NFL Films: Greatness cut short for Greg Cook

[@aiwithbri]

35 years of watching this sport...first I've heard of this man. Thanks for this glimpse into his life.

[@newtheis]

I am in my 60's, I barely remember watching Gale Sayers play, and never saw this guy play a down. When I heard Walsh praise about Greg Cook in the 1980's, I researched him. An amazing story. It's like Earl Manigault who was as good as anyone on the playground but never had a chance to play pro.

[@wgrimm88]

Man wish more people knew about Greg Cook

[@kevinw8688]

Yep, an example of what might have been. To be great you need to be great (which Cook was), but you also need good luck (which he didn't have). RIP To a real legend of the NFL.

[@dylandotson9545]

Just learned about him myself die hard Bengals fan. He's buried in a cemetery I maintain. In Ross County Ohio.

[@dylandotson9545]

Way before my time I wasn't born unti) 94 but I met a player who actually went to college. With him something you would never have happen in my little town

[@Nico-ur2po]

21 year old Bengals fan and this is the first time I heard of him

[@donaldhall4823]

Because of his injury... the West Coast Offense was formed by 2 of the greatest offensive minds in football history...Paul Brown & Bill Walsh!💯🏈

[@hezamachine]

When NFL Films did the story on Greg Cook (1986) Bill Bergey was interviewed. I'm not sure why it's not on this piece. He talked about when Greg was trying to make a comeback and he couldn't make the throws. He said that Greg took off his helmet. He threw it as far as he could and walked away. Bill said that it was the saddest moment in pro football.

[@lzv6990]

hezamachine I’ve been looking for that piece everywhere. Can’t find it.

[@hezamachine]

I was able to find it. NFL Films: Bombs Away it starts at 41:30 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGnIhpJ3atuSsJY

[@bodombeastmode]

@@hezamachine Awesome thanks for sharing that.

[@dwightlove3704]

@@hezamachine The link to this video is dead

[@hezamachine]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYOmgK2MoteBndE

[@BrotherApexx]

Sad story. His injury, combined with Paul Brown's bad judgment in not promoting Bill Walsh to HC, stopped the Bengals from achieving greatness.

[@donaldhall4823]

Isn't it ironic that Walsh's first Super Bowl victory was against the Bengals and his last one of 3 overall too!💯💯🏈

[@penguinsfan251]

The emergence of the Steelers kept some good teams from winning the Super Bowl. Even a healthy Greg Cook would not have fared any better against Pittsburgh then Ken Anderson did.

[@ShinefortheCam]

​@@penguinsfan251can't agree. Cook was way more talented than anderson! He had an enormous arm. Stop it with the trash steelers bias

[@yeildo1492]

Well Brown did pick the immortal Bill "Tiger" Johnson... 🙄

[@RRaquello]

@@yeildo1492 The "Old Boy's Network". Johnson was one of his old players. It was an old man's decision. In a way it tarnished his legacy. If he had built the Bengals into a dynasty after what he accomplished with the Browns, his reputation would tower even over Lombardi's. But he threw it away because he wouldn't trust a younger guy.

[@matthewkotnik7991]

if bill walsh stayed in cincinnati and greg cook nevr got injured he would have been the goat

[@dba2605]

slow down..he said he had the a great skill set more than most. there have been quite a few rookies who have looked good for one year and injuries have stalled them. Bill Walsh is a great endorsement but we will never know

[@whataboutrob442]

Greatest of all time? I am not so sure about that.

[@r.williamcomm7693]

Yes it was Cook’s injury that left Walsh with a QB who lacked a big arm so Walsh drew up a whole new offense based upon short passes. He added to it for Ken Anderson & perfected it with Joe Montana. Without Greg Cook’s injury there would not be a West Coast offense.

[@jsbc1988]

Cookes skills were off the charts! Had Elway arm strength and mobility

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Trumpy said in this video and in other interviews that if Cook stayed healthy and Walsh became HC when Brown retired after the '75 season, his hands would be full of Super Bowl rings.

