New Packers TE coach doesn't strike me as a guy that puts up with a lot of nonsense.
The guy did some good work with a bag of lockwashers at TE in Cleveland. Putting these two together might effing work.
6'5, 250 with great speed, more than the occasional drop and a history of voicing his displeasure with his role in the offense. It's worked out OK before.
Makes Dick Rodgers look he's about 80years old and playing with a walker.
WolfPack posted:wonder why the Rams didn't try to retain him, what's the knock on this guy
how does he compare to Bennett?
They didn't retain him because he was making too much money. He's basically a worse version of J-Mike complete with stupidity and hands of stone. You thought Finley dropped easy passes, Cook puts him to shame in that regard. Seriously, awful hands
He's shown bad character/attitude and runs lazy routes and doesn't even display effort in blocking.
Here he is shoving his QB on the sidelines
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-...-his-own-quarterback
Here's his hands on full display
http://www.nfl.com/videos/st-l...ok-wide-open-TD-drop
With that said, he'd likely come cheap with very little total guaranteed money and signing him wouldn't cost GB a future comp. pick. He's still incredibly athletic/fast so the mere threat of him split out wide would give the defense something to actually have to gameplan for. With RichRod, there was no threat there
Cook would be the guy who gives them a threat over the middle between the 20's, and then RichRod can be their red zone TE since his big body/hands work better in tight spaces. Don't see Cook being anything more than a stop-gap/filler type pick-up assuming they do sign him
Can he catch Hail Marys? How hard does he run into DB's? Does he know the PI play?
I was and still am in favor of signing Cook. What CAPACKFAN said is right on the money, Cook will screw up at the most inopportune time. It can be a dropped pass, blowing a block or committing an needless false start of holding penalty. But he does have the speed and athletic ability to force safeties to be honest, and even with the obvious warts I think his positives can more than outweigh the negatives. As long as they can stay in the 3 year, 13-14 million dollar range then the Packers should be in. If it starts getting into the 6+ million per year area then the Packers should be out. I'd probably feel different if this was a deep draft for tight end but it's not, an area probably best addressed by free agency if possible.
Can he catch a 2 point conversion? That is all that really matters.
Knowing Ted, if there is a deal it will be a 1 or 2 year "Prove It" deal. Cook is a talented player and there's no denying that he's really only played on teams that were incredibly frustrating...lots of losing, poor QB play, etc. As CAP said though, he's pretty unreliable at this stage and there's a reason he hasn't gotten extensions. Could be a great pick up like Wayne Simmons, could be a total bust like Koren Robinson.
Holy crap, that's quite the list of QB suck:
On Tuesday, though, Cook reportedly took a visit to the Green Bay Packers. At the very least, this is an interesting visit. Look at the list of quarterbacks Cook has caught passes from in his career (in decreasing order of completions):
- Matt Hasselbeck
- Austin Davis
- Jake Locker
- Nick Foles
- Kellen Clemens
- Sam Bradford
- Kerry Collins
- Shaun Hill
- Case Keenum
- Vince Young
- Rusty Smith
It's safe to say that none of those players is quite as good as Aaron Rodgers. If there's anyone that can finally turn Cook into something more than the sum of his parts, it's the guy that's been the best quarterback in football for most of his time in the league.
Then again, it seems pretty likely that if Cook did wind up in Green Bay, he'd just wind up being a complement to the incumbent Richard Rodgers. And it's not like he'd suddenly take over a huge role in the offense when (Aaron) Rodgers already has Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, and Jared Abbrederis to throw to. Still, Cook finally winding up with a good quarterback would have to be a nice change for him.
This could very well be a situation where wolf or terry are a fan. Pushed Ted to trade for him last year and then pushed to get him in for a visit. We shall see.
If Cook gets open will throw him the ball.
Nothing will ever top Richard Rodgers half dive/leap/extension/army crawl/explosion/recliner/not interested/30 for 30/TNT/Lifetime TD against Minny last year.
That was the best TD I've ever felt bad about. And it's never going to get topped.
Orlando Wolf posted:Simmons was a draft choice though.
You're right, I don't know who I was thinking of. A veteran pick up like Santana Dotson I guess is more appropriate.
If the Packers were to sign Cook, the best hope is he is old enough to finally mature. If he is willing to train, listen, and learn, he has the tools to make a great TE.
I'd like to think that Green Bay would be just the place to put him in that position. Playing for a perennial contender with a world-class QB can do that for a guy.
