Ahmad Brooks: Why 49ers OLB Shouldn’t be Back in 2016

The San Francisco 49ers have multiple players that general manager Trent Baalke will assess to return in 2016. Ahmad Brooks is one player that Baalke will not need to spend much time reviewing. The 49ers outside linebacker should not be back in 2016.

San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks has been with the team since 2008 after being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006. Brooks was taken in the supplemental draft and played both outside and inside linebacker before being waived in the final cuts of the 2008 preseason.

David Fucillo of Niners Nation addressed the move when it was made, including discussing where Brooks might play for the 49ers before it was clear he was an outside linebacker.

The 49ers are facing an offseason of unpredictability at the outside linebacker position. Regardless of whether they address the position in the April draft or not, the 49ers should release Brooks before the 2016 season begins.

Calling for Brooks to be released won’t qualify as hot take but for a franchise that needs to get back on track, sometimes the best calls are the easy ones.

In eight seasons with the 49ers, the notes on Brooks remain relatively the same. He can hit, he is aggressive and he makes plays as a run defender. Unfortunately, in the 49ers 3-4 defense, they need Brooks’ to be more effective rushing the passer while limiting the number of mental mistakes he makes.

Brooks displays undisciplined play far too often as an experienced veteran and continues to anger fans with his near-weekly penalties. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch recently noted Brooks’ propensity for a particularly infuriating penalty.

As an on-ball defender, Brooks is able to see down the line of scrimmage. Pop Warner coaches are teaching their players not to move until the ball is snapped. Whether the opposing quarterback uses multiple cadences or not, Brooks continues to commit a penalty well within his control.

The list of penalties on Brooks reads like a broken record. And it’s not a positive endorsement of somebody who hasn’t learned to fix an issue.

You wonder how the coaching staff talks to him in film sessions for him to continue to commit the same penalty. It must be something like “Hey, Ahmad, see the ball? Okay, well, uh please don’t uh move until it moves, okay? Thanks. See you at practice.”

Although his stats have been relatively consistent since joining the 49ers, Brooks is paid too much to simply be consistent. According to Over The Cap, he carries an average cap hit of $6,733,333. The 49ers must release the troubled linebacker and invest that money in other positions to rebuild the team after a disappointing 2015 season.

Brooks was destined to lose his starting spot in 2015 before the release of former linebacker Aldon Smith. The 49ers boasted one of the best young outside linebacker tandems in Aaron Lynch and Smith, leaving Brooks as the third outside linebacker on the team’s depth chart. He may have seen his release coming last season, prompting a sideline spat with then-DL coach Jim Tomsula.

Former Colts general manager Bill Polian talked about Brooks’ behavior following the outburst.

With Smith’s release, Brooks’ regained his starting role and has held it, when available, despite the continued development of linebacker Eli Harold, the team’s third-round pick in the most recent NFL draft. In 2016, Harold will have another offseason to develop and will likely be prepared to take the starting role.

Especially at a cheaper rate than Brooks.

In addition to the emergence of Harold, the team has also discussed giving Tank Carradine an opportunity at the position. Carradine has been unimpressive since being drafted in 2013 but if the team is willing to give him a chance to play OLB, the implications aren’t good for Brooks’ security. Brooks’ issues on the field are footnotes compared to his issues off of it.

In recent years, 49er fans have become accustomed to hearing Brooks’ name. And not for his play. ESPN Staff Writer Paul Gutierrez wrote about Brooks’ legal issues in the preseason following updated developments in a pending case that linked Brooks’ to former 49er Ray McDonald and an alleged sexual assault.

If we have learned anything about the 49ers over the last two years it is this: If you can produce and make an impact on the field, they are willing to accept what you do off of it.

In the event you find yourself disagreeing, please, take a look at the examples. Former 49er Chris Culliver was arrested for a hit-and-run. He started at right cornerback the following season. Former 49er Aldon Smith had so many legal issues that a timeline was made to organize them. He was given numerous chances to succeed before finally being released after another incident. Smith has since been suspended for an entire year for his legal issues.

Former 49er Ray McDonald was arrested for domestic violence last season although charges were never pressed. Nonetheless, he played for the team until December of 2014 before he was finally released. General manager Trent Baalke said that the team released McDonald due to “a pattern of behavior”.

Lastly, let’s remember fullback Bruce Miller’s arrest in March for an altercation that was originally investigated as a domestic violence case. Fortunately, Miller hasn’t had any regressions since and will likely have another mulligan from the front office.

Translation: Screw up once or twice and we’ll allow it. But after that, we’d rather not fight the PR battle.

Brooks allegedly hit then-teammate and former 49er Lamar Divens with a beer bottle in 2013. He had a sideline argument with Jim Tomsula in the 2014 season. In 2008, Brooks was accused of punching a woman in the face while a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. He has used all of his misdemeanor forgiveness cards and should see the label “former 49er” added to his name at some point this offseason.

His play has dipped since signing an extension in February of 2012 and the 49ers can’t excuse his behavior anymore. The front office has proven that once you stop producing, the off-field stuff isn’t worth the headache. A regression in play, more than two legal issues and more expensive than a young guy behind on the depth chart.

That’s the recipe to be released by Baalke.

The 49ers may have already decided the fate of Brooks less than halfway through the game against the St. Louis Rams following a personal foul penalty that negated a great stop behind the line of scrimmage.

And Eric isn’t the only one noticing.

The 49ers shouldn’t waste their time in doing what could be the clearest move they make all season. Release Ahmad Brooks as soon as possible and let the franchise move on from his mistakes.

Next: 7 49ers on the Hot Seat this Offseason

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-football-reference and ESPN Statistics unless otherwise noted.