Former COC Linemen Peko & Fanene: Along The Same Line

It is worth noting when a community college has two athletes in the NFL at the same time.

Two on the same team is attention-grabbing.

But two potentially start on the same side of the same defensive line?

That’s unheard of — except in Cincinnati.

For the fifth straight season, former College of the Canyons stars Domata Peko and Jonathan Fanene will play side-by-side for the Cincinnati Bengals, who opened the preseason Sunday with a 16-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

Fanene had two tackles in the game, including a sack. Peko didn’t record a tackle.

“Who would ever think that two guys that grew up as close as those two did with each other, and went to the same junior college, would end up on the same (NFL) team?” says Cincinnati defensive line coach Jay Hayes.

“They are both doing very, very well,” he adds. “They are core players for us on our D-line.”

The 6-foot-4-inch, 292-pound Fanene played at COC in 2000 and 2001, while the 6-foot-3-inch, 320-pound Peko suited up for the Cougars in 2002 and 2003.

The two behemoths first met in high school after Peko moved from California to the small island of American Samoa, where Fanene was born.

Little did they know just how much their futures would intertwine.

“It’s really cool to have someone from the same place you’re from, who cares about you and understands the difficulties (you face),” Peko says. “Someone you can talk to when you miss home.”

Hayes praises their bond and the family nature that has been fostered within the defensive unit, as well as their play up front.

Their football skills began to take shape under former COC head coach Chuck Lyon and defensive line coach Leon Criner.

That especially rings true for Peko, who was named a Junior College All-American, an All-State first-teamer, the Western State Conference Player of the Year and a WSC first-teamer — all in 2003.

“Oh man, COC was so much fun,” he says. “It was a big part of my journey to get to the NFL. We had a good coach, who took really good care of me. That’s where I really learned how to play D-line.”

Peko evolved into a dominant community college defensive lineman and led the team to a Southern California championship and an appearance in the state championship game in 2002. One year later, the Cougars won the Western State Conference Bowl.

“He was more of a raw-talent guy than Jonathan was,” Lyon says. “He was a more true technique, inside tackle. He was a big kid, strong kid and had a little mean streak in him. He definitely had that from the beginning. He was a very quiet young man and didn’t say much. But he didn’t have to say much with his size.”

In 2001, Fanene helped COC beat Saddleback College 35-32 in the WSC Bowl at Cougar Stadium. It was the first-ever bowl victory in the program’s history.

“It was a jump start for me,” Fanene says of his time at COC. “That team right there was a family team. We had a picnic every Friday. We could bring our friends around and we could talk about football and the things we needed to get better and prepare for games on Saturday. The program was perfect, right on time for me and some of the teammates.”

Fanene had 65 tackles and 14 sacks in his final year with the Cougars before signing with Utah.

“He was really undersized, but he probably had the biggest motor I’ve ever coached,” Lyon says of Fanene. “He was just so darn quick and relentless in his pursuit of the ball that people couldn’t block him.”

Peko transferred to Michigan State for the 2004 season with his brother, Suki.

Two years later, Domata was drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

“Domata has come in and as soon as he got here, was able to be productive and was able to play against players that were supposed to be some of the best guys in the league,” Hayes says. “He was able to handle them and really dominate them. ... He’s really been one of those guys that gets better and better all the time. As we get better, you’ll see Domata playing in the Pro Bowl and things like that.”

Fanene, meanwhile, was selected in the seventh round by Cincinnati in 2005 after two years under head coach Urban Meyer and a 2004 victory in the Fiesta Bowl.

“He is the first player off the bench for us,” Hayes says. “He can play all the positions and has played all the positions with us in his career. He really is considered a starter for us. Jon will play maybe 40 plays a game.”

In 2009, Fanene had 36 total tackles, six sacks and a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown in week 13 against Detroit.

Peko, voted a team captain, missed five games with a torn meniscus and finished with 27 total tackles.

Cincinnati’s defense allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game (301.4) in the NFL and the sixth-fewest points (18.2) last season.

Peko says the team’s goals include improving on both marks.

The duo’s biggest impact, however, may come in the form of mentorship.

And on a team that has battled character issues in recent years, their influence is invaluable, Hayes says.

Among the players they have taken under their wing is former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga.

“We are leaders on the team and we need to continue to help the young guys coming in and show them what it is to be an NFL player,” Fanene says. “A lot of guys that come in think it is all about them on the first day and about fast cars and everything else. But your job is the first priority.”

Adds Peko: “We’re not always very vocal leaders. By action and doing things on the field is how we lead.”

The mentality has taken both men a long way.

They’ve found passion in the sport they love.