[@hezamachine]

Greg Cook could have been one of the best QB's that ever played. He led the league in passing as a rookie. He averaged 17.4 yards per completion. He had three surgeries and never came back. It's so sad what happened to him. The injury led to invention of the West Coast Offense. ESPN should do 30 for 30 on him.

[@jdog34505]

and if ESPN does they should call it "Cincinnati's Lost Diamond."

[@hezamachine]

Mike Brown said in a newspaper article that "Greg Cook: 'The Prince Who Never Became King". www.citybeat.com/home/article/13010356/greg-cook-the-prince-who-never-became-king

[@veggieoilerfan2940]

Greg actually did attempt a comeback in 1973. He threw 4 passes in 1973 before he was done with football for good.

[@jah07022]

would love to see a 30 for 30. special guy. he was my dad - biggest personality and heart.

[@xancypillosi9497]

@@jah07022 he was ur dad ?

[@bigbigjoel9710]

When I was a kid in 1971, my Dad told me about Greg Cook and I've been a Bengals fan ever since.

[@randylochtefeld2806]

It is hard to describe how talented Greg Cook was before the injury. Sorta like Ali before he went to prison or Bo Jackson before he hurt his hip. As a senior citizen and lifelong Bengals fan, no QB in Bengals history not even Burrow can touch the capabilities of Greg Cook.

[@AdamKlownzinger]

An even harder story for me to bear than Len Bias. Because we actually saw what Cook looked like in the NFL; dominant. Immediately. And with a dead arm.

[@6412mars]

well said mr.trumpy....brings tears to my eyes

[@jeffsmith2022]

Such a sad end for a talented, young, man...

[@Salvatore1268]

Maybe the saddest what could have been in NFL history

[@glennhalila8279]

There's 2 injuries that bother me. This one because it cost the Cincinnati Bengals at least 1 or 2 Super Bowl Rings and I'm almost in tears about the Freak accident which had befallen this great Quarterback. The Freak accident with Bo Jackson in which Bo's Hip was injured also is very painful to fathom. I saw one of Greg Cook's Bengal Tiger Portraits. It was Beautiful. The portrait of his injury really hurts and the place he lived hurt. He should have been a Millionaire and a legend. Bob Trumpy, Sam Wyche, Ron Jaworski,Bill Walsh do a fantastic job and Paint a Picture in my Mind. Just watching Greg Cook in the footage of this video, shows me that The Game of Football and The Cincinnati Bengals and it's fan's missed out on Championships. I'm 100% certain!

[@treemands]

The Bo Jackson injury was Bengal's related as well. Nice post. You have to wonder the impact of concussions on athletes later on as well. My Brother in Law who knows Troy Aikman was told by his Doc if he had to keep playing he may have issues later in life from them. He quit...

[@coachZDeuce]

Another injury that bothers me still is Carson Palmer as well, I think that season and the rest of his time as a Bengal plays out a lot different...

[@RRaquello]

@@coachZDeuce If Carson Palmer doesn't get hurt, they win the Super Bowl. I don't have any doubt about that.. I was a long time Bengal fan, since 1970. I basically quit football after that game. I knew it would never happen for us. It happened three times to us to lose a key, irreplaceable player in the first minutes of a playoff game. In 1973, Essex Johnson vs. Miami, our best back. In the Super Bowl, Tim Krumrie, on the first or second play of the game. And then Carson Palmer on a cheap shit play. That all on top of knowing all about Greg Cook, though I never saw him play. I really haven't followed football since. A couple of years they got into the Super Bowl I didn't even watch the game. That would have been unthinkable in my young Bengal fan days.

[@kevinjames821]

This always breaks my heart but fills me with so much hope. His greatness is found in many of the stories of the NFL!

[@NOC1TIME]

What a great piece on Greg Cook. To hear Bob Trumpy. Sam. Coach Brown. Recall and tell war storys. About a very special person a gifted quarterback many of us never got to see. A tresure.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

bob trumpy was a terrific tight end but more importantly he was in my opinion, the GREATEST nfl 'color' announcer EVER. ever. and its not just my opinion only.....

