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Because Bobbie Williams still hasn't signed....

HairOnFire

By HairOnFire
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ArmyBengal Grand Master

ArmyBengal

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Wasn't really trying to stir debate, rather attempting to point out the Bengals have the opportunity to do something longer than a year with Cook and they didn't bother at this point. Why not ?? Sure I get that it's cheaper to pay him the reduced rate for the single season, but there's also Luigs on the roster and they will be looking in the draft. I guess I'm just hoping it means they are going to seriously look at upgrading the interior of the o-line.

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HairOnFire Newbie

HairOnFire

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Wasn't really trying to stir debate, rather attempting to point out the Bengals have the opportunity to do something longer than a year with Cook and they didn't bother at this point. Why not ??

What's Cookin' At Center?

By Marc Hardin

Posted Apr 7, 2010

Bengals center Kyle Cook majored in construction management at Michigan State University. Now he's trying to build a career in the NFL, one year at a time.

The Bengals re-signed Cook on Wednesday, assuring that every starting offensive lineman from last season will be back for training camp. Cook, an exclusive rights free agent, signed his one-year tender for $470,000, the team said in a statement released early Wednesday.

Because Cook was the last restricted free-agent Bengals starter whose contract was addressed - right guard Bobbie Williams has all but signed a two-year deal but the team has not made it official - there was speculation Cook and the team may have been working on a multi-year deal. But Cook told the team's website a long-term deal is not imminent, which means the Bengals would rather see Cook prove himself one more season in the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"As of now, there is nothing," Cook said. "But I'd love a longer deal."

No wonder.

Just as the Bengals have been looking for continuity and production at center ever since Rich Braham retired, so too has Cook been looking for a place to land on a permanent basis after finishing an all-Big 10 career at MSU. He may have thought he accomplished some permanency in Cincinnati. But the Bengals, for the moment, are binding themselves to Cook, 26, for one year as he attempts to entrench himself as a reliable full-time starter.

Cook started every game last season for the first time in his career and helped set a franchise record with eight 100-yard games by individual rushers.

It was thought the offensive line was going to be a 2009 weakness, but it's safe to say the upgrade Cook provided over the since-departed Eric Ghiaciuc at center was at least one reason why the line became surprisingly dominant last season under unit coach Paul Alexander.

The Bengals finished in the top 10 in two categories that indicate good blocking - they were ninth in the NFL last season in fewest sacks allowed with 29 and they also ranked ninth in team rushing with 128.5 yards per game.

Cook (6-3, 312 pounds) is a third-year NFL player. His contract expired after the 2009 season, and the Bengals held his exclusive rights for 2010. He had only five games of NFL experience entering 2009, mostly on special teams, but he won the Bengals' starting center job in training camp and was credited by coaches as being a reliable signal caller and blocker along the revamped line.

"Kyle showed everyone last year that he's a good player," said Alexander in a statement issued by the team. "He's big, he's strong, he's tough, and as the center, he's a leader - the brains of the operation."

Cook entered the league as an undrafted college free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2007. He was released by the Vikings following the conclusion of preseason on September 1, and four days later was signed to the Bengals' practice squad where he stayed the rest of the season. He was signed to the offseason roster on December 31 without having played in a game.

He was placed on the Reserve/Injured list due to a freak foot injury in 2008. He played on special teams in Games 2-6 before going down with a dislocated toe during a collision in pregame warm-ups Oct. 5 at Dallas.

Fast forward to this year. With Cook at center, Williams at right guard, Andre Smith and Dennis Roland at right tackle, Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, and Nate Livings and Evan Mathis at left guard, the Bengals not only have excellent depth up front, they have the makings of an intact starting offensive line for the first time in four years.

"That's just huge," Cook told reporters, "that we have those same guys around. And we can build off that."

Cook should know. After all, building is his thing, even if it is one year at a time.

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ArmyBengal Grand Master

ArmyBengal

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Nice write up. It furthers my belief the Bengals would rather see what they have after another year of him starting and then go from there.

It also makes me believe the organization is at least of the mindset that upgrades could still be made.

"Where" that upgrade needs to be made in the interior (Guard or Center) is on them, but the mindset is there and I'm good with that.

For what it's worth, I would love to see Cook be that smart dominant center that Ritchie came along to be.

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HoosierCat Grand Master

HoosierCat

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I have to wonder why so many of you refuse to include Cook in that very same discussion.

Well, I can't speak for for the "so many," but just for myself, I'm bored to f*cking tears by this offseason and am looking for a reason to piss you off. ;)

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COB Veteran

COB

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I'm bored to f*cking tears by this offseason

Me too. True story: The well-toned ball and chain has taken to doubling up on the hamburger helper recipe. I walked in the kitchen a couple weeks ago and was greeted by a vat of cheeseburger macaroni. I went and got my camera to take a picture of this culinary atrocity to post on here, along with some of my usual complaints about her trying to kill me with her "cooking". Anyway, I came to my senses and didn't inflict my pain on you guys. But yea, pretty boring offseason.

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Ickey44 Newbie

Ickey44

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The only thing that worrys me is our Oline couch...

Fast forward to this year. With Cook at center, Williams at right guard, Andre Smith and Dennis Roland at right tackle,

.

Really? were gonna keep revolving door at RT going? seriously? .... "bangs head in desk"

What about left guard? They gonna keep switching them in and out, too?

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kingwilly Newbie

kingwilly

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The only thing that worrys me is our Oline couch...

Fast forward to this year. With Cook at center, Williams at right guard, Andre Smith and Dennis Roland at right tackle,

.

Really? were gonna keep revolving door at RT going? seriously? .... "bangs head in desk"

What about left guard? They gonna keep switching them in and out, too?

Until Big Fatty Andre can show his foot is 100%, I have no issue rotating.

I will be keen to see what kind of shape he is in come August. He can be as good as he want to be. Let's see how hard he works.

Re rotating at guard, they need to settle on a LG and move forward. Mathis played as well as any street pick-up I can recall. what a nice problem to have, two LG's who can play come in and both play pretty well, and adds to the cohesiveness of the line.

I imagine they should get them both up to speed at RG as well in case father time catches up with Big Bobbie in the form of a nagging injury.

Overall, I feel damn good about the state of this O-line. Keep the improvement going, continuity is key to them becoming truly elite.

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HairOnFire Newbie

HairOnFire

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I have to wonder why so many of you refuse to include Cook in that very same discussion.

Well, I can't speak for for the "so many," but just for myself, I'm bored to f*cking tears by this offseason and am looking for a reason to piss you off. ;)

At the risk of cheering you up I'll admit your very existence pisses me off.

Just kidding of course, but yeah....I have wondered why several of you seem so intent on picking a fight with me of late. To be fair, I will indulge any or all of you should you manage to find my trigger point, but remember, as a recently reformed internet tough guy I'm a little bit reluctant to start cracking peanuts on the tops of your empty heads.

:cheers:

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DC_Bengals_Fan Newbie

DC_Bengals_Fan

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I have to wonder why so many of you refuse to include Cook in that very same discussion.

Well, I can't speak for for the "so many," but just for myself, I'm bored to f*cking tears by this offseason and am looking for a reason to piss you off. ;)

Damn, it has been. We Bengals fans don't know how to handle a tranquil offseason.

Think it's time for me to roll up to OTAs in a limo filled with hookers and coke and take some of the boys to Newport. That should liven the police blotter a bit.

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