The 11-year veteran made that clear Monday, saying in a conference call his desire to reunite with Phillips was one of the main reasons he signed with the Cowboys.

"My years with him in Atlanta were my most productive in the NFL," Brooking said. "I'm very comfortable with his scheme and terminology."

Phillips was the Falcons' defensive coordinator in 2002-03 and was the club's interim coach for the final three games of the '03 season. Brooking played in the Pro Bowl both seasons after posting 212 and 207 tackles, respectively.

"He's a pleasure to be around and he creates a good-working environment," Brooking said of Phillips. "I can't think of a better way to end my career than with a man like Wade."

Phillips' critics would no doubt challenge Brooking's "good-working environment" claim, but he scoffed at the notion Phillips is too soft to whip a team into Super Bowl shape.

"Who says he's soft? The players or the media?" Brooking said. "I never heard a player in my two years there with him in Atlanta speak of Wade as a soft coach. I mean, I never, ever heard that. He's a player's coach. He does a great job of communicating with the players. There's an open line of communication, but he expects a lot from his players."

Brooking said Phillips was so loved in Atlanta that players "practically stood up on the table" in owner Arthur Blank's office and "begged for him to keep Wade as our coach."

Brooking, who signed a three-year contract Saturday that includes a guaranteed $2.5 million, will start at weakside inside linebacker in Phillips' 3-4 scheme. Unrestricted free agent Zach Thomas manned the spot last season, but he admitted after the season he never felt comfortable.

That won't be a problem for Brooking, who prides himself on being versatile.

"That spot is for a run-and-hit linebacker," Brooking said. "That's my strength. .. I wouldn't come to a team if I didn't feel 100 percent comfortable with what they were going to ask me to do."

But how effective can he be at age 33? He struggled in pass coverage last season, one reason why Atlanta only wanted to resign him if he was willing to take on a reduced role.

"My legs feel good," Brooking said. "I'm still running around. I haven't missed a snap in eight years, knock on wood. I feel like I have a lot to offer a team, and not just from a production standpoint."

Brooking said he doesn't feel any pressure to become a leader on a team with few of them, but he vowed to add "professionalism" and "consistency."

"I'm just going to come in there and roll up my sleeves," Brooking said.

With No. 56 already in use by strongside inside linebacker Bradie James, Brooking will don No. 51 in honor of Dick Butkus.

"I'm a huge Dick Butkus fan," said Brooking, who added he named his dog "Butkus" and has long collected memorabilia attached to the NFL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears middle linebacker.