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Green Bay - Whether the Green Bay Packers are willing to admit it or not, they need a tight end who can run down the middle of the field and force the defense to cover with a safety

Maybe they feel they have that in second-year pro Kennard Backman. They knew he was a project when they drafted him last year and they haven't given up on him being a complement to Richard Rodgers.

But with ex-St. Louis Rams TE Jared Cook on the open market after being cut Feb. 19, the Packers had to look at him.

When they brought Cook in for a visit Monday it confirmed that they at least think athletically he still has something to offer. According to a source whose team had Cook, there hasn't been a huge drop off in his skill level despite his poor production last year.

The source said Cook is not an effective short-area tight end able to chop his feet and get open quickly. He's a long-strider who needs to be used like a big wide receiver, running up the seam and stretching the safeties. Coming out of college some teams clocked him in the 4.4s at 6-4 3/4 and 246 pounds.

At the combine he had a vertical jump of 41 inches.

Today, Cook is closer to 255 pounds. He might not run in the 4.4s anymore but he runs fast enough.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher was with the Titans when they drafted Cook in the third round. Four years later, as the coach of the Rams, Fisher signed Cook to a five-year, $35 million free agent contract.

In Tennessee, Cook had his best year when Matt Hasselbeck was his QB, catching 49 passes for 759 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately for Cook, the other QBs he played with were Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Rusty Smith and Jake Locker.

Cook came to St. Louis in 2013 with the hope of being Sam Bradford's favorite target, but Bradford missed all but nine games in Cook's first two seasons. Playing mostly with Kellen Clemens, Austin Davis and Shaun Hill, Cook caught 103 passes for 1,305 yards (12.7 average) and eight touchdowns in '13-'14 combined.

Then last year his numbers dropped to 39 receptions for 481 yards (12.3) and no touchdowns. His quarterbacks were Nick Foles and Case Keenum.

By most accounts, Cook was frustrated with his role, was wildly inconsistent and only improved his poor blocking slightly. He was targeted 73 times, 25 fewer than the previous year and 10 fewer than the year before.

More than likeky the Packers brought Cook in to get a better sense of his personality and to find out whether he could handle their offense. Tight ends in Mike McCarthy's offense play multiple positions and have to pass protect and so the coaches probably put him in front of grease board to see what he could handle.

Cook could have a re-awakening playing with Aaron Rodgers in a pass-first offense.

But if he struggled with the offense when it was presented to him, the Packers might as well not sign him. He would just be a higher-paid Brandon Bostick or Jeff Janis.

A fair deal for Cook might be three years, $6 million. Don't be surprised if Chicago has some interest after dealing away Martellus Bennett.

The Bears' offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was quarterbacks coach in Tennessee when Cook was there. If the Packers aren't offering Cook much, the Bears could keep him away from their rivals with a better deal.

Don't think Cook's agents haven't fantasizes about two division teams bidding on their client.

We should know soon how this plays out.