming in, hey, you're not gonna
be a This is for the cost you money, these
type of celebrations. So I try to tell guys, you
see that Cameron in zone. They want celebrate, They want
this content, but they want it as a unit. So
now when you start to see defensive players, everybody run
(11:14):
to the opposite zone. Those are guys that was listening
to this process. Celebrate all you want, but let's do
it with three or four other people. Let's do it
on your sideline. If you get a turnover on your
opponent's sideline, man, run them twenty yards to the middle
of the field. Find your guys and go to the
end zone instead of turn around looking at their sideline.
(11:35):
They know you made a play. You ain't gotta show them.
You ain't got to You ain't got to brag about
it because you want to come at you again so
you can make another play.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
So go find your teammates.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So again, just that when I'm talking about celebrations and
how do we govern that when the NFL content side,
when they go post these celebrations for views, guys getting fined.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
It's a mixed message.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
It is.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Yeah, this process allowed those two to connect.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Ops.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
You got to connect with the content team. You can't
find guys if the content team is posting these things
as hey, look at the beautiful NFL and celebrate. Let's
get views, but it costs you twelve thousand dollars. So
this process allowed for more efficiency on their side. Even
to the teams. Teams better be careful about posting this
(12:29):
content because I'm a player. The team posts something I
did and I got fine, I'm going to see the gym.
Hey man, somebody need to pay that. Ain't at y'all
to post that. So it's better communication even amongst teams
and content when it gets to the operation of the game.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
That's a great point as far as we talk about
the money the content, Like, I really hadn't thought about that.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
I see it a lot in college.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Though it starts down everybody's doing this celebration, they start
flashing like that.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
That was the new one. That was just bananas this year.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
But I want to talk about some of the numbers,
the actual numbers. I looked at some of this. So
football in the stands now, is this being kicked thrown?
It's a difference right versus handed out? Yes, right, if
you throw it fine, right if you kick it fine,
if you hand it we're all good, correct, Yes, all right?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
What about a toss?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
That's exactly what I said.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I can't I can't really get it to my mama,
but I want mama just for you.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
But it's a general toss now.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
And again that's where in these processes, like with our
process and when I do I handle on field playing stuff.
So when it comes to throwing the balls in the stands,
that's another area with John Wrightan and that who But
to your point, sometimes common sense intent, yes.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
So I just want to know how do they come
up with the numbers. So the first offense is seven thousand,
eight hundred and seventy eight dollars, get to change, yes,
the next one, the second offense is thirteen thousand, five
hundred and six dollars.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
The one that's even crazier.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
To me is a physical contact with the referee, which, yes,
sometimes happens, should never happen, but you know, it's an
emotional game played by emotional people, so we.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Know things happen.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
First offense thirty nine thousand, five hundred and.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
One dollar one.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah, really, and then the second offense seventy nine thousand,
zero and four dollars seventy nine thousand and four dollars.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
How do you come up with those numbers.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
And you're forgetting you forgetting the other one, they can
suspend you.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Right after.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Yes, nothing, Oh I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Yes, so anything the way that the rules are ridden
and I use they can go from zero to one
thousand off the egregiousness of the act. So somebody runs
and you know, say, for two hands shoves of ref
you ain't gonna see those numbers. You're gonna see him out.
So they have that jurisdiction. And those numbers are actually
(15:11):
collectively bargaining negotiating.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Okay, I thought someone just came up one of the.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Number.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
They use these different formulas in negotiation with our players union,
and those numbers are a direct reflection of what's in
the CBA. Okay, the CBA defined schedule of the CBA.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
All right, So how does that so Rom and I
playing different teams? I hit him, push him, whatever he
goes down, I get a flag. I get my personal foul.
I know I'm probably get fined or something like that.
I'm gonnat a FedEx letter explain how the appeals process works.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
So in that case, that act is going to be
looked at by NFL op staff and I'll just headed
by John Ryan reports up Detroit Vincent. So they'll look
at the egregiousness of what happened. What the referee report says, wegreiousness.
I beat them up real good, you beat them up.
(16:16):
Now they'll look at what you did to instigate it,
in what level that caused. Second, they'll look at the
response that he had in responding to that I knocked
him out. The third thing, they'll look at who came
off the sideline, who chose to participate in said confrontation.
