Greg Cook is Dead

[HoosierCat]

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2012/01/27/report-greg-cook-dies/

Safe passage.

[BengalszoneBilly]

R.I.P. Mr. Cook.

[Arkansas Bengal]

That's terrible! If not for the shoulder injury, he could have been the best Bengal QB of all time.

My prayers go out to his family

[jjakq27]

What a shame. Such unfulfilled potential.

RIP Greg Cook.

/>http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/sports/former-bengals-star-qb-greg-cook-in-intensive-care

/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Cook

[COB]

I'm not sure if he died, or if Paul Brown just drafted him again.

[jjakq27]

http://www.local12.c...9Zkp-3VQqg.cspx

STATEMENT FROM THE BENGALS

ON THE DEATH OF GREG COOK

The Bengals organization wishes to express its sadness over the loss of former QB Greg Cook, who died last night in Cincinnati at age 65, after an illness. Cook was one of the brightest prospects in Bengals history, but he saw significant playing time only as a rookie in 1969. His career was derailed by a shoulder injury during that season, when he had joined the Bengals as the fifth overall pick in the NFL/AFL draft. Cook was from Chillicothe, Ohio, and was a nationally recognized college star at the University of Cincinnati.

Cook was declared by the American Football League as its 1969 passing champion, based on average league ranking over several categories. Particularly gifted on long passes, he posted a league-leading average of 9.41 yards per attempt, a figure which remains a Bengals record. He was named AFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by Associated Press and United Press International.

But in Game 3 of 1969, on Sept. 28 at Kansas City, Cook suffered a shoulder injury while helping lead the second-year Bengals to a win that brought their profile to a new height in Cincinnati. The Bengals triumphed 24-19 over a Chiefs team that would go on to win Super Bowl IV, and Cincinnati moved to a 3-0 record.

Cook missed the next three games but returned to action later in the '69 season. He totaled 11 games, passing 106-for-197 for 1854 yards with 15 TDs and 11 interceptions. But his injury later required several surgeries, beginning with the 1970 offseason, and he never was able to return to full action. He remained a member of the Bengals through 1974, but his only action after '69 was a brief appearance in one game in 1973.

"Greg was the single most talented player we've ever had with the Bengals," said Bengals president Mike Brown. "His career was tragically short due to the injury. Had he been able to stay healthy, I believe he would have been the player of his era in the NFL.

"Greg was a personal friend to me," Brown added. "He was a good person whose company I enjoyed over all his years as a player and after that. I feel a great loss at his passing."

At the time the Bengals drafted Cook, general manager and head coach Paul Brown said, "We believe this young man is the best quarterback prospect in the country."

Cook was born in Dayton, Ohio, but identified his hometown as Chillicothe, Ohio, where he spent most of his growing-up years. He was a multi-sport star at Chillicothe High School. He left the University of Cincinnati football program with 15 outright school records and a share of two others.

[Scottishbengal]

R.I.P

[ArmyBengal]

Prayers go out to his family.

RIP

[gregstephens]

So long, Cook.

[jjakq27]

Great article from about 10 years ago that traces how the West Coast Offense was created out of necessity because of Cook's arm injury.
/>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/dr_z/news/2001/10/10/drz_insider/

University of Cincinnati webpage
/>http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/012712aaa.html

[HoosierCat]

Here's the NFL "one-hit wonder" piece.

/>http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d807434bc/Top-Ten-One-Shot-Wonders-Greg-Cook

[Stripes]

Never got to see him play, but any long-time Bengals fan knows the legacy he left behind in just one season. RIP.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I'm not sure if he died, or if Paul Brown just drafted him again.

Nice.

[Sea Ray]

Anyone know what his health has been like in recent years? I'd heard something about his decling health in recent years and let's face it, most 65 yr olds don't die of pneumonia. Anyone know what diseases he's struggled with? Diabetes?

[jjakq27]

A short video montage of Cook highlites narrated by Phil Samp.

I noticed a couple of glimpses of Sam Wyche on the sidelines and some neat inside views of Nippert Stadium showing how it looked in 1969 and until the renovations that started in the 1980's.

/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqHERdwFyZI

[jjakq27]

Here's the NFL "one-hit wonder" piece.

http://www.nfl.com/v...nders-Greg-Cook

Great video. More great views of Nippert there too.

Enquirer photos

http://news.cincinna...iespic|umbrella

Injury article

http://news.cincinna...SPT02/301270182

Bill Walsh interview

http://news.cincinna...SPT02/301270097

John Erardi article

http://news.cincinna...-never-happened

Bengals.com
/>http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Mates-remember-Cook/a3ef0a6b-3add-4923-a1a4-bbcccb522b57

[Pidge]

Damn shame about his injury. So much promise. The cruel side of sports/life. He was a fairly successful artist too I think? I could have just made that up but a brief interview I saw a few yrs ago showed him being all artistic and not sucking at it, if I'm remembering it correctly.

RIP