bengaldee Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 profootballtalk.com At a time when character for NFL players matters more than ever (at least in 29 or 30 NFL cities ), the fate of former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks is squarely up in the air. A league source tells us that, if Brooks is healthy and can get his weight in the range of 260 pounds, he will be in demand. Before an injury that limited him to only six games in 2005, some scouts regarded Brooks as the best linebacking prospect in the last 30 years. Teams will get a first-hand look at Brooks on Thursday in Charlottesville, for an individualized Pro Day session that will be closed to the media and the public. Brooks will be available via the NFL's Supplemental Draft on July 13. In 2004, Brooks was a second-team All-American as a sophomore for Al Groh's Cavaliers. In March, he and two other players were dismissed from the team. Groh never cited any specific reason for the decision, relying generally on the concept of "violation of team policy." Surely, though, Groh's old friends in the NFL (such as Bill Parcells) have gotten the real story on Brooks. But it still will be hard to decipher the truth. As we see every April in the days and weeks preceding the draft, the teams interested in Brooks will start spreading bad stuff about him -- and the teams who aren't interested will start singing his praises in the hopes that a competitor will piss away a high pick in the Supplemental Draft, which results in a forfeiture of the corresponding selection in the 2007 draft, and which then automatically pushes the field of available players in April one spot closer to the other 31 teams. With all that said, we're hearing that the Giants, Dolphins, and Bucs might be interested in Brooks. Whether they really are remains to be seen. But the Bengals also should be interested, at least in theory. After all, Brooks was arrested in March 2003 for marijuana possession. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to six months' probation. Given the unusual rules that apply to the Supplemental Draft (which we'll dig up at some point over the next couple of weeks), an odd poker game of sorts can unfold regarding the specific round in which a team puts in a claim for a given player. In 2003, the Cowboys arguably duped the Texans into burning a second-round pick on Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings, a speed back with limited college experience. He was a complete and total bust, and the Texans cut ties with Hollings earlier this year. He signed with the Bears in May. Over the years, the first-round picks in the Supplemental Draft have been quarterback Dave Brown (Giants) in 1992, receiver Rob Moore (Jets) in 1990, running back Bobby Humphrey (Broncos) in 1989, quarterback Timm Rosenbach (Cardinals) in 1989, quarterback Steve Walsh (Cowboys) in 1989, linebacker Brian Bosworth (Seahawks) in 1987, quarterback Bernie Kosar (Browns) in 1985, and quarterback Dave Wilson (Saints) in 1981. Since the NFL launched its free agency/salary cap system in 1993, no team has devoted a first-round pick to the Supplemental Draft. And that makes sense. With players available every March at every position via unrestricted and restricted free agency, team needs and wants are filled long before July, reducing the temptation to use a pick merely for the purposes of picking up another player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mongoloido Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 cheapshots against us, but nothing to say about it until the dumbasses on the team grow up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest schotzee Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 I think we should go after him for a 3rd rounder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheChosenOne Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 [quote name='schotzee' post='285413' date='Jun 22 2006, 11:10 AM']I think we should go after him for a 3rd rounder[/quote] I wouldn't touch him, personally. We already have enough fucking criminals on this team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest schotzee Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 [quote name='TheChosenOne' post='285508' date='Jun 22 2006, 01:42 PM']I wouldn't touch him, personally. We already have enough fucking criminals on this team.[/quote] Aw cmon,you are letting the naysayers brainwash you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kochman Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 I would spend a 5th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengaldee Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 31 TEAMS ATTEND BROOKS WORKOUT A league source has given us the lowdown on the Pro Day workout of former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Per the source, every team was represented at the session, with the sole exception of the Chicago Bears. But despite the presence of 31 teams, only one head coach attended -- Mike Nolan of the 49ers. G.M. Randy Mueller was present on behalf of the Miami Dolphins, which is one of the teams presumed to be most interested in Brooks. Brooks weighed in at 260 pounds, a number that many scouts considered to be ideal for him. But to get down to 260, Brooks gave up some strength. As a result, he managed only 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press exercise. In the 40-yard dash, Brooks posted times of 4.68 and 4.72 seconds. In the three-cone drill and the short shuttle, Brooks' form was regarded as poor. Despite a supposed ten weeks of training for the workout, we're told that he had to be shown how to run the run the three-cone test. All things considered, the thinking is that Brooks helped himself in advance of the upcoming Supplemental Draft, and there's a belief that someone will select him in round two. Indeed, we continue to hear glowing accounts from scouts and other league insiders regarding Brooks' performance in 2004 with the Cavs. Still, there are rumors swirling that his former coaching staff at Virginia hasn't gone out of its way to pimp him at the next level. In this regard, the fact that Brooks was kicked off of the Virginia team by coach Al Groh likely speaks volumes; absent a strong pitch from Groh or his staff, turd-averse teams are likely to pass. But all it takes is one team to pull the trigger. And in the chess match that is the Supplemental Draft all it takes are two teams with an interest in the player to get him taken a round or two earlier than he'd be selected if lumped in with the full draft pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheChosenOne Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 [quote name='bengaldee' post='285698' date='Jun 22 2006, 05:56 PM']he managed only 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press exercise. In the 40-yard dash, Brooks posted times of 4.68 and 4.72 seconds. In the three-cone drill and the short shuttle, Brooks' form was regarded as poor. Despite a supposed ten weeks of training for the workout, we're told that he had to be shown how to run the run the three-cone test.[/quote] Doesn't really impress me... [quote]there's a belief that someone will select him in round two.[/quote] not worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.