Every elite group has that one person you can’t remember. Destiny’s Child has those two girls before Michelle Williams arrived. I hate to say it, but not everyone knows who Ray Jackson of the Fab Five is and some don’t even know who Jimmy King is. Hell, I couldn’t name the Jackson Five if I tried. So, when you ask me to name all of the members of last year’s best linebacker’s core I get caught up on who is the last backer.

The first two are easy. They man the middle and anchor the whole damn thing, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. And then there’s Aldon Smith coming off the edge like he’s some reincarnation of Lawrence Taylor. Wait…who’s the other outside linebacker? Oh, yeah it’s Ahmad Brooks. No disrespect to the ACC Freshman of the Year, the All-American, the two-time All-Pro, the Pro Bowler, etc. Brooks has some weight behind his name, but he doesn’t have the star power of his three counterparts.

Patrick Willis was placed on IR earlier this week. Bowman still has yet to return from his knee injury last season. Aldon Smith made his debut last Sunday after serving his 9 game suspension for violating the NFL conduct policy. What does Brooks have that his counterparts don’t? His health and head on straight — that was until this past Sunday. Brooks removed himself from the game against the Giants this past Sunday, because he felt that he should be playing every down. Brooks was being rotated with rookie linebacker, Aaron Lynch and returning All-Pro, Aldon Smith.

Here are my thoughts.

1. Last year, the 49ers started Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks as their outside linebackers. So why are were they playing on the same side this past Sunday?

2. Also, the 49ers starting right linebacker, Dan Skuta, was out with an injury, so it would have been easy to just start Smith on one side and Brooks on the other right?

3. Brooks also had to share time with rookie outside linebacker, Aaron Lynch. Yeah, that’s not a blow to his ego.

4. What is Brooks’ contract situation right now? Per Rotoworld,

“2/28/2012: Signed a six-year, $37 million contract. The deal contains $8.25 million guaranteed, including a $7.5 million signing bonus and Brooks’ 2012 base salary. Another $7.5 million is available through incentives. Brooks is eligible for annual $100,000 workout bonuses throughout the contract’s life. 2014: $4.25 million, 2015: $6 million (+ $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses), 2016: $6.5 million (+ $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses), 2017: $6.95 million (+ $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses), 2018: Free Agent.”

5. Did Jim Harbaugh, Vic Fangio, or Jim Leavitt mislead Brooks? Or was this a complete and total shock to him?

6. Bottom line, how mad do you have to be to quit on your team? I mean that’s what he did essentially. He was seen on the sidelines sitting down removing his cleats and getting the tape cut off his ankles in the middle of a game.

I certainly understand Brooks’ frustration. He balls out just as much as everyone else and gets none of the praise. He stays healthy and doesn’t get in trouble off the field. He saved the day last week against the Saints, and this week he’s splitting time with a rookie and someone who hasn’t played all season long. Nevertheless, he shouldn’t have quit on your team. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it. And Brooks didn’t react well at all.

So let me do some logic math. Brooks has three years left on his contract, he plays for a team that clearly thinks he’s replaceable and he quit on them Sunday. This should be the first and last time that Ahmad Brooks quits on any team, because the NFL is the United States’ ultimate at will employer and they will “quit” on you at any time. He needs the 49ers more than they need him. It could be much worse, he could be playing every down across the bridge in Oakland.