Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks has described the team's decision to retire his number 55 jersey as a "tremendous honour".
Brooks will become just the third player in the franchise's history to have his number retired when the ceremony takes place at half time of the Buccaneers' match against the St Louis Rams on September 14.
The 41-year-old will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August and admitted that the reality of having his number retired will probably not hit him until the ceremony takes place.
"I tried to do it the right way. Show up, day in and day out and really let my performance send a message. I always said I'm the guy that's going to grab the shovel and start digging and not ask anyone else to dig," Brooks told reporters.
"I guess it will probably hit me September 14 against the Rams when I see the number up there. No one has worn it since I left. But to know that it's part of this franchise's history is a tremendous honor.
"I've had the opportunity to have my number retired in high school and college, but this is a little different for me because it's about every time that something goes on in that stadium and they see that number up there, they get a piece of me."
Brooks was elected to 11 consecutive Pro Bowls, won the Super Bowl and was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2002.
Barney Corkhill
