Underrated former Bengals.

[*SHRacerX*]

(07-13-2019, 01:04 PM)BengalFanInNJ Wrote: He's my favorite athlete of all time. My father actually got a game-worn James Brooks jersey back in 1987. I still have it today and remind my family that if the house is on fire, I go back in for that jersey first and then for them. I'm kidding. Kinda. 

Side story about James Brooks; a girl I was friends with for years in New Jersey went to University of Cincinnati and got an internship at a radio station. She called me out of the blue one summer and asked me if I knew a bunch of players she listed to me (I did). She said she met them at a restaurant and got me their autographs. One was David Fulcher. He was cut the next day. I may have been the last person he gave an autograph to as a Bengal.

Anyway, the next summer she calls me out of the blue again and asked me if I know James Brooks. I explained to her, in great detail, how he was my all-time favorite Bengal and athlete and that I would seriously think about going gay for him. She said she works with him at some radio show and got me his autograph. I was supposed to fly out to visit her two weeks later and meet him, but I had to cancel. Small world though. 

He never got the credit he deserved IMO. I will say this; most of the Giants/Jets/Eagles fans living around me in NJ in the '80's and 90's always thought he was damn good. 

That was probably a part of his excellence.  He was just a true lunch pail worker.  Went out and busted his ass every time.  Cincinnati has always loved players like that...see Hustle, Charlie.  

I never met the man, but I have a great deal of respect for what he did as a player.