Bucs Rebuilding Linebacking Core

Last month the Buccaneers in a shocking move released 14-year veteran WLB Derrick Brooks and his SLB mate Cato June in a youth movement intended many local fans refer to as "Black Wednesday".

The Buccaneers have started the rebuilding process of their linebacking core with a pair of moves today. The first was to sign Buffalo Bills free agent LB Angelo Crowell to replace June as the SLB, the second was to inform recently re-signed SS Jermaine Phillips that the team would like him to replace Brooks as the WLB in new defensive co-ordinator Jim Bates' defense.

Terms of their contracts were not disclosed.

"I'd never played linebacker before, and I told them I'll never know how effective I'm going to be at the position or how fun it will be for me unless I try it" Phillips told buccaneers.com.

Phillips is now faced with the nearly impossible task of replacing a 11-time Pro Bowler in Brooks, luckily Phillips has experience replacing a local legend on the football field. Earlier in his career he was charged with the task of replacing John Lynch after his release.

"When they asked me, I was like first Lynch, now Brooks. Who's going to be next?" Phillips said "But I look at it like this: nobody can ever replaced a John Lynch, nobody can ever replace a Derrick Brooks. What they've done for the game of football is unmatched. All I can do is go out there and play the(Will) linebacker position the best way I can. Hopefully, everybody will learn to love me the way they loved them.''

Crowell, 27, was a third round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2003. He is coming off a season-ending knee surgery that sidelined him in 2008. He will compete for a starting job at strong-side linebacker, where third-year player Quincy Black currently sits atop the depth chart.

In 2007 he recorded a career year, leading Buffalo with 140 tackles and two sacks. He was only linebacker in the NFL that season to record a safety, sack, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. At 6-1 and 246 pounds, adds some bulk to the Bucs' linebacking corps, he will also add experience of which the Bucs are currently lacking after the aforemention "Black Wednesday" with 41 career starts.