EXCLUSIVE

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking is the mastermind in a diabolical scheme to screw Wells Fargo out of $2 MILLION ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

Brooking -- a 13-year NFL vet who signed a 3-year $6 million contract in 2009 -- has been sued in federal court in Georgia ... where he allegedly took out 2 separate loans in 2008 which totaled $1,996,224.73.

But according to the suit, Brooking "realized he would not be able to meet his obligations" to Wells Fargo ... and secretly embarked on a "systematic effort to hinder, delay and defraud" the bank.

WF claims Brooking began to hide all of his substantial assets, including property in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina ... so the bank couldn't go after his homes to satisfy the debt.

According to the lawsuit, the plan was simple ... Brooking simply transferred the deeds out of his name to various "insiders, affiliates and relatives."

The bank is asking the judge to clear a legal path so it can go after Keith's property.

But a rep for Brooking tells TMZ "There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support Wells Fargo’s allegations that Keith transferred any properties ... to fraudulently conceal assets."