Highlighted Year: Marv Cook, 1991

Tight End, New England Patriots

Age: 25

3^rd season in pro football & with Patriots

College: Iowa

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 234

Prelude:

Cook caught 112 passes for 1660 yards (14.8 avg.) and six touchdowns in three varsity seasons and received first-team All-American honors from UPI and the American Football Coaches Association in 1988. He was chosen by the Patriots in the third round of the 1989 NFL draft and saw scant action as a rookie due to a broken foot, catching three passes and performing well on special teams. Cook became the starting tight end in ’90 and broke out with 51 receptions for 455 yards (8.9 avg.) and five TDs.

1991 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 82 [4] 

Most receptions, game – 10 (for 99 yds.) vs. Houston 9/22

Yards – 808

Most yards, game – 99 (on 10 catches) vs. Houston 9/22

Average gain – 9.9

TDs – 3

Scoring

TDs – 3

Points – 18

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Patriots went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

The overachieving Cook followed up with 52 catches for 413 yards (7.9 avg.) and two TDs in 1992 and was again chosen to the Pro Bowl. His production dropped off in ’93 as Ben Coates saw more action at tight end and he was let go by the Patriots. Cook moved on to the Chicago Bears in 1993 and finished his career with the St. Louis Rams in ’94, catching 47 passes in his last two seasons for 347 yards and two TDs. Overall, Cook caught 257 passes for 2190 yards (8.5 avg.) and 13 TDs, with 210 receptions for 1843 yards and 11 TDs coming with the Patriots. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection once and was chosen to two Pro Bowls. Cook went on to become a high school football coach whose teams have won six straight Iowa state championships at the Class 1A or 2A level.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970