What a difference a week makes.
Seven days after Ahmad Brooksbenched himself against the Giants in a dispute over playing time, the 49ers outside linebacker returned to the field to see plenty of work in San Francisco's 17-13victory over the Redskinson Sunday.
"Last week, I was selfish," Brooks said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "This week, I was selfless."
After hearing his name boil up in trade talks, Brooks was peeved over playing in a three-man rotation with veteran Pro Bowl pass rusher Aldon Smith and Aaron Lynch, the surging rookie who has four sacks, four quarterback hits and 24 hurries in just 394 snaps. Brooks has equal takedowns and hits but 20 fewer hurries despite 145 more downs, per Pro Football Focus.
Against the Redskins, Brooks saw more snaps (38) than Lynch (21) and actually closed the game with the ball in his hands after falling to the ground upon catching a midair fumble by Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.
"I was actually trying to get a touchdown," Brooks said. "But one of my teammates, I think it was Ray (McDonald), told me to 'Get down, get down,' so I went down."
Instead of playing the hero, Brooks talked Sunday about being a better teammate. Makes sense. With so much competition around him, he's in no position to create trouble for a team already swimming in drama.
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