Brooks, 4 others released by Bucs
Derrick Brooks, one of the top players in Tampa Bay history, was cut by the Bucca-neers Wednesday in a purge of the team’s older players.
Brooks, the NFL’s defensive player of the year when Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl after the 2002 season, was among five players cut, four of them older than Raheem Morris, 32, the team’s new head coach.
The others are wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, running back Warrick Dunn and linebacker Cato June. June, 29, is the only player under 30 and the only one younger than Morris.
The releases save more than $10 million in salary cap space for a team that already is close to $50 million under the projected cap of $123 million. General manager Mark Dominik said the object of the cuts was less to save money than to get the team younger.
Of the team’s core veterans, only cornerback Ronde Barber survived the purge. Barber, who turns 34 in April, worked closely with Morris, who spent time as the team’s defensive backs coach before rising to head coach.
Brooks, 36, was the most visible cut after a season in which he made his 11th Pro Bowl.
Roster grows: The Florida Firecats of the areanfootball2 league added 14 receivers and defensive backs to their training camp roster Wednesday, including former Naples High and 2008 Firecat Bruce Gordon.
“Gordon impressed us last season and really came along well as the season progressed,” Firecats coach Kevin Bouis said. “He is one of those guys that can make tremendous plays with the ball in his hands.”
Gordon, James Pauni and Kris Thomas look to don the purple and red again this season along with 11 newcomers.
The Firecats can bring up to 35 players into camp, which starts Feb. 28, but the roster must be trimmed to 22 before the first season game. Florida opens the ’09 season at home against division rival South Georgia on March 21.
Dolphins deal: Linebacker Channing Crowder has signed a multiyear contract to remain with the Miami Dolphins, a surprising move after negotiations appeared at a stalemate only a few days ago with the former Florida Gators star.