[@jacktorrance2633]

Trumpy and Enberg were a great duo.

[@paulhubrich3655]

What a tragedy. Hope you have finally found peace Mr. Greg Cook. R.I.P.

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

I was at the Cincinnati at Houston game in 1969. The Oilers had one of the best secondarys in the AFL. Cook smoked them for 4 TDs.... 3 to Bob Trumpy. 31-31 sister kisser.🏈

[@hofghost2456]

How old are you jeez

[@gregoryseremetis7571]

My Dad and I had season tickets at Nippert stadium while they were building Riverfront…what a tremendous talent and what a tremendous loss.

[@Tommy-76]

The phrase “Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: “It might have been” fit the late Greg Cook to a T. Rest easy, Greg Cook.

[@thomasp_1776]

What a shame. If Greg were injured today that same rotator cuff injury would be repaired & he'd miss only a few games instead of a spectacular career in the NFL. Unfortunately, it occurred during the dark ages of sports medicine. He lost his dream & it ruined his life because of medical malpractice during a time when there was no NFL Players Union, disability benefits or support. He was chucked & discarded like trash when he was permanently damaged by team's insistence Cook continue playing & the neanderthal surgical procedures of that time (yr.*1969) & by the way the same year it was claimed there was a moon landing & the spaceship will all aboard returning safely (unless you ask Hollywood filmmaker Stanley Kubrick). Pisses me off just like when 'powers that be' stripped Muhammed Ali of his title during the prime of his life & boxing skills. What could have been & what the public missed out on.

[@Diostillrocks]

They didn't have the technology to know when there was a serious shoulder injury. Just take a look at Cleveland Brown's catcher Ray Fosse who was injured in the All Star game by Pete Rose. He played the rest of the season not knowing about how serious it was. Fosse, however, had a successful career post baseball.

[@johnlevalley521]

You forgot to include that the Earth is flat.

[@imannonymous7707]

Rip man....sometimes life just aint fair. Too easy for some and just plain hard for others. It can happen to me or you too. Carry on wayward sons

[@billlack1893]

Remember him…amazing talent, amazing player…what could have been.

[@Classicrocker6119]

Trumpy was able to put a lot of class and perspective on how how talked about Greg Cook.

[@orangehoof]

I can say I watched Greg Cook play in Denver in 1969. You could see he had "it". But talent is just one ingredient as a pro football star. Talk to all the running backs who arrived fast as lightning and left with bad knees. RIP, Greg

[@carseye1219]

Amazing that the injuries that basically ended the careers of both Greg Cook and Bo Jackson were so innocent looking. Nothing like the ones you can't stomach to see twice. Side note: 1970 Houston Oilers unis-best ever.

[@jaylove7391]

Seems like a good human being, but definitely a very good football player. RIP Greg Cook

[@davidpollard4051]

He was drafted #5 overall in the '69 draft. One pick after the Steelers took Joe Greene. Would have been interesting to see them battle through the 70s if Cook hadn't got injured.

[@ericc2083]

Bless his heart. Great talent, but physically and emotionally fragile, with lots of demons. Tough combination for a pro football player in that era. The only bright light in this story for the Bengals is they drafted Kenny Anderson a couple of years later as a replacement. A great QB who should be in the HOF.

[@haroldswick9962]

I remember Greg Cook like it was yesterday. He was a great leader and tremendous quarterback. It wasn't Paul Brown that ruined his career it was a combination of medical, trainors and coaches not familiar with this type of injury. I'm glad I got to see him play. I regret I couldn't help him.

[@loyaldude10]

A 1 year phenom and what a phenom he was. Played a few games after that injury and that no doubt caused further damage. Medicine back then was primitive to the techniques they have today. Shame that he had other talents but led a very unhappy life. RIP Greg Cook---could have been as great as anyone

[@roadrules3671]

I had never heard of QB Greg Cook before viewing this video. Always learn something new.

