JCredit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Teams playing in the Super Bowl try avoiding controversy at all costs leading up to the NFL championship game. But as the San Francisco 49ers have learned, you cannot control players from making controversial comments with so many reporters asking questions at the Super Bowl.

The controversy and headaches started for the 49ers when CB Chris Culliver made anti-gay remarks at Wednesday’s Super Bowl Media Day. Afterwards Culliver issued an apology, but it did not go away. LB Ahmad Brooks and NT Isaac Sopoaga denied making an It Gets Better video, which part of an anti-bullying campaign for LGBTQ teenagers.

Brooks and Sopoaga appeared in the video back in August along with teammates Ricky Jean Francois and Donte Whitner. However, a USA Today reporter approached them about the video and Brooks said the following:

I didn’t make any video. This is America and if someone wants to be gay, they can be gay. It’s their right. But I didn’t make any video.

After that he was shown the video and said,

Oh, that. It was an anti-bullying video, not a gay (rights) video.

When the reporter pointed out that most teens who are bullied is because of sexual identity issues, Brooks replied,

I know that. I know that. Okay, you’re right and I’m wrong. Are you from one of those New York newspapers?

If you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Sopoaga also denied making the video. After he was reminded by a teammate about making it, he played coy as if he didn’t know what the video was for and said someone was using ‘my name.’

Here was the exchange between the USA Today reporter and the nose tackle:

Sopoaga, too, denied making the video, even while teammate Will Tukuafu, who overheard the question, tried to refresh his memory.

“Yeah, you made that video, remember?”  Tukuafu said.

“No,” Sopoaga said. “I never went. And now someone is using my name.”

Sopoaga was shown the video.

“What was that for?” he asked.

To ask teens to stop bullying other teens because of sexual identity, he was told.

“Yeah, OK,” he said.

Would you like to comment on it, he was asked.

“No,” he said.

This is a self-inflicted wound and is not the type of attention the 49ers needed two days before the Super Bowl is played. I am a supporter of LGBTQ rights and Culliver’s statement, and the denial by Brooks and Sopoaga is deplorable and not welcomed. However, I am not the kind of person to hold someone’s ignorance against them, even Niner players. Everyone had different upbringings and religious beliefs that shape their view of the world and the LGBTQ community. While this is getting a lot of attention now, I am reserving judgment on the three players. What will be important is how they handle the situation going forwarded and whether or not they do something positive to make up for their comments and denials.

The 49ers were the first team in the NFL to have players appear in the It Gets Better video campaign. At the time, Niner Noise applauded the decision because it was the right thing to do and because of how much the LGBTQ community is a part of the city of San Francisco. In response to Brooks and Sopoaga denying making the video, the campaign removed the video featuring the 49ers from its website.

Oct 30, 2011; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) raises his arms before a play against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. San Francisco defeated Cleveland 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks said he suffered a left shoulder sprain during the team’s NFC Championship game victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Brooks confirmed he had a grade-1 sprain, suffered in the second-quarter, and re-aggravated it again in the fourth quarter on a quarterback hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

Brooks missed some snaps during practice as a precautionary measure, in hopes of having him as close to 100% heading into the Super Bowl. As the 49ers only non All-Pro starting linebacker, Brooks will be out to show the world on Sunday, that he can ball just like the rest of them, as he’s right where he belongs.

The San Francisco 49ers used the franchise tag on safety Dashon Goldson, which I thought they would. So the question now is will the Niners look to resign cornerback Carlos Rogers or let him test free agency? Rogers is the lasts starter from lasts years amazing defense how is not under contract and with QB Alex Smith looking for a contract as well, looks as if Rogers might be leaving the Niners. I’ll be honest it does puzzles me a bit that the Niners sign LB Ahmad Brooks to a six year deal, a player who does not play every down. The Niner defense was excellent forcing third and longs throughout the season, prompting the Niners to go with their nickel package on third down. The backers in the nickel scheme would be Patrick Willis, NaVarro Bowman, and Aldon Smith; Brooks was not included. On the other hand, Rogers was on the defense every down and making big plays in the process. Why Brooks over Rogers thus far? (more…)