Ed Cooke - #82 - E - Maryland - Profile

Big and fast, the powerfully built Cooke made the switch from offensive end to linebacker last season and did a yeoman's job.  He improved so rapidly that the coaching staff holds him in high regard. Cooke figures prominently in the Jets' linebacklng corps this season after responding so well at the position. Under last year's system, Cooke experienced the toughest physical job of any of the linebackers as most of the opposition's running plays came his way. But, Cooke is built for ruggedness. He was the intramural boxing champion at Maryland. A second team All-American, Cooke began his pro career as a defensive end with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958. The next year he played with the Baltimore Colts before coming to New York in 1960.