[@daveforeman6931]

one of my brothers and I each had one of his football cards way back when. He was long forgotten until I saw this video.

[@ianisaac2501]

I heard of him actually and read football books, I heard he was extremely talented and could have been one of the greats to play the game. Sucks that his injury made him leave football.

[@sambezious]

His story should be made into a movie. So many greats that never got the accolades they deserve.

[@brettpatterson404]

RIP to both Cook and Sam Wyche

[@hezamachine]

and Weber's Café.

[@treemands]

Sam was a great man. So is Bob Trumpy. Bet he took Greg out just to get help him get better.

[@Fernando-tr7ki]

That's why Bill Walsh created the so called "West Coast" offense Greg didn't have a Great offensive line so he had to get rid of the football reality fast!! That did him in...sad ending to a great career

[@stever1791]

I remember Greg and his college career , as well as his very good rookie year. He had Cincinnati winning games as a rookie. Some were upsets because The Bengals were an expansion team. My Brother and I knew Greg was real good, but he got hurt often , would come back and play good - then hurt again. We know his was real good and he was a leader ( The Bengals were a different team with him in there as the QB. RiP Greg . He was a U.of Cincinnati Great

[@centrist1008]

Love the old unis

[@samstan4462]

As a young bengals fan growing up i always thought they were so ugly but as a middle age adult they have grown on me a bit.

[@RRaquello]

@@samstan4462 As a young Bengal fan in the 70's, I loved them. I hate the stripes. I have quite a few Bengals souvenirs and some memorabilia accumulated over the years but nothing with the stripes. Only with the "BENGALS".

[@ChildOfThe1970s]

Sad story. I never knew all of this about Greg Cook, heard his name before but barely knew anything about him. He played the year I was born, so by the time I knew anything at all he was out of the public eye. It's a shame he could never come back from that injury...what could have been!

[@matthewblantongray517]

What a crying shame......I remember my dad talking about how good he really was......

[@garrison6863]

I saw Cook play in that year. He was so talented, it was magical. What he did with an expansion team was simply amazing. I agree with Walsh, Cook would have been probably the best Qb who ever played. Walsh and him would have set records that would have never been broken.

[@rondesantis8618]

My favorite QB was Bert Jones, who played with the Colts in the 70's. He could have been one of the greats as well but suffered a shoulder injury that ruined his career too. Very similar to Greg Cook. Cook's life became a tragedy, and I feel deeply for him. Jones, on the other hand has had a wonderful life in spite of his shortened career. I can't help but believe that Cook needed counseling and would have benefited from it. A sad story, indeed.

[@markarizmendi6050]

Greg Cook - lightning in a bottle. What a sensitive, talented football player.

[@michaeltoebe1851]

Powerful story I never knew. Very well done. Really sad.

[@guimart77]

As a Bengals fan, my first thought after Joe Burrow´s injury, was Joe Cook :(

[@silverback7675]

It’s all good, he’s back and the Bengals are in the AFC Championship game

[@Benger2185]

Joe Burrow is Greg Cook Reincarnated

[@josefaariasbeltre4810]

Burrow's injury looked far worse, yet he came back like it was nothing... guess it just wasn't meant to be for greg.

[@robdobson5419]

@@josefaariasbeltre4810 orthopedic medicine has come a long way since 1969. Greg Cook's injury might not have been career ending if it happened today.

[@MadMike1]

Burrow can be the next Tom Brady if the Bengals give him an o-line.

[@therealmcromano319]

I pray to God we’re not saying the same thing about Joe Burrow in 50 years

[@dusa1394]

Barely remember him as a kid I was 10 years old. I used to always root for the Bengals I was a patriot fanThere wasn’t much to cheer about about then in New England he was very talented from what I heard later on in years

[@jimquann2400]

Thank you for this story so well done!! All I knew about Cook was played pro football for Cincinati. What a story thank you.

[@paulschroeder2814]

Well, if Paul Brown confirmed his actual greatness and "what should have been", then thats more than enough for me. The guy KNEW NFL greatness.

