BillyCarpenter1

http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs..../1033/SPORTS02



RYAN CHATELAIN
Leadership project in progress




The usually sure-handed Joe Horn had let yet another pass go in and out of his hands. And he knew darn well it was a ball he should have caught. After all, he gets paid nearly $3 million a year to catch those pointy brown things with laces.

As he turned back to look at his team and say in that NFL version of sign language, "My bad," his quarterback, Aaron Brooks, had a hand gesture of his own that told Horn, "It’s OK. We’re OK."

Next time you’re in the Superdome, bring your binoculars. Watch Brooks, the $36 million man, closely. He’s quietly making those strides toward becoming a leader -- doing those little things that his critics said he was too apathetic to ever do.

Watch him. He’s growing up before your very eyes -- that is if you keep them open long enough to notice.

The dropped pass by Horn during Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons was just one play, one subtlety in Brooks’ long road toward becoming the general people expect him to be.

But just watch him. He’s changed from the Brooks of years past.

Before games, he’s leading a group of his receivers in warm-ups.

Watch him. He’s taking those receivers -- Horn, Stallworth and Conwell, who have had a bad case of the drops this season -- over to the sideline during the game to give their hands extra work.

Watch him. He’s not smiling after interceptions anymore. (In fact, you might be surprised to learn that only three quarterbacks who have thrown more than 100 passes this season -- Steve McNair, Vinny Testaverde and Rich Gannon -- have been intercepted less frequently than Brooks has.)

Even listen to him. The tone of disgust in Brooks’ voice after the Saints were embarrassed by the Colts 55-21 on Sept. 28, was sincere. Instead of offering excuses, he had a message for his teammates: "We’ve got to look deep inside ourselves, all 53 guys. … I believe we have quality players, and I believe we’re going to pull out of this."

Those may all seem relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but they are all actions Brooks has failed to do in the past. They are the actions of a leader -- or at least someone who’s trying to be one.

And, if you think Brooks’ efforts are inconsequential, consider that the epitome of leadership at the quarterback position is Joe Montana. His most famous tale of leadership came in Super Bowl XXIII.


Trailing Cincinnati 16-13 with 3 minutes remaining in the game, Montana calmly entered his huddle and asked his offense, "Is that John Candy" sitting in the stands?

That, too, might have seemed paltry, but it was just enough to calm the nerves of Montana’s teammates.

It was just what the 49ers needed to begin what ended up being the game-winning touchdown drive.

Maybe Brooks has not achieved Joe Montana status as a leader, and perhaps he never will. But he’s slowly but surely evolving into the leader some thought they never would see.

Courier sports writer Ryan Chatelain may be reached at 857-2210 or ryan.chatelain@houmatoday.com.