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What others are saying about Ahmad Brooks

from the houstonprofootball link

I can't find a link to the original material, so I'll link to where I read this. This is apparently from Bruce Feldman's blog on espn. http://www.finheaven.com/boardvb2/s...t=140602&page=3

quote:I caught up with Ahmad Brooks the other day. The former UVa. All-American linebacker has kept a pretty low profile since rumors began swirling last winter about him being thrown out of Virginia. Brooks says he had been talking with coach Al Groh and athletic director Craig Littlepage about being allowed back into the program, and he believed he had a good shot. Then in late March, Brooks logged on to ESPN.com and learned the school had dismissed him. The reason, he was later told, was due to the cumulative effect of his irresponsibility. He had missed too many classes and workout sessions. Liberty and Hampton, a pair of local I-AA schools, had called, but Brooks wasn't interested in transferring. He was convinced that whatever issues NFL scouts had, he would have to face at some point.

It seemed to be quite the fall for a guy many had once projected as a top-10 draft pick. After all, Brooks, the son of former Redskins D-lineman Perry Brooks, was a guy scouts had been marveling at for a few years. Back in 2004, despite weighing 260 pounds, he actually doubled as a returnman. As a linebacker, he notched eight sacks and made 90 tackles. He could've turned pro then, but didn't. Brooks didn't feel 100 percent healthy. He had a cyst behind his right knee, which was removed last March and forced him to miss the first three games of the 2005 season. When Brooks returned, he was sluggish and way out of shape. He sat out the Cavaliers' bowl game because of a sore back. Rumors began to swirl that Brooks was about to get booted from the program. The rumors ranged from a supposed positive marijuana test (in 2003, Brooks pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor marijuana charge and spent six months on probation) to him blowing off workouts.
Brooks and OhioState's Mike D'Andrea were the most hyped linebackers in their high school class. And that was something Brooks couldn't get out of his mind as he sat in an Atlanta-area apartment alone watching the NFL draft. He says one thought kept coming back to him: That should've been me. Brooks is part of a package we ran in the next issue of ESPN The Magazine. The article focuses on how a guy with baggage can try to build back his credibility. Regardless of his potential, it won't be easy.

About a month ago, Brooks' agent Greg Williams sent him down to Duluth, Ga., to train with Competitive Edge Sports' Chip Smith, the guy who got former NCAA exile Mike Williams ready for his pro day last spring. "I knew Ahmad needed to show people rather than me trying to sell somebody something," Williams said.
Brooks arrived in Georgia in April, he says, weighing more than 285 pounds. "The first day, he puked seven times," Smith said, but added that Brooks kept going.
CES's nutritionist changed Brooks' diet, cutting out all salt and sugar and late-night binging. Brooks started eating breakfast -- something he seldom did before. Smith's rule: Workouts begin at 9. If you're late, you're gone. "He's usually here 45 minutes early," Smith says. One month into the training, Brooks is down 10 pounds and hopeful that he can get to 260 for his pro day. (That'll take place at UVa., about two weeks before the supplemental draft. On June 16, the NFL will tell him the date.) He's also picking the brains of NFL vets Nate Wayne, E.J. Johnson and Hannibal Navies, who are training at CES as well.

Brooks realizes everyone doubts him. He knows after Maurice Clarett flopped, it's not a good time to be seen as a gamble. He stopped counting how many times he heard the word character on the draft show. To his credit, Brooks doesn't blame anyone else for his downfall at UVa. "I put myself in this boat," he said. "I know I've let a lot of people down -- I was the one who did the damage to my reputation and my family's reputation, but the first way I can prove that I'm not who they think I am is by showing them. By action."

Given the outcomes of other players who seemingly have less baggage, I didn't like Brooks' chances in the supplemental draft, even if he showed up in terrific shape. But after speaking to him the other day, he sounded very contrite -- especially when we talked about his feelings for Groh. Brooks explained how he had apologized to him before he left. "I really felt like I had let him down," he said. "I mean, I came to the school to change that program around and get them to a national championship, and that obviously didn't happen."

Of course, saying the right things now is the easy part. Hopefully for Brooks' sake and those linked to him, he has finally grown up.
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I've always like the guy. He is the same athletic type as Arrington, and any and every team would kill to have that LB. He is big enough with experience to play MLB and is a VERY good tackler. He is also athletic and fast enough to play OLB. He is also athletic enough to be considered a DE. He is a beast like Arrington, and that is his only compaison. He will dominate if he keeps his current "work my ass of to prove people wrong" attitude. Personally, I would throw down a third rounder for him. A top 10 talent at that price. Let him sit a year, work out, learn, mature, learn, mature, diet, learn...next year he owns all. He will be the most dominant LB from this class if he gets his chance. In 3 years, everyone needs to remember I called this now. I actually called this over a year ago, but I am calling it again now.
 
This kid is a beast. My biggest concern isnt so much his character, but his overall physical shape. I've heard he got fat and is now still about 5 - 10 over playing weight, and is now throwing stuff out there like he'll run a 4.5 40. Didnt Mike Williams say the same thing about running under a 4.5? Id like to see him do it, but no way in hell Brooks runs a 4.5, Ill say 4.6 - 4.7.
 
