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Derrick Brooks takes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first losing season in seven years personally.
The Pro Bowl linebacker says the defending Super Bowl champions have no one but themselves to blame for missing the playoffs with a losing record and vows to lead them back among the NFL's elite in 2004.
``If it's going to happen to a team, happen to a guy, then I'd rather it be me, because I know I'm going to respond. I know I'm going to get this team ready to respond to the challenge next year,'' Brooks said.
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``The easy thing to say is the problem was complacency. The easy thing is to
point fingers. Me, I'm going to point the finger at me. As a leader of this
football team, I'm going to accept all the blame.''
The Bucs (7-9) became the 11th team to fail to make the playoffs one season after winning the NFL title. They're the seventh -- and first since the 1999 Denver Broncos -- to do it with a losing record.
There were plenty of distractions along the way, beginning with the offseason arrests of three key players.
Then there was the bad blood between Keyshawn Johnson and coach Jon Gruden resulting in the star receiver being deactivated for the final six games, and the departure of general manager Rich McKay for the same job with the Atlanta Falcons.
Injuries, penalties, turnovers and uncharacteristic breakdowns on defense also played a role in the demise.
``This team has been tested in every area this year,'' Brooks said, adding that one of the challenges will be rebuilding some of the team chemistry vital to Tampa Bay's Super Bowl run.
``That's one of the top lessons you learn as a defending world champion -- you're not the same team. Yes, you can have a lot of the same personnel. But we've got to rebuild that chemistry, get to know each other a little better. It's almost like we've got to force ourselves to be strangers and build a bond again.''
With the exception of two games, including Sunday's 33-13 loss at Tennessee, the Bucs were competitive every week.
But unlike last season, when they found ways to win close games, they faltered in crucial situations, finishing 0-5 in games decided by three points of less and losing all eight games in which Tampa Bay was tied or trailed after three quarters.
It was the team's first losing season since 1996 and stopped a string of four consecutive playoff appearances. It was also Gruden's first sub-.500 finish in six years as a head coach.
``To be honest, it's humiliating. It's hard to put into words the sickness that I feel for myself, our team and our fans,'' Gruden said.
``At the same time, we need to reload a little bit. I'm going to be realistic on what we need to do here, and we need to be aggressive as heck in terms of getting that done. ... Everybody in the league finishes the year with sore feelings and sour stomachs unless you win the Super Bowl. It's just the business we live in.''
There likely will be plenty of changes next season.
Keyshawn Johnson will be traded or released, and there has been speculation Gruden may want to bring in a veteran quarterback -- perhaps soon-to-be-free agent Mark Brunell -- to compete with Brad Johnson.
Defensive tackle Warren Sapp may have played his last game for the Bucs, too. He earned $6.6 million this season and has yet to receive an offer to return, although Gruden said Monday he's hopeful of keeping the seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
``But to stand up here and make statements, make predictions that can't really be backed up without our general manager in place would be hard for me,'' Gruden said. ``I will say this, we have every intention of doing all we can to keep him.''
Gruden also wants to retool the offensive line and has to make several other critical decisions, including whether to re-sign running back Thomas Jones, who came on strong at the end of the season.
Whatever happens, Brooks expects the Bucs, one of just two teams to rank in the top 10 in both offense and defense, to bounce back strong next season.
``You look at the Rams who
won the Super Bowl in 1999, they had an off year in 2000 and then they were
back in the Super Bowl in 2001,'' the linebacker said. ``Teams readjust for
whatever reason to get back to that point, and that's going to be the challenge
for us.''