Former GM proud of his old team, while trying to beat them | ProFootballTalk
McCloughan said he has no favorites among his former finds, but that two of the heroes from Sunday's NFC Championship game, Gore and Ahmad Brooks, stand out because he had to fight for both.
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McCloughan said the 49ers nearly took Brooks in the 2006 supplemental draft but Cincinnati beat them to him.
Even when the 49ers acquired Brooks two years later, his roster spot was tenuous.
"We had many discussions about cutting him. Would he ever get it?" McCloughan said. "But I kept battling for him because he had the ability. I'm just proud for him because he's been through so much in his life, both good and bad."