LORK 88 said:
This kid is a beast. My biggest concern isnt so much his character, but his overall physical shape. I've heard he got fat and is now still about 5 - 10 over playing weight, and is now throwing stuff out there like he'll run a 4.5 40. Didnt Mike Williams say the same thing about running under a 4.5? Id like to see him do it, but no way in hell Brooks runs a 4.5, Ill say 4.6 - 4.7.
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You dont know brooks then. He is a very fast guy. At 260 he returned kicks for Virginia. He may only run a 4.6 at his pro-day, but that is fast for a big LB, and he will be faster by the time he plays.
 
YoungTexanFan said:
You dont know brooks then. He is a very fast guy. At 260 he returned kicks for Virginia. He may only run a 4.6 at his pro-day, but that is fast for a big LB, and he will be faster by the time he plays.
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I hope he does prove me wrong, but this guy has so much going against him right now. Think about it; he got kicked off his team, dealt with injuries, and was out of shape for some time. Honestly, if he can get past all this, he will be a beast in the 3-4 or SLB in the 4-3. I too wouldnt mind spending a 3rd trying to get him (allthough a team like SF will most likely spend a 2nd), but he's got 3 huge hurdles to clear 1st. If he porves me wrong at his pro day then Ill retract my statement, but too many times Ive heard players saying "I'm gonna run this fast" or "I'm gonna do this" and end up looking like a fool for coming up short. Best of luck to him at his pro day.
 
I am curious here and I know there will be suprises.. is the 2007 draft (seniors) going to be considered a deep draft? forgive my ignorance but I am not to savy on college football as a whole.

what i am getting at is it seemed 2006 was a deep draft and if 2007 isn't a deep draft why wouldn't a 2nd be worth it? if it is a deep draft..why wouldn't a 3rd be worth it?
 
Wolf said:
I am curious here and I know there will be suprises.. is the 2007 draft (seniors) going to be considered a deep draft? forgive my ignorance but I am not to savy on college football as a whole.

what i am getting at is it seemed 2006 was a deep draft and if 2007 isn't a deep draft why wouldn't a 2nd be worth it? if it is a deep draft..why wouldn't a 3rd be worth it?
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It's not a deep draft at all if you are only taking seniors into the equation. However, with Juniors who will probably declare(Peterson, Baker, Lynch, C.Johnson, Jarrett...I could go on and on) the draft would be deep at least in the top end.
 
thanks black bear... if that is this case why wouldn't we take a chance on a 2nd rounder?
 
Wolf said:
I am curious here and I know there will be suprises.. is the 2007 draft (seniors) going to be considered a deep draft? forgive my ignorance but I am not to savy on college football as a whole.

what i am getting at is it seemed 2006 was a deep draft and if 2007 isn't a deep draft why wouldn't a 2nd be worth it? if it is a deep draft..why wouldn't a 3rd be worth it?
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The draft is setting itself up to be like this years first round. The draft is stacked at the top, especially if you include the juniors. Not all of them will declare, but most will. The WR's and QB's will be the main attraction with the likes of Quinn, Stanton, Palmer, Bohmar and some headturning WR's in C. Johnson, Jarrett, Rice, Ginn Jr. The RB's should make a nice showing as well with Peterson, Bush (Michael), and Lynch. The draft is stacked if the Juniors enter, but it is not a deep one. Brooks would still go in the top 20 picks with a stacked draft, so to me he is worth a second or third rounder next year.
 
Well if the Carr/Kubes deal is a bust, don't come crying if you need the pick
to move up and you can't do it. Give your ammo away a year befor you need it you better be pretty darn sure. Some of you are sold, I'll take mine with a grain of salt. Just thinking back to the various Bronco MLBs. Don't recall any beast in the middle. Might work out. GL.
 
http://forum.colts.com/showthread.php?t=8409

David Dixon, linebacker, Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College – Dixon, who was one of the top-rated defenders in the junior college ranks, failed to qualify academically at Kansas State, but he is noted for his speed and athleticism, running in the 4.4 range, leaping between 42 to 44 inches in the vertical jump and bench-pressing over 450 pounds. He had 161 tackles, including a total of 43 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 8½ sacks and five blocked kicks, which gave him a total of 10 in just two years.

"He's the best athlete I have ever seen at this level", said longtime NFL scout Tom Marino of Dixon. "He's just not big into school work, but he has all the instincts, physical tools and natural talent to become a starting linebacker in the NFL one day."

Dixon just turned 21 years old this past February, so combined with his eye-opening workout numbers, impressive natural size (6-2, 245 pounds) and on-field talents, he should warrant a lot of consideration if he gains eligibility to July's draft.

wow, that's some great numbers, I'd definitely like to see that kind of ability on the Colts. I think Dungy could work magic with him. Of course, I'd rather have Brooks, but dang they should definitely look at Dixon.
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Wolf said:
http://www.gbnreport.com/2007projection.html


a first by washington projected? hmm doubt that, but it is the redskins
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They don't really care about there picks that much so I wouldn't be suprised. They only had I think about 3 picks in this year's draft and if they think Ahmad Brooks can be of assistance to there team then they will make a full run at him and not take any chances of not getting him. If a team's going to use a first round pick, I would've guessed the Redskins too.
 
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