Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- A two-year-old mistake was corrected Wednesday in Minnesota, where the Vikings benched right tackle Ryan Cook and replaced him with utility backup Artis Hicks.
Cook was a center throughout his career at New Mexico, but the Vikings have been trying to turn him into a right tackle since making him a surprise selection midway through the second round of the 2006 draft. Most media scouting services ranked Cook as a second-day pick, prompting then-personnel director Fran Foley to suggest they "don't know New Mexico football."
In taking Cook so high, the Vikings passed over Western Michigan receiver Greg Jennings (Green Bay), Miami kick returner Devin Hester (Chicago) and UCLA running back Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville), among others. (See the chart below for a fuller listing.)
Cook is a smart and decent guy, but at its best his performance has been adequate. At his worst, Cook has been a penalty machine. He has been called for a false start in each of the Vikings' past three games and also gave up a key sack in their 19-13 loss Sunday at Tampa Bay.
Inserting Hicks is no cure-all -- he is far more comfortable on the left side than the right -- but the Vikings couldn't wait on Cook any longer.
"It's a cumulative work," coach Brad Childress said Wednesday. "You're trying to put yourself in the best position to win games. That's all I'm doing."
Cook called his issues "fixable problems" and said he hopes to get another opportunity. It remains to be seen if the Vikings will return him to center; current starter Matt Birk is in the final year of his contract. But for now, Cook will join another second-round pick from 2006 -- quarterback Tarvaris Jackson -- on the Vikings' list of deposed young starters.
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.
