derekshank Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5361I know it's the Bengals website, so of course they are going to talk positively about a guy they took such a big chance on... but this article really made me feel pretty good about it.I've worked with troubled teens in a boy's hom for a couple years, and I've noticed something. There are some guys who will never get it. No matter how much trouble they find themselves in, when an opportunity to do something stupid comes along, they just can't help themselves. We might have some guys like this on the roster... I don't know.Then there are other kinds of guys. Guys who may be the biggest pain in the ass in the world for their first month or two while they are in our program... but one day they wake up and just "get it."I can't really explain it much better than that. I asked one kid who made this type of quick turnaround about it, and he said "You can only run into a brick wall so many times before you realize that it's a losing battle." I've had a ton of guys who one day just decide that the trouble just isn't worth it anymore, and within a couple months they graduate our program and move on to an independant living program. They just "got it."The reason I bring this up is that even though this is a form of Bengal propaganda, I can't help but get the feeling that Brooks finally "gets it." He had an apartment in Atlanta by himself and didn't get into trouble? Does this really sound like a Chris Henry type of kid, or does it sound like a guy who has finally made up his mind to be a productive citizen?In my experience the guys who don't "get it" can't stay out of trouble for more than a couple weeks, while the guys who do "get it" finally start thinking about their future. It's like a light goes on, and they mature right before your eyes. Here's to hoping that Brooks finally "got it." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Getting booted off of a division one college football team after looking like the best linebacker in the nation is probably a pretty solid wake up call. Hopefully the article isn't B/S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Getting booted off of a division one college football team after looking like the best linebacker in the nation is probably a pretty solid wake up call. Hopefully the article isn't B/S.Aye instead getting 50million dollar contract he's getting the same amount of money as frostee rucker,I'm sure he wants to kick some ass so he can have his big pay day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 In my experience the guys who don't "get it" can't stay out of trouble for more than a couple weeks, while the guys who do "get it" finally start thinking about their future. It's like a light goes on, and they mature right before your eyes. Here's to hoping that Brooks finally "got it."We'll see. As of two months ago, I would have sworn that Odell was in the "gets it" crowd. I might have even said the same of Cheech in mid-December. I hope it's true, as it would be rather nice to get Lawrence Taylor Jr. with a 3rd-round pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyline Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I'm not going to get excited over one article. We'll see how it plays out.Still, there's no denying the upside... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekshank Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I'm not going to get excited over one article. We'll see how it plays out.I'll agree. That's why I mentioned that it is on the Bengals website, and not an unbiased journalist. Even so... what really stood out to me is that he managed to stay out of trouble while living by himself in Atlanta. Who knows. Now that he has some money, he may implode. Money tends to bring out who you really are. But I'm still impressed taht he seems to have turned the corner thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregCook Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 If there is one thing I've learned about pro sports, never underestimate how immature a pro athlete can be.Its all about track record, just like for you and I. KnuckleHead Henry, AJ, Odell, Frostee and now Brooks all have a track record. They need time to find another one that will keep them in uniform able to play during the season and then stay clean and able to make every team event during the offseason. Anointing any of them as "starters" or "steals" or "future stars" is unfair to them and is unfair to the guys who do the right thing and are contributors. Like Landon Johnson, Tab Perry, Robert Geathers. How about Kelly Washington who just stays in shape, works hard, stays ready? How would KnuckleHead behave if he had Washington's role last season? Chances are he'd still not be down from his cloud of smoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I can't believe we are still talking about K-Wash to tell you the truth and with all the talent on our WR corps, we may not see him that much this year either... Sorry, I'm just not a fan of his (has nothing to do with the gay dance either)...WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 All I can say is that one of these so-called character risks has to work out sometime, right? Just on a law of averages, even-a-blind-squirrel-finds-an-acorn-occasionally basis. And for goodness sake, if Brooks likes the occasional (or more than occasional) toke, all he has to do is look at Cheech's last few months to see exactly where that's liable to get him.That said, my bigger concern with Brooks continues to be the injury question. Let's see if the kid can actually get back to where he was a couple years ago. If he can't, his off-the-field behavior isn't likely to be a subject of much conversation whichever way it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I can't believe we are still talking about K-Wash to tell you the truth and with all the talent on our WR corps, we may not see him that much this year either... Sorry, I'm just not a fan of his (has nothing to do with the gay dance either)...WHODEY !!!As much as they are talking up Brazell, KW could be on the way out.As for Brooks, he makes the team of course, but spends quality time behind BSimmons, learning the system. Toward the end of the year I think we see a good use of a 3rd rounder (pending the usual questions! Sorry had to end it with that!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGrizzlyBaer Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Brooks at one point was as if not more tallented then aj hawk. i hope he comes back to that level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spain Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I love the pick, if half of these guys can see the light we will be a dynasty, screw boy scouts and 2-14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 screw boy scouts and 2-14Preach the word, brotha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 screw boy scoutsIs this a new hobby ?? WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F.Cleveland Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I can't believe we are still talking about K-Wash to tell you the truth and with all the talent on our WR corps, we may not see him that much this year either... Sorry, I'm just not a fan of his (has nothing to do with the gay dance either)...WHODEY !!!As much as they are talking up Brazell, KW could be on the way out.As for Brooks, he makes the team of course, but spends quality time behind BSimmons, learning the system. Toward the end of the year I think we see a good use of a 3rd rounder (pending the usual questions! Sorry had to end it with that!).I went to camp on Sunday and saw Brazell running routes. Holy crap is he fast. If he can catch and learn to get in and out of his routes well, then we are in for a surprise. Lightning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richmond_mat Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Getting booted off of a division one college football team after looking like the best linebacker in the nation is probably a pretty solid wake up call. Hopefully the article isn't B/S.It wasn't enough for Henry But he wasn't a linebacker.....I hope it is for Brooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaxonFord87 Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 It better be, otherwise it was a waste of a first day pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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