NFL says it is reviewing Ahmad Brooks' case after his sexual battery charge
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The San Francisco 49ers have excused linebacker Ahmad Brooks from all team activities and sent him home to California after prosecutors in Santa Clara County, Calif. charged him Wednesday with a misdemeanor count of sexual battery.
The charge stems from a December incident in which a woman claims she was raped by former 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald. Brooks was also at McDonald’s home that night.
Brooks will not play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos, but his status beyond this week remains unclear. Brooks was accompanied back to California by Keena Turner, the 49ers vice president of football affairs.
An NFL spokesman told USA TODAY Sports that Brooks’ case remains “under review.”
“The paid leave provision of the conduct policy says an individual may be placed on paid leave,” spokesman Greg Aiello said. “No decision has been made yet on that issue.”
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The new conduct policy approved by owners last December allows players under investigation for crimes like domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, which is, in essence, a paid suspension.
For now, Brooks remains on the 49ers 90-man preseason roster. Players do not start receiving their salaries until Week 1 of the regular season.
“Ahmad is still a member of this team,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke told reporters Thursday morning. "We excused him from team activities to get on top of this ... Obviously, when you're in a situation like this, it's important that you get back to your family. It's also important for him to start taking care of business on his end. And it's our job to stay focused here on what we need to stay focused on."
Head coach Jim Tomsula said Thursday afternoon that he and the coaching staff were “on the same page” as Baalke when it comes to Brooks’ status, and that coaches were prepared that Brooks could at some point face legal action. The woman first accused McDonald of sexual assault in December, and then filed a civil suit against Brooks in May, at which point the district attorney also began investigating Brooks.
Brooks was one of only two starters remaining from the Niners’ 2012 NFC championship defense, and his absence – however long it lasts – is yet another major change for the 49ers this offseason, following the retirements of defensive lineman Justin Smith and inside linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland, and the release of fellow outside linebacker Aldon Smith following his arrest earlier this month.
But losing Smith and Brooks in the span of a few weeks, both for off-field issues, has been especially challenging. The Niners started training camp with bookend outside linebackers who had a combined 85 career sacks.
The Niners will line up Saturday against the Broncos with Corey Lemonier and Aaron Lynch in those starting roles. Combined, they have seven career sacks.
“We lost two great guys and we have to find some guys to fill that void. Some huge shoes,” inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman said after Thursday’s practice.
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