Is It Time To Tuggle Brooking?

[FalconFanSince1970]

I think Brooking's drop off is becoming apparent even to his staunchest supporters. Is it time to Tuggle him? I mean Jesse was Falcon royalty. And just like Jam, Chandelier, Crump and Dunn we swung the axe with the quickness. Is it time for the grim reaper to take care of business? Yes or No?

[SaintsH8]

I think that it is time for him to leave. He misses tackles and is out of position in coverage. Great falcon but it is time for him to go.

[sdogg]

His best days are over. He was out of position on many plays and getting thrown around. Great guy and great Falcon, but we need to move on next season.

[SaintsH8]

His best days are over. He was out of position on many plays and getting thrown around. Great guy and great Falcon, but we need to move on next season.

Yeah this should be his last season.

[FalconWong88]

I think Brooking will take a pay cut. He can become a situational LB and/or special teams.

[Julian St.Clor]

Retire him a falcon...at the end of the year -_-

[FalconMama]

Brooking was horrible yesterday.

[Julian St.Clor]

Brooking was horrible yesterday.

Hes horrible more times then he is great these days

[logic]

I been trying to tell you dummies

Dude is trash. Point blank, period...

[falconjack7777]

i dont remember him ever doing alot myself...total tackles stats are misleading esp when most are downfield after first down tackles

[Julian St.Clor]

i dont remember him ever doing alot myself...total tackles stats are misleading esp when most are downfield after first down tackles

And you have just oppened the flame gate

[FalconFanForLife]

Funny how we only hear this after a loss.

Where were you on that bandwagon last week ?

[logic]

i dont remember him ever doing alot myself...total tackles stats are misleading esp when most are downfield after first down tackles

Yep.. I would have called him a has been but he actually never was...

[FalconFanSince1970]

OK in today's Sports section even the Falcon beatwriter said it's time for the Falcons to put Nicholas in the line up. Are his blind loyalists finally starting to accept the fact that he is through?

Bump for any who haven't voted yet.

[Tandy]

Not going to speak on Brooking - I believe our coaches will do what they feel is best for the team and I'll leave it to them, either way. I just want to comment on the OP's statement. We did not "swing the axe" on Jessie with quickness. His last 4 or 5 years, everybody was bitching about him just like they are about Keith now, and his production dropped dramatically over those last years and he was much, much slower. So, there was no "quickness" of the axe, so to speak.

[AutoMax]

I'm just trying to figure out why we ever have him lined up to cover another team's receiver. He's going to get beat and/or get called for pass interference. That's a poor defensive scheme IMO.

[clownorg]

Either way, I'd like to see More playing time for Nicholas

[War Damn Eagle]

People here underestimate the value of a veteran leader. I'm sure his play on the field is declining, but someone has to teach these young guys how to be pros. He and Milloy are all we have right now. I don't think Abraham wants that role, neither does Boley. I expect Brooking to sign possibly a 1-2 year contract for much less money and remain on the team as a mentor. He will NOT be the starter next year. I do think that Milloy will keep his starting job unless we draft a badass SS next year.

[FalconFanSince1970]

...I just want to comment on the OP's statement. We did not "swing the axe" on Jessie with quickness. His last 4 or 5 years, everybody was bitching about him just like they are about Keith now, and his production dropped dramatically over those last years and he was much, much slower. So, there was no "quickness" of the axe, so to speak.

By with the quickness I mean in the offseason like we did Crump, Dunn, DHall, Coleman, Kerney, Jam, Chandelier and Jesse. I bet the only reason we didn't is because we only had one other veteran LB on the squad. And he was a young vet that now seems to have been neutered by the new system.

Even in Jesse's decline he still made plays. His tackles dropped but his sacks went up. He also forced fumbles and scored on them. That's where Brooking is troubling. Not only are his tackles down but he is making no plays. No sacks, picks, PDs, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, blocked kicks, touchdowns, nothing. In years. Add to that the fact that he looks slow, outmatched and out hussled, then add in the $8M cap hit and it is downright disgusting.

That's a lot of money for leadership. Especially when you're supposed to lead by example. Milloy, Abraham, McClure, Roddy, Elam and Ryan are the leaders on this team. In the locker room and on the field. Lofton is showing Brooking how to play LB. Shameful.

We could have let him go and eaten some cap dollars and got a player or two on the field. Go back and watch the DEN game if you get a chance. Keith Brooking should have been doing what Winborn was doing to us. Watch the LBs on the rest of the teams we play. There's a big difference.

[Tandy]

By with the quickness I mean in the offseason like we did Crump, Dunn, DHall, Coleman, Kerney, Jam, Chandelier and Jesse. I bet the only reason we didn't is because we only had one other veteran LB on the squad. And he was a young vet that now seems to have been neutered by the new system.

Even in Jesse's decline he still made plays. His tackles dropped but his sacks went up. He also forced fumbles and scored on them. That's where Brooking is troubling. Not only are his tackles down but he is making no plays. No sacks, picks, PDs, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, blocked kicks, touchdowns, nothing. In years. Add to that the fact that he looks slow, outmatched and out hussled, then add in the $8M cap hit and it is downright disgusting. That's a lot of money for leadership. Especially when you're supposed to lead by example.

