I remember early this year when Zach Thomas left and Keith Brooking was brought in, everyone was wondering if Brooking would assume a leadership role on this fairly young defense. The thinking was that being such a veteran and still having the skills that he does, and because he was really in that role in Atlanta, that he must surely come in and give this leader-less team some motivation.

I remember how quaint Brooking was when asked about such things by the media. But more than that, he was respectful. He knew that Bradie James had been that guy for a while and he didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. Well eight months can change a lot. Keith doesn’t seem so quaint anymore, does he?