Because it also says in our rules you as a
(16:38):
player shouldn't run to the pile. Let the RELs do
their job. So you come to that power you're getting
yes years, yes, so, but this process, so you guys
go through. You get the FedEx letter. Now you have
ten days to appeal, so usually your agent automatically appeals
it for you. Within that ten days, you get on
(17:00):
a schedule of when you have free time, and we
have slots that the agents or the player. When you
log in, it will show you slots of time based
on your schedule to have the hearing. So every hearing
it is thirty minutes max or some even go a
little longer because I let players voice their opinion. So
(17:22):
then we'll get a day and we'll get a time,
so that day in time, you'll have all your representatives
and you able to have anybody on the phone represents
you you want, but typically it's a lawyer from the
union player and represents agents and who they want. So
we'll go through mark hearing. So I'll get on the phone.
(17:45):
I'll say p NAT tillman. Appreciate you exercising your right
to go through the ap pills process. I'm Derrick Brooks,
You're a pills officers. Please not everybody on this phone
represents you. Will have an opportunity to get me testimony
regarding as the legs. Fine, and know that the NFL
(18:05):
is representative from the NFL office is listening in, but
he or she will not speak. But you have the
right to know who's listening to this appeals. Please give
me everything you want me to consider, and I go
back and watch this play.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
You will speak.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
First, your agent will speak second, the unit speak third,
and then I come back to you to give me
any final testimony.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Out to hearing.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Everybody speak, because I want your word to be the
first in the last that I hear. I read the letter.
Now I'm going to read the letter. I read the letter.
Then I start you first, get it right down here
what they say. I come back to you say, hell,
are you satisfied with the representation you had today?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
You'll say yes.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
I say, Now, finally, once you get my decision, you
have any comments, questions, concerns, please reach back out to
me directly and let's have that Conversation's colleagues emailed me.
So I went on the record, Dick dot Brooks at
NFL dot com. Here's my phone number.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
You can call me.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
I will only talk to you. I will not talk
to any one of these other representatives on the phone.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Here's over.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Do you are like a black robe when you have
these conversations?
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Then you get guys on that we and we doing
the hearing we have like you, hey man, roomman?
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Did this?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
I said, Now you think you actually think he was
gonna have advantage on you?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
That called you this?
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Something happened early in the game that made you feel
So I'll you my colleague. So it's I want to
hear from you for a reason. You'd have the first
and last word for a reason, so I attempt as
best I can. Yeah, they encourage guys to talk to me.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
My my favorite one is h number one. You didn't
rescind the one when I hit a quarterbro at one time.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Oh, you already knew.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
What it was.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
He ducked bro.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
He did, He ducked and like, I'm got my target
and then he changes his level.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
He dug he didn't have he didn't have no adjustment time.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
No, I didn't. It's fine. I hate that. I can
tell you.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Still bothered by that a little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
He's like, he ducked, he chucked and ducked and then
I hit him. Fine. Whatever. My favorite one though is
Merton Hanks.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I had no no white showing in my socks uniform violation.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Yeah, I'm glad shout out to Hanks. He took care
of me because I was like, I had no white showing.
I was like, why am I even mind? He was like, dude,
you got to like just try and get reduced like whatever.
I'm like, there's nothing to reduce. I had no white
like nothing, but he was like, yeah, what's up. I
was like, why did I not have any white? I
(20:54):
was like, dude, this Monday night football. He's like, I
get it.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
You gotta on Monday night. I'm gonna take care. I
give you like, you know what.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
I appreciate that, just for just hearing me out, working
with me what you're saying, and just be like, you
know what, just be making the call.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
We're gonna take a short break and we'll be back
in a minute. I got a question for you. You
mentioned this earlier. You talked about tackling. The skill level,
the technique in tackling has not been as good as
where you would see it or like it. What would
(21:37):
you rate your what would you rate yourself as a
tackling your technique, your ability to do it, and then
what would give young people kind of advice to try
to clean it up?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
That was my That was really one of my assets, yo.
Role just I wasn't a hitter. I wasn't no big thumper.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
No, you weren't even like that big one linebacker, one
of the first smaller will linebackers. And that cover two
really kind of made it more.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yes, everybody that so I was on, Yes, it was
on the cuzzle, changing the game. Then I was coming
along and coming in. Yes, you know, it wasn't the
size of Lawrence Taylor's, you know, Wilbert Marshall's. You and
your say, it was more the offenses opening up. You know,
back mid to late nineties, the ball was coming out,
(22:23):
offenses were scoring. You saw a lot of flex. You
didn't see the big running backs. You saw the Marshall
folks of the world coming in and Edrin James doing
Fred Taylor. So you saw a difference with that, and
more teams were going to it. So for me, it
was a by playing in space. I wasn't a hitter.
