JonCJG
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POSTED 6:58 a.m. EDT, June 22, 2006
BOOM OR BUST FOR BROOKS
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.
BOOM OR BUST FOR BROOKS
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.
