[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18021]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DERRICK BROOKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2007

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States 
Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of one of my constituents, Derrick Brooks of the 
National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Derrick will be 
inducted to the City of Champions Wall of Fame exhibit at Pensacola 
Regional Airport. The Pensacola Sports Association will join Pensacola 
and Escambia County to honor the Pensacola native on Thursday evening 
at the Pensacola Civic Center.
  At Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Derrick excelled in 
both the classroom and on the field. By the end of his high school 
career he was named the USA Today High School Defensive Player of the 
Year, a Parade All-American, and was rated the best defensive player in 
the country by Super Prep magazine. Perhaps even more impressive for a 
football player of this stature, Derrick graduated with a 3.94 grade-
point average.
  Derrick was a 4-year letterman at Florida State University where he 
compiled 274 tackles, 5 interceptions, 8.5 sacks, 13 passes deflected, 
4 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. His senior honors included: 
First Team All-America by American Football Coaches, UPI and Walter 
Camp, GTE Academic All-America choice, First Team All-Atlantic Coast 
Conference, and Senior Bowl selection. Derrick was a finalist for the 
Vince Lombardi Award, symbolic of the Nation's top lineman/linebacker, 
for two straight years. As a junior, he was named First Team All-
America by Football Writers' Association and Walter Camp, and he was a 
consensus First Team All-ACC choice and that conference's defensive 
player of the year. Derrick also earned Sophomore All-America honors 
from Football News and was a First Team All-ACC choice that year as 
well.
  Derrick graduated from Florida State with a bachelor of arts degree 
in business communications and recently went back and earned his 
master's degree in the same subject.
  Derrick is now the unquestioned leader of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
and arguably the most respected player in the NFL. Long considered the 
NFL's best linebacker, he has been selected to a team-record nine total 
Pro Bowls. Derrick was honored as the NFL's Defensive Player of the 
Year in 2002 and the 2006 Pro Bowl's Most Valuable Player.
  Following the 2002 season, Derrick was the instrumental team captain 
that led the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl championship, and he 
is ranked as the franchise's most prolific tackler with 1,775 stops.
  Derrick has always given back to his community and he is considered 
one of the most philanthropic players in the NFL. In 2000 he was the 
co-recipient of the Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year Award, and in 
2004, was the winner of the prestigious 38th annual Byron ``Whizzer'' 
White Award for his dedication to serve his team, community, and 
country in the spirit of the late Supreme Court Justice. In March 2003 
Derrick established his own foundation--Derrick Brooks Charities, 
Inc.--which focuses charitable endeavors on children and has done 
considerable work with March of Dimes, D.A.R.E., and the Belmont 
Heights, Ybor City, and Brandon Boys and Girls Clubs.
  Derrick is constantly distinguishing himself with achievements that 
are unmatched by any other player in NFL history and the city of 
Pensacola is recognizing this great man by inducting him to the City of 
Champions Wall of Fame exhibit; an honor that is shared by only three 
other people: Don Sutton, Emmitt Smith, and Roy Jones Jr.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to 
recognize Derrick Brooks for his many outstanding accomplishments 
throughout his life, on and off the field, and wish him continued 
success throughout his career.

                          ____________________