We could have let him go and eaten some cap dollars and got a player or two on the field. Go back and watch the DEN game if you get a chance. Keith Brooking should have been doing what Winborn was doing to us. Watch the LBs on the rest of the teams we play. There's a big difference.

Like I said, I won't comment on Keith. I have faith in our coaching staff and believe they will do the right thing for the team. If that means restructuring his contract or releasing him, then so be it. They will make the call. As far as Jessie - he was so beaten and belittled and everyone called for his head exactly the same. When he did make plays - it was excused exactly the same as Keith - he was playing off of someone else. It was disgraceful after what he was to us all those years. The same as all the Brooking bashing is. If you think your comments will sway the coaches - more power to you. I doubt it though - I think they'll do what they deem the proper path for our team - and I'll live with that either way.

PS - I didn't vote because my option would be - that's what the coaches are there for - they'll make the call.

[BlacksburgHokie]

I believe that he should stay in his current role until the end of this season - he's earned that much for all of his years of service. After that, we really need to make a decision on whether Nicholas is the answer, or if its a position we need to address in FA/the draft. I'd like Brooking to stay with the team in some capacity (maybe as a coach), but I have a hard time seeing him accepting a role as a backup...

[FalconFanSince1970]

Like I said, I won't comment on Keith. I have faith in our coaching staff and believe they will do the right thing for the team. If that means restructuring his contract or releasing him, then so be it. They will make the call. As far as Jessie - he was so beaten and belittled and everyone called for his head exactly the same. When he did make plays - it was excused exactly the same as Keith - he was playing off of someone else. It was disgraceful after what he was to us all those years. The same as all the Brooking bashing is. If you think your comments will sway the coaches - more power to you. I doubt it though - I think they'll do what they deem the proper path for our team - and I'll live with that either way.

I've been around here for awhile and I don't remember the outcry for Jesse's head being as loud as Brooking's. In fact there were many (clueless) people who were extremely upset with him getting cut. There are throngs of people that have never liked Brooking and always thought he was overated. Me not one of them. I was a staunch Brooking supporter until the last three seasons.

Same with Jesse. Supported him until his decline. They both had four year decline's but Brooking's is much steeper. He just totally disappeared his last two years. Jesse's was gradual. He looked slower but not this slow.

Look like I said I like Brooking. He is one of my top three all time favorite Falcon LBs with Jesse and Tommy. But in this day and age you have to manage a roster much more closely. In my opinion he should have been cut in the 2007 off season. The year we let Kerney go. It is not extraordinary for teams to close the door on legendary franchise players. See Favre.

[rhourk]

I am Brooking's biggest fan. He has a lot of knowledge and the heart and soul of a leader. Find his replacement, and bring him in next year to learn from Keith. It will get Keith a lot more plays to rest, and it doesn't let all that knowledge and ethic just walk out the door, which would be very stupid.

[Tandy]

I've been around here for awhile and I don't remember the outcry for Jesse's head being as loud as Brooking's. In fact there were many (clueless) people who were extremely upset with him getting cut. There are throngs of people that have never liked Brooking and always thought he was overated. Me not one of them. I was a staunch Brooking supporter until the last three seasons.

Same with Jesse. Supported him until his decline. They both had four year decline's but Brooking's is much steeper. He just totally disappeared his last two years. Jesse's was gradual. He looked slower but not this slow.

Look like I said I like Brooking. He is one of my top three all time favorite Falcon LBs with Jesse and Tommy. But in this day and age you have to manage a roster much more closely. In my opinion he should have been cut in the 2007 off season. The year we let Kerney go. It is not extraordinary for teams to close the door on legendary franchise players. See Favre.

You missed a lot then. Because the cries of him playing on someone else - the old man - the slow jokes abounded. I loved Tuggle - thought he played with more heart than anyone I've ever seen. I also knew that it was time for him to go. I also knew that the FO would make the decision to let him go when it was right for the team. Believe it or not, I really don't think that TD participates in these polls or even reads your threads. I doubt Mike Smith does either. Perhaps you should write them a letter, because they are more likely to get the message that way. I believe they will make the decision based on what they see as our team needs, his contribution to those needs or lack of contribution to those needs and make the move they need to based on that. Not on 500 threads on our message board. That's all I'm saying. I'm not arguing with you about his production rate - only the constant threads - what do you honestly think they accomplish? Seriously, I'm asking and it's not just you - there are so many new threads every day. OK, we get it - you think he needs to be replaced. Stop beating a dead horse.

[FalconFanSince1970]

I believe that he should stay in his current role until the end of this season - he's earned that much for all of his years of service....

Man now I'm really starting to wonder if yall wanna win.

In the voice of the greatest Falcon coach of all time (Dan Reeves), "we gone put the players on the field that give us the best chance to win".

If Reeves was here I guarantee you Brooking would either be gone or on the bench. He sat Dunn for Duckett, Chandelier for Vick, Jesse for Brooking. He cut Jesse, Jam and Chandelier!