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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > September > 01 > Entry
49ers snap up Ahmad Brooks
NINERS WANTED HIM
BACK IN ‘06; AND NOW
THEY HAVE THEIR MAN
MAYBE TAKEO SPIKES
AND SINGLETARY CAN
TURN BROOKS AROUND
As expected and predicted by LUDWIG AT LARGE, linebacker Ahmad Brooks got snapped up quick after getting knifed by the Cincinnati Bengals on “Cutdown Day.”
The San Francisco 49ers claimed Brooks off waivers on Sunday, Aug. 31, a day after his disappointing two-year stint in The ‘Nati ended.
To make room on their 53-man roster, the 49ers released an outstanding player in Dontarrious Thomas.
The good folks in “49er Land” are calling Brooks’ acquisition a gamble, and rightfully so because it is.
The 6-foot-3, 259-pound Brooks is an athletic specimen, a true stud — big, strong and fast. But he was a bust at middle linebacker in Cincinnati for a variety of reasons.
He was always injured, had a questionable work ethic and enough off-the-field baggage — or should we say “luggage” — to keep a 747 grounded on the tarmac.
I’m with the Bengals on this one. They grabbed him in the third round of the 2006 NFL Supplemental Draft when they knew Odell Thurman was going to get suspended. They had high hopes for him, but he let ‘em down with some shoddy play.
The 49ers wanted Brooks in the Supplemental Draft, too. They were willing to spend a fourth-round pick on him. They didn’t get him then, but they sure got him now.
Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary — who WILL be a head coach in the NFL someday SOON — is Brooks’ position coach. And ex-Bengals great Takeo Spikes is Brooks’ teammate. Hopefully, Singletary and Spikes can get the talented kid straightened out.
Here’s hoping Ahmad Brooks’ career doesn’t wind up in a noose, like Brooks Hatlen’s neck in “The Shawshank Redemption.”
For more on the Niners’ “gamble” on Brooks, go to:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=45&entry_id=29717
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By chuck jr.
September 1, 2008 1:37 AM | Link to this
It’s a “gamble” to keep Marvin around. His work ethic is reflected by the teams continued failure.By islebfrank
September 1, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
I guess it is too late to give Rivers the #55, probably due to some marketing issue that we all care sooo much about!