[@CZECHMATE650]

He looked so natural & at ease. No wasted motions. I almost understand him. I'm not who everyone said I'd be either.....

[@ChildOfThe1970s]

same here

[@JAMESGANG-f5u]

Same

[@deakon071]

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I'd never heard of Greg Cook. What a heartbreaking story. He really does have a lot of similarities to Aaron Rodgers. He was definitely a premier talent, you can tell that just from the little bit of game footage. What a shame. RIP Mr Cook

[@RRaquello]

I became a Bengal fan in 1970 as a newby 9 year old football fan. I'm not from Cincinnati and can't say why I picked them, but they were the only sports team I ever became a real die hard fan of. I remember every year in the early 70s the football annuals would ask "Is this the year Greg Cook comes back?" Since I had just missed his career it was like he was a ghost hovering over the team. We were all waiting for him to come back but knew he never would. They were lucky to find Ken Anderson to take his place, but for us older fans what happened to Greg Cook has haunted the franchise for over 50 years. Also, in those days a torn rotator cuff was instant death to a career for anyone who had to throw in their sport. It was more common in baseball. A great NY Yankees pitcher named Mel Stottlemyre, still young enough after 10 years and several 20 game seasons, to be an all-star, tore his rotator cuff and his career ended immediately. He never pitched again. His career ended overnight. There was no treatment for it, nothing that could be done. Nothing could have saved Greg Cook's career back then. It might have been different if it happened now.

[@earheadsix4119]

I remember when I was a kid in the mid 1970s I found a book in the local public library about rising NFL stars. There was a section in there about Greg Cook. I had never heard of him. I remember asking my father. He said oh it was tragic, got hurt and never played again. But what an arm.

[@brianwolf6166]

I still have that book that mentioned Cook ... also mentions Bill Nelson with Cleveland as well, whose knees were worse than Joe Namath's ...

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@brianwolf6166 True.

[@zuozhen4758]

A QB with talents well ahead of its time.

[@jimipalmer5041]

I've got awesome memories of Greg Cook and the Cincinnati Bengal teams back then. The old AFL was such an exciting league for a young boy to watch, the NFL was so f'n boring then. 🕊💖🖖 p.s. Paul Robinson was another great Bengal back then.

[@Nick23at63]

I've looked at that replay of the injury, and it is hard to see how the right shoulder was injured. Wyche said Cook hurt it when hitting the ground, but Cook's left shoulder hit the ground first, not the throwing shoulder. When Lynch came in for the tackle, it looks like he hits the right shoulder and then spins Cook to the ground. Still, it didn't look that bad, but some impact caused that rotator cuff to tear.

[@xancypillosi9497]

He prob yanked and ripped the labrum Forced his shoulder behind his back or whatever. I have a torn labrum. Isn’t fun. But not the worst. It’s a “slap tear” , pitching injury

[@danielharford1864]

Great player. Players should always prepare for life after football.

[@cs292]

It must be hell to know you had all those natural gifts, only for it to be taken away from you. Probably feels like a terrible divorce you can’t get over.

[@beat-inbuzzard4473]

Since we have Joe Burrows now, I just pray that he can have a long and healthy career without major injury to him and his career. Greg Cook story and life was cut short and it was not great for him, very sad. I saw Kenny Anderson from Augustana after Greg, He still needs to be in the HOF in canton. Boomer and finish the game Sam Wyche in 88, I thought we had that , Louis Billup and Krumrie breaking his leg, stanley wilson giving in to the moment on Cocaine. I just hope and pray after 60 plus years of some good and a long very bad 60 yrs of Cincinnati Bengals football, that Joe Burrows can lead us this weekend to the Super Bowl. It will give the City, and the Franchise,and Bengal Country a reason to be proud for years to come. God Be With Our Bengals .

[@brianwolf6166]

Cook was very similar to Terry Bradshaw ... the sky was the limit talent-wise but got hurt in a game against the rugged KC Chiefs defense ... instead of healing, he kept playing which made his injury worse. Had he never been hurt, Ken Anderson would have been drafted by another team and probably wouldn't have had the same coaching ...