And as they continue grinding away at football’s highest level, the best thing they may have found might be each other.

“They are like brothers,” Hayes says. “They teach us Samoan words and things like that. It’s always been a great situation to expand your horizons being around those guys. They are really sharp guys and are doing a lot of good things in the community. Both are very involved doing community service and are involved in their churches. They are good husbands and fathers and they love their work and what they do.”

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2010 Polynesian 2 Polynesian NFL Draft Comparisons

With the 2010 NFL Draft nearing I put together a Polynesian 2 Polynesian NFL Draft Comparison list below, check it out and feel free to comment on it. The ceiling for these players might be far and beyond the NFL comparisons I am giving them, but in thought this is put forward simply to help give you a sense of what their play style as well as overall talent is like in contrast to their fellow NFL counterparts in my general opinion. Depending on what teams these players in the 2010 NFL Draft get selected to play for, and their roles for their respected teams, these comparisons are thus subject to change. But almost certainly there is no exact science to this, its all based on relative assumptions as well as biased opinions. Regardless, I look forward to seeing any feedback, comments, or reactions to these comparisons.

2010 Polynesian 2 Polynesian NFL Draft Comparison:

Mike Iupati – Chris Kemoeatu   

Tyson Alualu – Domata Peko

Koa Misi – Kawika Mitchell

Daniel Te'o-Neshiem - Jonathan Fanene

Tony Moeaki - Itula Mili

Shawn Lauvao - Marvin Philip

Michael Hoomanawanui – Brandon Manumaleuna

Manase Tonga - Nafahu Tahi  

Martin Tevaseu - Sione Pouha   

Special Mission For Bengals Players

Bengals players Domata Peko, Rey Maualuga and Jonathan Fanene are in American Samoa, bringing an end to a long journey toward helping their beloved island recover from a devastating tsunami.

They spent months working to raise $40,000 to help the relief effort. They will present island leaders with the money in special ceremonies Monday.

Local 12's Tara Pachmayer and photographer Ed Burkholder are traveling with the trio. You can follow their stories here on Local12.com and on Local 12 News at 5:00pm and 11:00pm all this week.

Tara is also blogging about the trip.  Scroll down to read her account of the trip!

Sunday, Feb 7th, 4:51 p.m. Hawaii

Just boarded a plane to Samoa. Photojournalist Ed Burkholder and I left Local 12 around 3:45 this morning. We flew to Dallas, then Hawaii. A neat part about landing in Hawaii was the flight attendant recognized all the military on board and we gave them a huge, and well deserved, round of applause.

We met Domata Peko, Jonathan Fanene and Rey Maualuga in Hawaii. We only had a couple minutes with the guys before boarding the plane. Rey said that he will go to rehab to better himself, and everyone is just focused on all the good things that will get accomplished on this trip.

I'll write more when we get to Samoa!!!

Samoa 1:17 am
We finally made it to Samoa! I can't wait to see what the island looks like in the daylight! There were at least 200 people waiting for the Samoan Bengals at the airport... most of them were members of Domata Peko's family. They wore "Who Dey" shirts and chanted his name... it was pretty cool. Peko's family has been so kind to Ed and me. They hugged us when we got off the plane and presented with lei's.

I had a little more time to talk to Rey Maualuga tonight. It is important for him to be on this trip because it is a chance for him to spend time with members of his father's family. His dad died 4 years ago, so this is a healing trip for him. We'll talk about it more in the coming days... it is just a bit overwhelming right now.

Peko has a pretty packed schedule for us. We are going to be there when the Bengals hand over that $40,000 check for tsunami relief later today, and we are going to visit every school on the island. Peko has a HUGE surprise for all of the football players here! I can't wait to share their stories! I need to catch some z's... the sun will be up before I know it. By the way, it is 87 degrees here... in the middle of the night!

1:48 p.m. Samoa

Ed and I tried to grab breakfast before leaving the hotel this morning. We went to the internet cafe at our hotel, where they were blasting Kenny Rogers, "She Believes in Me". The song played the entire 15 minutes were in there. It was so annoying, and I know that me writing this means that News Director Elbert Tucker will sing Kenny Rogers every time he passes me at work for the next year!

Today we saw the island for the first time, and it is beautiful... it looks like any tropical paradise you would image. There are, however, spots that have yet to be rebuilt. The Bengals donations will help rebuild homes for people here.

The Samoan Bengals delivered their $40,000 donation today. It was very touching... very hot in the room... but very touching. The Governor thanked them repeatedly for not turning their backs on their people. He even awarded them with medals.