I was a tackler. I was a grabber, get you
(22:47):
to the ground. A lot of my tackles were not
against bigger players, against receivers, backs, you know, tiny obviously
guys is having the ball. But it wasn't at the
line of scrimmage. It usually was in space. And then
when I'm actually having to tackle in the hole. For us,
it was by game tackle. We had that philosophy. No
(23:07):
one except a corner out on the island, and even then,
no one should make a tackle alone. That was Manti
Kiffen Lovey herb all day and grained at in US
and practice. If two guys wasn't getting touched. We was
running to play again, like no one should make a
tackle alone. It was just we were brainwashed to that's
(23:31):
what we believe. So when I graved myself to the
highest degree, because that's that's what I made. Very few
times you catch me having big hits today, they don't
get a chance to practice that as much as we did,
and it's killing us. Everything is being governed and again
(23:52):
rightfully sold to get a healthier game. Right to guys
in our position now could live a full, you know,
life to the best of his capabilities, not having all
these car wrecks. I understand it, but that don't mean
I have to accept it just because you can't practice
as a team. There's nothing wrong with you doing something individually. Linebackers,
(24:16):
there's nothing wrong with you getting a teammate and you
guys walking through tackling and open field. You don't need
a coach governing that. You just need two willing bodies
that want to get better. That's what I tell them.
There's no excuses, no explanations. Yes, the fire system and
the physicality has governed the game, but nothing has governed
(24:39):
the fact that there's going to be collisions in some
of these open fields that you're literally not grabbing the guy.
You're trying to knock him down with your shoulder instead
of grabbing it wrapping him up. That is the safest
thing to do. And nowadays runners especially, they're making investment decisions.
(25:03):
Once you grab them, they going They they going down.
But guess what, you gotta grab them. You can't not
try to knock them down with the shoulder. Well, assume
they feel your home, you feel your paws. Man, they're
going down. To the going down, man, get to the
next play. I got my fifteen, got my twelve.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Yeah, they going down.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
And like back when we play bigger receiver, like we
need that extra two or three.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
They're not doing that anymore.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
So get back to the art of grabbing, getting very
intimate and bringing them to the.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Ground body on the body. Yes.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Do you think it's because the lack of guys are
I just see guys just diving that legs and stuff,
and they got their eyes closed. They're not really looking
at what they're seeing in the hit. And it's also
what you're saying, they're just trying to show their tackle.
There's a lot more and I don't know why that's happening,
and it's got to start earlier. Though you guys, I
(25:56):
didn't tell anybody NFL we really don't teach. We ain't
got time to teach you how to tackle. You've got
to be that when you show up here or you
ain't gonna stay. It's a college thing, though, I think
that's a college thing.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I had a conversation with high schools.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yes, and and yes, we're trying to infiltrate from the
top down every areas of our game or growth down
to high school, whether it's officiating, where it's coaching, whether
it's rules.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
I commend you know, the NFL, even their investment in flag,
because why are you're teaching grabbing? I could work with
that when now, because that grabbing a flag is going
to work, and grabbing a jersey, grabbing a pant leg
is grabbing something you're not used to the art of tackling.
Even in flag, you're doing it. So I commend them
(26:43):
in doing it. But we just got to continue to
educate that us former players that are getting involved in
coaching in the youth leagues, we know better equipped us
with these techniques, these rules to help because these kids
are going to listen to us because they're trying to
get where we were. So our word is going to
(27:04):
carry more whether we like it. Whether we like it
or not, it is what it is, so let's embrace that.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
So, so I see that, uh that that pain you
got on your left lapel. That's that's kind of that's
kind of that's kind of cool. You got one of
those kind of those pens. You do not, mister Brooks,
can you can you explain to one.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Mister Harper what that what that pen is?
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Sir?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
It is? But no, please please do.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
I'm just I figured, you know, you would be able
to it's it.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Looks good on you, sir. Can you please explain what
that that?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
This is the Walter Payne Man of the Year lapel
and I was blessed enough to uh be awarded this
the first year that they renamed after mister Peyton in
two thousand. So I didn't know at the time. I'm
(28:00):
you know, twenty five years later the impact of hey,
the NFL Man of the Year to the Walter Payton
NFL Man of the Year. But those two words in
front of that would me I didn't grasp it in
the year two thousand because I was so busy with
my foundation and youth work and Tampa, educating these kids
(28:23):
and getting them out of the projects. Just wondered, Hey,
I'm diving into youth education. Okay, this is a recognition
that's going to help me do more. Let's okay, so
be it. But as I mature over the years, I
started to understand what he meant to this game in
(28:43):
terms of service beyond the game. I grasped it. Unfortunately,
probably two thousand and nine after I retired, and it's
like people started, hey, we really appreciate what you do
it off the field more you did on the field.