[@yeildo1492]

Well summarized by a very kind friend. I have had a torn rotator cuff and I could barely comb my hair. Much less throw a football. What a damn shame. Now, or course, the surgery would be super easy.

[@josephyodiceyodice5990]

He was the perfect QB. Smart, mobile, big, tough, great arm and he had great instincts. A little bit Bradshaw, Staubach and Bert Jones. Much like John Elway; except he was a better pure passer. Such a shame he got so badly hurt ! 😩🏈

[@LDTOK-zs8oz]

Greg Cook and Jefferson Street Joe Gilliam are two of the most talented QB s in history but their brilliance burned out quickly.

[@jab1289]

Joe Roth is another "what might have been" at the QB position. He died of cancer at 22 before he would have been drafted.

[@jckiss2003]

Greg Cook should be in the Bengals ring of honor! For the little time he was with the Bengals, he accomplished a lot! 13:38

[@stevefowler2112]

My Dad was from the Cleveland area and loved the Browns/Paul Brown and saw Otto Graham play a number of times. He always told me the best QB he ever saw play was Otto Graham but when Paul Brown founded the Bengals he told me after watching his rookie season that Cook was even better than Otto and that he said Paul Brown would soon be winning NFL Championships in Cincinnati.

[@jab1289]

Cook, Joe Roth, Bert Jones, and Joe Gilliam are the biggest "what ifs" at the QB position.

[@danman1809]

Really good for a rookie. Hard to say based on stats and film that he was the greatest talent or even top 50 for QBs. He didn't play 20 NFL games. 53% completion 14 TDs 11 interceptions. Its nice to romanticize especially since his career was cut very short but remember he had Bill Walsh's offensive scheme which was way ahead of the 60s n 70s.

[@Inlandchuck]

I will never forget when Greg Cook got hurt. He would have been the greatest.

[@charlesklimko492]

That game, against the Dolphins, was played at Nippert Stadium, on the campus of The University of Cincinnati.

[@markrobertson2196]

Bengals home their first 2 years before old riverfront stadium opened up

[@dougthompson5449]

I am a Steeler fan that remembers Greg Cook. Those 4 rings the Steelers won would have been won by the Bengals if Cook didn't get hurt.

[@melbea03]

That injury today the player would be back the next season

[@Ryan2022]

? Chad Pennington tore his rotator cuff and it ruined him

[@soulpatrolhawaii5409]

Cook was replaced at qb by Vigil Carter, who didn't have cook's strong arm, leading to the short passing game installed by walsh and brown - birth of the west coast offense. RIP Greg...

[@toeey14]

As a bengals fan, watching this hurts

[@jah07022]

As Greg's son, hurts watching too... :(

[@dannylantz1613]

@@jah07022 did you live with him ever?

[@samsquanch1234]

I'd say just being a Bengals fan hurts in general

[@hezamachine]

2:03 I wonder what show that Charlie Jones and Pat Summerall were on.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@hezamachine, The look of the shot makes me think it's TWIPF, but I'm not sure.

[@Music--ng8cd]

I believe Cook's injury is what forced Brown and Walsh to develop what became known as the West Coast offense.

[@cyrillesu]

John Elway before John Elway. He looks so far ahead of his time.

[@UncleT4life]

sad story, very informative piece of history. Goes to show luck often goes a lot further than skill

[@calvinbealer7264]

God Bless Mr Greg Cook.

[@jerrymeadows5059]

RIP Greg.

[@jerrysg1]

A real sports tragedy that cut his life short because of his despair over what he might have been. Another victim of the primitive surgical techniques in place at that time.

[@jimstevenson424]

People are drawn to free spirits and some think that is the best way to live, but they frequently don't turn out well. We hear of the good stories (but not this one). I really like his football paintings.

[@barbaraGobert31]

Man that's sad...its wonderful though that God at least gave him a year and a half of time at the top. That's more than most folks ever see but still. Very painful.