We are planning a 1-on-1 interview with Rey Maualuga later this afternoon. We also have a pig roast with Peko's family this week, as well as a couple visits to high schools in the area for the surprise I keep talking about. One more exciting tidbit... the Governor invited Ed and me to a special dinner on Thursday night to honor the Samoan Bengals!

Monday, February 8th Samoa time 7:55pm... Cincinnati time, 1:55am (February 9th)

Hello again! You know how everyone thinks everyone else is a bad driver? Well, the same goes for Samoa! We have made a new friend... our cab driver, Simise. Simise, like everyone else on the island, drives 20 miles per hour... and he drives as close to the person in front of us as possible. It's amazing how driving 20 miles per hour can still be scary!

Tomorrow Domata's Aunt is going to pick us up and take us to our shoots. Speaking of aunts... all the kids here call adults that are not their parents, "auntie and uncle". It is a sign of respect. A few kids here have called me "Auntie"... it makes me miss my nephew back home in Cincinnati (Hi Ethan... I love you!).

I had a really nice sit down interview with Rey Maualuga today. We talked about the death of his father 4 years ago. His father was a military man that was a strict disciplinarian. Obviously Rey got in trouble with the law recently. He also addressed that in our interview... apologizing to everyone in the Bengals organization, his family and the people of Cincinnati. He says he made an error in judgment and will NEVER do it again. He will be seeking professional help after this trip to Samoa.

Tomorrow we are going with Domata Peko to his high school and some other high schools. He will speak to the kids there and he has a huge surprise for them (I know I keep teasing you with this... but I promise, the surprise will be revealed soon). It's so funny to see our Samoan Bengals in Samoa. I say that because they stick out in Cincinnati with their size and hair, but here they fit right in with the crowd.

Tuesday, 7:01 am Samoa... 1:01 pm Cincinnati
 
I'm sorry to see on www.local12.com that you guys are having another round of snow. I'm in the complete opposite... intense heat... which I am sure you would be happy to trade spots with me. Walking outside in Samoa is like walking in to a heat wall. And most buildings only have 3 sides, so you feel like you are outside even when you are inside.

We are waiting for Domata's aunt to pick us up... I probably should hurry. I just wanted to make sure to write about how the $40,000 is going to be used by the people of Samoa. Emergency relief dollars only go so far, and sometimes only the bare minimum is done with that money. For example, a house is rebuilt with one or 2 rooms... but here in Samoa, it's not unusual for 2-3 families to live together. Brothers and sisters sometimes share homes with their respective families. There simply isn't room for people to live.

There isn't much that goes in to building their homes... they aren't living lavish lifestyles... but they do need the space. We are off to witness Domata change some football players' lives! 

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Journey to Samoa

Cincinnati's Local 12 is joining the Cincinnati Bengals for an away trip ... far, far away ... to Samoa!

Local 12 Sports Anchor Tara Pachmayer joins Bengals players Domata Peko, Jonathan Fanene and Rey Maualuga on their journey to Samoa, the South Pacific Island where they grew up. The five-day coverage event begins Sunday, February 7 after the Super Bowl.

The trio is on a mission of goodwill, visiting their community devastated by a tsunami last fall. Local 12 will be there as the players are reunited with family and friends, and provide much-needed aid to the island they love. Local 12 has agreed to share their experiences from Samoa with bengals.com, so be on the lookout for the first reports next week. 

"They’re really excited," Peko said. "I’ve talked to a lot of my family and old friends and they say the island is so excited. They can’t wait to see us and we can’t wait to see them.”

Local 12 will take a look at their football roots and trace the footsteps that led them to the Cincinnati Bengals.

“I actually think this is going to be an extremely emotional trip for the Samoan Bengals," Pachmayer said. "We see these guys as big, tough and strong, but they haven't seen their homeland since its devastation, and they haven't yet seen the faces of the people they are going to help.”

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Why Are Samoans Flocking to The NFL? Watch "60 Minutes" Sunday

HY DO MORE NFL PLAYERS COME FROM A TINY GROUP OF SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS THAN FROM ANY OTHER PLACE IN AMERICA? “60 MINUTES” FINDS OUT – SUNDAY ON CBS 

60 MINUTES goes to American Samoa to find out how a territory with a population less than the capacity of a pro-football stadium sends more players to the NFL than any similarly populated place in America. In fact, boys born to Samoan parents are estimated to be 56 times more likely to play in the NFL than other Americans, reports Scott Pelley in his story to be broadcast Sunday, Jan. 17 (8-9 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The Samoan people tend to be on the larger side and the islands’ six high schools have sent 10 linemen to the NFL in the last five years. One of those 10 NFL linemen who played Samoan high school ball is the Cincinnati Bengals’ Domata Peko, who says Samoans’ speed plays a role as well. “The combination of size and ability and speed, that’s kind of hard to find. Big dudes who can have nimble feet and are able to run and go sideline to sideline,” says Peko. Peko’s teammate, another Samoan named Jonathan Fanene, is a defensive end who proves Peko’s point with his six sacks and a touchdown this season. Says Fanene, “With the talent that we have, we have to take pride of it, especially when you have the opportunity to come to the mainland.”

