Connor Cook tries to dispel myths, perceptions
8:17 AM ET
Pat McManamon
ESPN Staff Writer
When considering quarterbacks in the draft, ponder this résumé:
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Won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2015.
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Three-year starter.
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Went to school for four years, earned his degree in December.
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Won 34 games, lost 5 as a starter; win-lost percentage of .872.
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More wins at his school than any other quarterback.
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Set school record for touchdown passes, passing yards and total offense.
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Won two bowl games as a starter.
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Finished career with 71 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
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Played in a pro-style offense for three years.
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Stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 220 pounds.
Add on that he was the 2015 Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, was named first-team All-Big Ten last season, and was Academic All-Big Ten for three years.
One would think folks would be falling all over this quarterback, that he could hardly have done more to burnish his credentials as he heads toward the NFL draft.
Instead, Connor Cook, who grew up in Hinckley and went to high school at Walsh Jesuit, is spending his time dispelling images and chasing ghosts. He wasn't a leader because he wasn't named one of the team's three captains. He insulted Archie Griffin when he was given the MVP trophy after Michigan State won the Big Ten title. He is cocky and arrogant.
If ever a draft silly season existed for someone, it exists for Cook, who did all he could as a Spartan and who for most of his senior season was considered one of the top quarterbacks coming out.
Now, though, he's projected to be drafted anywhere from the late first round to the third all because of the perceptions, which began in earnest when ESPN's Todd McShay did not have Cook in his first-round mock draft in December. McShay said it was because of questions and concerns he had been hearing from scouts about Cook.
Spartans center Jack Allen was named a captain, and he said Cook not being named one is not a story.
"I know sometimes in the media he isn't reflected on as well, but I don't think anything that you hear is true, so ..." Allen said at the combine.
The rest of Cook's teammates also had his back.
"I think it's a little bit of overkill at this point," tackle Jack Conklin said.
"When you think of a team, who's the biggest captain of a team?" defensive end Shilique Calhoun said. "The quarterback. And that's kind of known, it doesn't need to be said. He led us to a lot of victories at Michigan State, and we didn't feel like he needed that specific honor because he already had it in our minds and our hearts."
"His character isn’t an issue," receiver Aaron Burbridge said. "I don’t understand where the question marks are coming from."
Burbridge said that Cook addressed the team after every practice, pointing out areas that needed to be improved and stressing areas that were not crisp during that practice.
"He led by example but he was also a great vocal leader," Calhoun said.
Some call Cook a different kind of personality, nearing the point of being quirky.
But his backup, Tyler O'Connor, took to Twitter this week to weigh in:
Cook acknowledges the questions and says he will address concerns. He has consistently explained from September on that he was disappointed not to be a captain, but there were 22 seniors on the team and it would not stop him from leading. He said he apologized to Griffin, Ohio State's two-time Heisman winner.
He also described how he operated in Mark Dantonio's pro-style offense.
"I’ve done a lot of stuff from under center, done the five-step drops, done the seven-step drops, naked play-action pass rollouts," he said. "We have pro-style concepts, reading the whole field. It’s not like we’re standing just [focusing] on one side of the field and staying there.
"We have one, two, three, to four different reads."
Which should sound good to any NFL team. McShay does not discount the ability.
"From his ability to read coverage, to the game experience he has, to knowing how to get out of bad plays and into good plays, throwing with anticipation, trusting his receivers that they are going to be there and being able to throw to spots," McShay said in December, "he does everything you look for."
Browns' chances to take him: Medium to high. Coach Hue Jackson emphasized the team will take the best player available with the second overall pick. If that's true, it probably won't be a quarterback. When the 32nd pick rolls around, Cook could well be the best player on the board.
Browns' main question: Does the team have to take a quarterback second overall, or can it afford to wait?
Friday: Cardale Jones, Ohio State.
Previously: Jared Goff of Cal, Carson Wentz of North Dakota State, Paxton Lynch of Memphis.