I think it just depends on where his head is.
ammo posted:If Cook gets open
will throw him the ball.
Maybe this is the signing that makes AR trust Janis more. I can get use to 7 receptions, 145 yards and 2 TDs on a regular basis.
Cook would fit with what the Packers do and need, and he's only 29 this season.
Tough to hold frustration from playing in TEN and STL against a guy, but it's fair to say the warning signs are legitimate. We do know that locker room drama has been practically non existent in the Rodgers era, which is likely equal parts character and winning. Hopefully both would be enough to tame a guy like Cook if the talent is worth it.
If he signs for any guaranteed money, I'd be disappointed. He's done nothing to earn a decent third contract other than being a good athlete, which after 7 years in the NFL, isn't enough. The only hope here is that an upgrade at QB will fix his lack of focus/motivation. Is that a guy you pin your hopes on?
How long will it take Rogers to smell what Cook is serving? i.e. how long before he trusts him enough to throw to him?
Add a 41" vertical, 10'-3" broad jump, 23 reps at 225#, 35 3/4" arms, 10 1/4" hands and a 25 wonderlic score (combine and pro days) and you've got numbers to drool over.
Still, with all that, the production is barely adequate.
Former Browns ILB Karlos Dansby listed the Packers as one of the teams he'd like to play for in 2016.
Of course, that will almost guarantee he won't play here.
At this point, I don't think Cook gets anything close to $3 - $4 million per year. He's probably looking at a one-year deal with a low base salary and a lot of incentives.
If Ted signs Cook cheap, does he no longer count as a "real" free agent?
Since he was released he already is not a real FA.
Speaking of Starks and offseason, it's a reach but things are dead around here so... I was watching the 2010 playoff game vs PHI yesterday. Starks looked flat out dynamic in the first half, like he was shot through a canon on some of his off T runs, breaking tackles and busting through the second level. He doesn't have that same burst anymore but it was fun to look back. It's amazing how much talent was still on the field considering the 14 IR's.
Woodson was violent on his run blitzes.
Don't know how many caught this but it was the first time I saw Raji drop into coverage in the middle. Aikman noticed and pointed it out too. It was the same look that got him his INT/TD in CHI.
It would be nice to have a guy with Jennings' quickness again.
Overall, it felt like the team as a whole was quicker back then. Granted some of the "stars" are 5 years older now but the rest of the roster makes the difference.
Succession plan grinds on
@TomSilverstein: #Packers GM Ted Thompson promotes Eliot Wolf to director–football operations and Brian Gutekunst to director of player personnel.
@Michael_Cohen13: As director of player personnel, Gutekunst takes over the role Wolf had before today's promotion. He had been director of college scouting.
@AlbertBreer: Both Gutekunst and Wolf are considered future GM types. Thompson already has quite the tree: McCloughan, Schneider, Dorsey, McKenzie.
[More here:] http://m.packers.com/news/arti...f22900890+sf22900890
Eliot probably got a raise, too.
Rounding out Eliot's skillset for his eventual ascension to the throne.
Just don't get Joffrey'd
He'll be gone to another team before Thompson retires
Best GM gig in U.S. pro sports. If he departs knowing he's the next guy otherwise then he's too thick or impatient to get the job in the first place.
YooperPackfan posted:He'll be gone to another team before Thompson retires
I'm surprised TT told you about his plans regarding how long he plans to stick around. Impressive.
Yeah it'll be interesting to see what happens to Wolf. He's pretty highly regarded around the league but age would tell you he's at least 5 years away from being a realistic GM candidate (34 right now). Problem is, you'll always have teams like the Browns, Dolphins, Jaguars, etc. who don't know what they're doing and will hire Wolf away in their next front office clean out, only to fire him 2 years later when they haven't won a Super Bowl yet. I just hope Wolf is smart enough to know what he has in Green Bay. The lack of a singular owner and the overall consistency has to be very appealing.
Guys like Wolf and DeCosta in Baltimore could have a gm gig right now if they want it. They are going to be selective about what ownership group they hitch up with.
I'm sure Wolf has had his opportunities to advance elsewhere, probably not as a GM, but I'm sure he keeps getting promoted in GB due to outside interest. 3 different teams (Oakland, Seattle, KC) have plucked their GMs from Uncle Ted's staff, so I'm sure Eliot is smart enough to know the easiest path to running a team is by hitching his wagon to TT...it's going to be 4 GMs pretty soon also as I believe Alonzo Highsmith is pretty well thought of.