Fanene’s little, well, not so little, brother, 17-yr.-old Aiulua, is poised to follow in Jonathan’s footsteps. At 6-5 and 280lbs., he’s considering offers from Arizona University and Oregon State. Like many other Samoans, he does a day’s worth of chores before school starts. His father, David, thinks the discipline has a lot to do with his kids’ football success. “That’s how he’s been brought up. Discipline. Obedience should be involved in this house and I am expecting our children to obey us,” Fanene tells Pelley

Jonathan Fanene built his family a palatial home in Samoa with the seven-figure salary his NFL career affords him.

Perhaps the most famous Samoan in the NFL, Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu – born in the U.S. to Samoan parents – says the island is lucky to have the option of football. Beyond a career in the NFL, Samoans have little opportunity beyond the military or work in a tuna canning industry based there that is threatening to pull out soon. “The beautiful thing about football is it’s allowed us to get into education,” says Polamalu. “Football is something that comes naturally to us,” he tells Pelley.

There are currently more than 30 Samoans in the NFL and another 200-plus playing Division 1 college football. There are just 65,000 people living on the islands. “What if there were 120 million Samoans,” wonders Polamalu. “How many Samoans would there then be in the NFL?”

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Fanene, Peko Realizing Their Potential

Domata Peko invited his longtime friend and teammate, Jonathan Fanene, and Fanene's family to join him for Thanksgiving dinner. The invitation soon spread to all of the Polynesian players on the roster, their families, and any other player without a place to go.

"The Peko household is open to everybody," Peko said with a smile.

Domata Peko

That he and his wife are so willing to host is a sign of how seriously he takes his role as a captain and team leader.

That he and Fanene are still together -- from American Samoa to College of the Canyons to the bottom of the Bengals roster to the starting lineup of a first-place team -- is a sign of how seriously they take their jobs.

"They are great guys to coach, and I couldn't be happier with either of them," defensive line coach Jay Hayes said. "I feel fortunate to have them in my room."

Neither grew up playing football, but they took to the game quickly enough to earn Division I college scholarships and get drafted by the Bengals: Fanene in the seventh round in 2005, Peko in the fourth round a year later. Peko became a starter by his second season, earned a multi-million dollar raise prior to his third and was named captain for his fourth. Fanene finally cracked the starting lineup this season after an injury to Antwan Odom, and he is second on the team with five sacks.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Fanene has improved more since arriving in the NFL than any player he has seen.

"I would agree with Marvin," Fanene said. "I've been working hard since the off-season with coach Mike Zimmer, and he taught me a lot of good stuff -- not only me but the whole D-line."

Fanene said he has made particular improvement with his technique and his knowledge of the defense, and Hayes said he is in better shape. "Right now I feel comfortable," Fanene said.

Domata Peko celebrates a big play by the defense. Photo by Chris Bergman

Peko believes his lack of experience prior to the NFL has been an asset, for it made him a blank slate for Hayes and Zimmer.

"I didn't learn any bad techniques," he said. "I had no bad habits."

Peko said he did not play football until his senior year of high school, but he showed enough talent to continue his career the next year at College of the Canyons, a junior college in California where he was reunited with Fanene. The two knew each other while growing up in American Samoa, though they were not close friends at the time.

Peko played defensive line in junior college and at Michigan State. His breakout season came as a senior in 2005, when he emerged as a playmaking defensive tackle for the Spartans.

Fanene began playing football at age 14, first as a receiver and tight end. He moved to defense as a high school senior and played outside linebacker in junior college. He then spent two years at Utah, where he played defensive line.

The Bengals drafted him mostly on long-term potential, and he was active for only seven games in his first two NFL seasons.

Jonathan Fanene

"It took me almost a year to learn the defense," Fanene said. "It wasn't like college. There were just a lot of little things I wasn't prepared for."

Hayes agreed. He said Fanene was "green as grass when he got here," but gifted enough that the Bengals were willing to wait for his game to grow.

"The first time he ever got in a game, first play, he had a tackle for loss," Hayes said. "Pittsburgh game. Next play, he was all over Ben Roethlisberger. He's always been a disruptive player. He has that burst."