Those were things I was hearing around this country in
(29:07):
terms of Derreck Brooks. And that's where I actually called
talked to Jared Peyton and I say, you know what, Jared,
to be the first one to win this award, and
obviously you know what mister Payne means in Chicago, I
will carry your family's name with more honored now that
(29:30):
I'm retired, more than I did when I played. I said,
I owe that to your family that when they's Walter
Payman or the year my name is mentioned, it's with
the highest level of service possible when I told him that,
and that's what that's what it means to me.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Yeah, I didn't.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I didn't even know you wanted the first year that
they had renamed it or put his name in front
of that.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yes, we're going to take a short break and we'll
be right back. So you got I'm as we say
of the young kids, say, I'm gona give you a flower.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
So you.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Fourteen amazing years, Pro Bowls, all Pro NFL Hall of Fame,
Top one hundred players, Man of the Year, all the
foundational charitable stuff that you do off the field, you
also built. You built the high school.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Show.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Yes, like you've done amazing you one hundred percent graduation rates,
one hundred percent graduation rate and throw that in there.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Derek.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Let you.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
If you had to have a personal Mount Rushmore of
four people that have helped you become you today. Oh man,
who would those four people be?
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Wow? Uh?
Speaker 3 (30:56):
On the field?
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Off the field man, you Well, I'm just obviously I'm
gonna say this name, and not as a Mount Rushmore,
but just my foundational you know, being obviously my faith,
in my service, my relationship with God. That's obviously nothing
to compare to that. I think of my family, it'll
(31:22):
be a combination of my stepdad and my mom. You
know one thing my stepdad did that changed my life
was he whooped me in front of my fifth grade
class Spencer Bibs Elementary, second floor, Room two or five.
Miss Katie Lett was a teacher nineteen eighty five, farewear
to ninth. Remember the day the guy that tripped me
(31:47):
when I was running He had on brown socks. Yes,
I'm still looking for that dude, but I was being
a class clown. He came up to the school, he
whooped me right in front of my class and say,
sure you how to get last for a lifetime, but
you won't get paid, and he did it. Got home
that night, told me, you're taking a gift that God
(32:10):
gave you in terms of being academically blessed, and you're
abusing it by making fun of others. Why don't you
be an asset son help kids that's not as smart
as you instead of being a distraction, Why don't you
help them? He never disciplined me again. Definitely had to
put him and my mom then forcing my mom would
(32:32):
have told me that, oh I'd have bleed her. One
thousand percent.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Not my dad. He's always working.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
He ain't got My mom said it, Hey straighten up
you for real, So you know, just had to put
I was my parents. The next person I would say
is two coaches had to be Coach Bowden and Coach
Dungee as my two and three just from the standpoint
(32:57):
of faith, family football and to see the way that
Coach Bowen did it all different diversities of backgrounds. He
was solid man every Friday night building into us as men.
He gave his own chapel with every one of his
teams every Friday night, and it was so unique because
(33:20):
he would take a game playing point and have a
biblical story behind it, going to us that Saturday to
win every Friday night, and it was just him and
the team, no coaches, no trainers. He's like he said,
just me, me and my men. It's my time with them,
(33:41):
nobody else. And Coach Dungee when he got to Tampa,
really gave me a direction for where I need to
channel on my gifts of God when he said, we
will be a team that never loses a game because
we'll be a team that's playing the game of life.
(34:03):
And he would be a coach that coached a team
that this community would be proud of by how we
serve it, not by how many games we win on
the football field. Those things will take care of themselves.
And when coach gave that speech in front of the team, man,
I's like, who is this dude, Man, we just lost
(34:24):
twelve games last year. He come here talking about the community.
They wanted us to win on man, don't want to
Nobody had him as a head coach. This was me
in nineteen ninety six. I'm sitting there like, Man, I
lost twelve games. I ain't lost twelve games, and since
playing football so I was eight. He talked about the
community don't want a winner. They got bags on their
(34:47):
heads right here. Man, that was my attitude first team meeting.
I loved him tell the story because he tells how
I was sitting there East House.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
I was looking at him crazy. I look at Sap,
Sath look at me.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
I'm gonna go talk to him. I said, I'm gonna
go talk to him. When I did, walked in his office.