[@WhiteRaven___]

One year out of the 40 or 50 he lived..

[@dehonore]

Let’s get one for #12 on this special Sunday….

[@Benger2185]

Joe Burrow is Greg Cook’s Successor to the Paul Brown Bengals playbook. Only a few quarterbacks can utilize the Bengals playbook.

[@SyndicateSuperman]

This makes me cry. I really wonder what Bengals fans did. What if? Could Greg Cook have been the progenitor of the QB that came nearly 30 years after he played? Sure seems like it.

[@leonardoneves7450]

This is so sad...

[@mmayer4409]

Very sad story…

[@pennyandwoody]

Greg cook was an awesome QB. I have a friend who told me had he stayed healthy, he still wouldn't have been as good as Tom Brady Peyton Manning and Joe Montana. I said find footage of cook and watch everything... 🤣🤣🤣

[@jab1289]

That's bull. He was better than those guys. Heck, if they didn't play for Walsh and Belichick, we wouldn't be talking about Brady and Montana today.

[@Jakester428]

No one has ever said Elway

[@donsampson9076]

Really hope Cincy gets a better OL,so Joe don't end up another Greg Cook.

[@chrissinclair4442]

It will be interesting to watch CJ Stroud.

[@GeronFletcher]

It’s very very telling Greg cook was a rookie qb on a brand new expansion team in the bengals and still lead the NFL in passing. Thats an absolutely ridiculous statistic. He really could have been the GOAT

[@shb7772000if]

A friend of mine told me cook could throw the ball 100 yards while on his knees. Wonder if that's true?

[@dcbandnerd]

Greg Cook is proof that IRL nerfing is absolutely real

[@redmustangredmustang]

There are just some freak accidents that didn't seem big, but ended up being career ending injuries like Greg Cook. Sterling Sharpe made a block against the Falcons in 1994 and it turned he hurt his neck and he had to retire at 30. Everyone says Bo Jackson. Left the game and sadly the injury wasn't picked up until a month or two later by the time he had surgery the damage was done he couldn't play football again. Lots of this was modern medicine didn't have the MRI's and technical sports medicine to pick these things up quickly. Billy Sims was the best what if when he tore his ACL for the Lions. Today he get surgery and be back for the next season. May not be the same player, but at least he gets another shot to play in the NFL. The sad thing is for Greg Cook the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak and couldn't do what Greg wanted.

[@DavidThompson-yr1re]

Makes me wish the Bengals had taken him in the organization and helped him more. Maybe they tried…idk

[@waldolydecker8118]

Good point

[@zytrik1]

Adam Schefter said he was Tom Brady and Peyton Manning combined.

[@lzv6990]

He was a much better athlete than both.

[@jah07022]

I'd say more of Peyton and Aaron Rodgers. He moved a lot more than TB and Peyton. And didn't have a traditional throwing motion. I'm Greg's son :)

[@thehaughtcorner]

@@jah07022 I was 14 in 1969, and living in Cincinnati. The difference your Dad made between the 1968 and 1969 seasons was incredible. It is just as Mike Brown said it was. Your Dad was an electrifying player, and I'm proud to say I got to see him play in person at Nippert Stadium. It was breathtaking. The superlatives about your father are not hype. I believe John Unitas is the greatest QB ever. I also believe I have seen only one quarterback who could have surpassed him. That's your Dad. I can't give him a better compliment than that. All of us who lived in Cincinnati then should count our blessings that we got to see him play -- either at UC or with the Bengals.

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@jah07022 What's your name?

[@jamesanthony5681]

I'd say Ken Anderson. Big, strong arm, good athlete.

[@alandenson6649]

He was Terry Bradshaw but with better mechanics and vision.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Greg was seemingly the finished product when he came into the league. Terry needed a few years.

[@danb.7021]

If he wouldn't have switched the football to his left hand he would have been fine. You can see his right arm coming out for a split second before ground impact and obviously he landed awkwardly.

[@Coleman.1957]

All the more reason to dislike Kansas City … among so many others 😂