Breakdown of Ahmad Brooks’ Contract
With the re-signing of LB Ahmad Brooks, the San Francisco 49ers have one less free agent to worry about bringing back. Before the Brooks’ signing the 49ers had $30 million in salary cap space. That leaves plenty of room to sign a big name wide receiver on March 13 when free agency starts, however, the 49ers must first use the money on bringing back Alex Smith, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson and Joshua Morgan. Here is a breakdown of Brooks’ contract and how it affects re-signing the players mentioned and other free agents:
- For the 2012 season, Brooks’ contract will count $2.85 million against the 49ers salary cap which is around $120 million for the team.
- When you include Brooks’ $7.5 million signing bonus, the 49ers will have around $23 million left in salary cap to re-sign and go after free agents.
- The deal is worth up to $44.5 million over six-years if Brooks hits every incentive written into the contract. This includes the $7.5 million signing bonus.
- $17.5 million of the contract is guaranteed.
- Here is how the rest of the deal counts against the salary cap:
2013: $6.65 million
2014: $7.5 million
2015: $8.35 million
2016: $6.35 million
2017: $5.3 million
Brooks did a conference call with reporters after he re-signed. Here is the transcript via the 49ers Hot Read Blog:
What are your initial thoughts on resigning with the 49ers?
“It’s great to be here with an organization that gave me a chance to showcase my abilities. We have great team, we have a great organization and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
How involved were you in the negotiations?
“I was involved quite a bit but at the same time that’s what the agent is for, to get the best deal possible. Who’s to say if I went to free agency that I would have gotten more money. It’s a possibility, but at the same time I’ve got to look at it from a different view than just as a money standpoint.
“Getting as much money as you can sounds good but at the same time what team is going to give you the best opportunity to win. I feel the 49ers are heading in the direction of being the best team.
What does it mean to be part of that linebacker corps?
“It means a lot. NaVarro and Pat are two great inside linebackers and they complement each other well. I’m glad to be on outside of them playing with them. We’ll be a great defense for a long time, as long as we continue to draft guys like Aldon and NaVarro. The defense will be the best in the NFL.”
Did the success of last year help you with this decision?
“Most definitely. I’ve been in NFL for a while. I see the business side but I also see a football player’s perspective. It’s been a long journey for myself to put myself in the situations and, not just that, but also to get in the playoffs. We had a lot of fun last year just winning. Everybody had fun, from the owners to managers to equipment guys. The more games you win, the more exciting and fun it is to go out and practice and play games.”
What changed in you as you became more of a pro?
“Coming into the NFL as a young player, you get a certain amount of money that you’ve never seen before. I can see young guys coming into the NFL and doing things they shouldn’t do. You enjoy yourself a little bit too much where it affects your performance. Early on in my career, that may have happened to me.
“Once I got cut by the Bengals, I pretty much told myself I would never let this happen again, regardless of what goes on in my life. I just had to reevaluate myself as a player and as a person to become the best person and best football player I could be. It’s not going to last forever. Once the NFL doesn’t want you anymore, you want to go out knowing you did the best you can do.”
Who’s working out at the facility right now?
“Justin Smith, Anthony Dixon, Ray McDonald and Josh Morgan.”
Was getting cut by the Bengals in 2008 the best happen that could have happened to you?
“No. I mean, yes and no. I don’t like the fact a team told me, ‘We don’t want you.’ I never had that happen to me in my life. It felt like a girl broke up with me and broke my heart. It can also be a blessing in disguise. I didn’t see it at the time, but now it all paid off. I continued to work, I came here and worked hard. I went from not playing at all to being a full-time starter.”
Do you have the best linebacker corps in the NFL?
“Yeah, I think so, personally I say yeah. There’s a lot more competition in the league but I think we have the best linebacking corps.”
How did you cope in the days after losing to the Giants?
“I don’t know how everyone else dealt with it. But we were that close to going to the Super Bowl and we just let it slip through our fingers. I’m pretty sure everyone is saying, ‘If I’d done this a little more we would have won the game. If I made this play we would been in position to kick a field goal.’ You can’t really dwell on things like that.
“I took it for what it was. It was a loss. We were there. We didn’t make it.”
Is being in Santa Clara right now a departure from your normal offseason routine rather than being home in Virginia?
“I usually go home to my mom’s house. I have a daughter out there. That’s the main reason I go home. I realized I’m not 23, 24 anymore. I’m 28. A lot changes over the years. You grow up. You start seeing things in a new light. My career is here in California so I want to make the best of my career and capitalize on what I’ve already gained.”
Was maturity in the key to making this happen?
“You’ve got to have will and determination to do it. We all have pride. My pride wouldn’t let my failing get the best of me. … I kept working at it. I knew football was key to me being successful.”
Was there anyone key to your turnaround?
“Every year coming into training camp we all have goals. Every year my goal is to become a starter. I’m a starter now so my goal is to keep my starting position. You’re always competing every day. That’s been my goal every year. When Parys went down for a week, I had an opportunity to start against the Raiders and I did pretty good. This year the coaching staff gave me a chance to go out regardless of making mistakes and letting me learn off my experience. Coach Fangio, I give him a lot of credit for that.”
What do you like about defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s system?
“I can be myself. I just feel comfortable playing in the system. He doesn’t ask a lot. It’s just easy for me, and I also have other great guys around me that make me look good. When you’re playing with guys like Ray McDonald, I can roam around. I can mess up but Ray can make me look good like I didn’t mess up. When you’re playing with guys like that, it makes it a lot better.”
Do you communicate more with Ray McDonald than Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman in games?
“Me and Ray communicate on every play, especially when it’s third down and we need to get the quarterback. I don’t necessarily communicate with inside linebackers as much. I’m listening to call, the inside linebackers are the quarterback of the defense and if you see me looking back aslomg what’s the call. Or me and Pat might have two-way go on.
Most of the time it’s me and Ray communicating.”
Why not go on the free agency market?
“I don’t know. Something was telling me just to sign here. I feel like this is where I should be. These are the people that gave me a chance to go out there and get this contract. From the time I got to the NFL, I felt like I should have been starting and coaches would always be giving me an excuses, like, ‘He doesn’ t know the defense. He can’t learn the defense.’ That’s a lie. That’s always been a lie. We practice the same thing everyday; how can I not remember what I practice every day. I’m happy to get this chance and have a coaching staff that believes in me to go out there and showcase my talents.”
Which coaches said that?
“I’m not going to say any names. There were a few coaches who actually told me that personally.”
Were you recently baptized?
“I got baptized at Abundant Life (Christian Fellowship) in Mountain View two Saturdays ago. That’s pretty much a new level of my life. I’m 28. I’m just trying to better myself as a person, as a father, teammate, brother and as a son. Just be an example to kids. Show people that if they think they can’t go on or have doubts about doing big things in life and being an example to people.”