Out we went to first practice, walked in his office. Hey, coach,
all due respect, Man, I lost twelve games. This community
want to winner. You never talked about winning the community. Okay,
but what about he said, Dear, God's expecting this conversation
(35:24):
about how usually acting. Let me explain to you. We're
talking about the game of life. That's what God has
in store for us. We're serving people. We're just using football.
The game of life doesn't keep scoring. Because God doesn't
keep scoring. We'll never lose a game. It would play
(35:46):
the game of life. We're gonna prepare all the football things.
We're gonna be accountable. Those things will take care of themselves,
but we have to start here how we're gonna serve.
And the light went off. I got a coach so
he would be there, and probably the fourth had been
(36:10):
my wife, Carol.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
A man.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
This lady has known me since we were nine years old,
uh Spencer Bibs where I met her being a class clown.
She she'll tell us she couldn't stand me when we
were younger. The most she's like I was the most
irresponsible disresplantion. She hated me because I made life visible
for everybody. But she's known me my entire life. And
(36:39):
to say that, you know, for her to be solid,
you know, man, I sixth sixth grade, I looked at it.
That's my wife. I'm gonna make sure that. But she
made me work for it too. Man, you know, back
in my day to write the little letter, Hey you
go when you go out with me? Still and didn't
get no answer to what got high schools? Like, yeah,
(37:00):
you can take my books a class. Then I show
up around the corner. Man, three friends, I gotta take
all their books of class. Yes, hey take it to
the movie. Sure, I show up to the movie. I'm saying,
three friends there, like all right, y'all ain't getting on
the drinks. She gets a popcorn. Y'all get in the movie.
(37:20):
They win and watch the movie. I ain't have nothing
to get my own ticket.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Outside.
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Yeah, so but it all seems just she would be
she would be there for.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Like that I do.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Man well, Derek Man, thanks man, and I love the
story you shared.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
With Coach Dungee as well.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
It's almost the same things I try to talk to
my kids in mine, especially my son about is that.
You know Coach Dungee more words than I. It's just
saying it's like, if you do the right thing for
the right reasons, not when you want to or when
it feels right. But all the time, usually good things
will follow that. That's what he's just trying to say.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
This is the baseline of where we're at.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
When nobody else is watching, We're just gonna be doing
the right thing and then God in time's gonna take
care of everything else for you. And so you are
a walking testament to that. So I appreciate it, man,
Thanks for pouring pouring out to us. Man, it's been
great finally getting to meet you. And well i've seen
you meet you, yes, yeah, in this chapter in your life.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Man, you're wearing it well.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Brother, Well, thank you, Thank you number forty one. You
keep doing your thing.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
Man Aside, You guys are truly a testament to preparing
to life out the football and being proud of that transition.
And I really really hope that we continue to have
platforms to share with the men that's playing this game.
Now that's don't understand all the ramifications of what owning
(38:51):
content being in the media. How do you leverage this
to when no one cares about what you're doing every
single day. They care about what you're doing, what you get,
and you guys could can't and will continue to show
them about how you guys carry your sales man in
front of these cameras. And again, as someone's watching watching
(39:14):
it all, I appreciate that, and again, continue, please continue
to maximize your platform because probably more of these young
players are watching us than we realize. And they tell
us that when I'm having these conversations with them, and
I just thank God for the platform of a pills
officer position get a chance to dig into those conversations
(39:38):
with them because they know, as one of them players say, man,
I got more resources being on a practice squad than
I ever thought I would, you know, And he just
got fined his first game. He's like, I don't even
know what to do with it, but I wouldn't not
have had a chance to talk to that young man.
Have you went and talked to the financial service your
(39:59):
sponsorship of your team and there financial services partner, They
will be gladly have an opportunity to talk to you,
you know, build those relationships side side the locker room.
And saw it again. I want to protect this his name.
Saw this young man two days ago.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Thank me.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
He has a trust, set up, insurance policies, a budget.
All these conversations happened from a young man getting fined.
Now he feels he's got his foot and he's a
major contributor for his team. Now, dope.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
I like that boy.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
He we thank you for coming on the part. I
feel like we should take a collection. I feel like
I feel like I was in church.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
A collection for this guy is awesome.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yeah, and all of that, But mister Derek, you also
one of the few brothers that you know got the
great waves, do you know just.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
About Like yes, sir, That's why I mcfally man I
hit to make fall all the time. Man say man,
we do great wave brothers, like.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
The Wave Brothers, great wave brother That's awesome, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
We appreciate you coming out.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
Oh man.
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Charles “Peanut” Tillman
Roman Harper
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Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.