As Fanene learned how to watch film and play through pain, Hayes and the coaches found ways to get him on the field, including moving him from end to tackle on passing downs to take advantage of his pass-rush skills.

Peko was nearly as raw when he arrived in Cincinnati, but he was athletic enough and tough enough to fill a role as a rookie. He earned a starting job the next year.

Hayes credited each of them for their willingness to take instruction and work year-round.

"They always have been willing to do what you ask them and go the extra mile, work really hard in the off-season," Hayes said. "You could tell because of how they produce when the time comes. The one thing about both of them: I stress with them what they need to work on and they do it."

It is a point of pride for Peko, and perhaps the biggest reason why the gifted-but-green fourth-round pick has become a cornerstone of a rapidly improving defense.

"I've always been a hard worker. If I'm here at work, it's not time to play, it's time to work," he said. "I want to be remembered as a coachable guy. If my coach says there is something to work on, I'm going to work on it. I don't want to be, like, `Oh, I know what I'm doing.' That's the thing about Fanene, myself, a lot of these guys on this team, we're all coachable people and I think that's a big point."

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Polynesian Player Pool Growing

As the popularity of the NFL increases around the world, the diverse pool of players contributing to the game continues to expand.

When the Browns drafted linebackers David Veikune (52nd overall) and Kaluka Maiava (104th) in the second and fourth rounds respectively, they welcomed two new Pacific Islanders into the NFL.

"Polynesians, they're pretty strong, very powerful, physical people," Veikune said. "The NFL's a very physical game, so I think they put two and two together and started recruiting over there."

"We're just people trying to play football and have a job," said Maiava. "I don't know if we're the chosen few or anything. We're just trying to make a living."

The Bengals, this Sunday's opponent and the Browns' in-state rival, added a player of Samoan descent when they selected linebacker Rey Maualuga with the sixth pick in the second round (No. 38 overall).

Maualuga played linebacker next to Maiava at the University of Southern California and knows what his fellow Samoan brings to the field.

"Kaluka's a great linebacker in my eyes, an undersized linebacker, but has a lot of heart and determination to get things done," Maualuga said in a teleconference Wednesday. "He's a playmaker. Given the opportunity, he will make plays."

Veikune is a native of Wahiawa on the Island of Oahu, while Maiava hails from Wailuku on Maui. Maiava also has roots in American Samoa and proudly displays his heritage with tattoos around his right arm and leg.

In addition to Maualuga, Bengals defensive tackles Jonathan Fanene and Domata Peko are also of Samoan descent.

They are the latest players with roots in the Pacific trying to make an impact at the NFL level. Last season, almost 30 Polynesian players played in the NFL.

Steelers free safety Troy Polamalu has been one of the more high-profile Samoan players to compete in the NFL. He has 438 career tackles, 332 solo stops and 7 quarterback sacks over his seven seasons in Pittsburgh. He has 18 interceptions and returned one for a touchdown during the 2004 season.

Before Polamalu was bothering quarterbacks with blitzes off the edge or providing big hits to receivers going across the middle of the field, linebacker Junior Seau was setting the standard for Samoan players.

Seau played in the NFL from 1990 to 2008 with the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots. During his career, Seau collected 56.5 quarterback sacks and 18 interceptions.

With the success of Hawaiian and Samoan players in the NFL, more people are paying attention to high school and college football in that region. Every coach who scouts in the area is trying to land the next big star from the islands.

"In Samoa, a lot of coaches go over there to recruit out of college," said Veikune. "A lot of guys are getting opportunities that they used to not get before."

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The Best Hair in the NFL

The Conditioner Commercial: Domata Peko

Peko is a defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals, and he represents some of the nicest hair in the business.

His hair erupts out of the back of his helmet in a twisted, bird’s-nest, cheerleader’s ponytail gone wrong. It looks like the mane of a lion that got messed up by some bigger, tougher lions. See a bunch more pictures here.

But when he lets it down (say, for a formal occasion like this headshot), we get to see the amount of care this man puts into his abundant hair.

The Brillo Pad: Rey Maualuga

Like Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga is also a rookie. And also a linebacker. And also from USC. Some say that the USC Trojans are a factory for producing NFL players, but apparently they’re also a factory for wicked hair.

Maualuga recently said on the Dan Patrick Show that he had considered dying his hair orange, to match his Cincinnati Bengals uniform. Had he done so, this list would have been much different—it would have featured only Maualuga, as no other hair in the league could possibly compete with his.

The Black Santa: Chris Kemoeatu

Kemoeatu, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Tongan offensive guard, wins major points for the beard that accompanies the hair. Notice that’s it’s not a mustache and beard—just the beard, Abraham Lincoln-style.

He looks pretty happy in this picture, as anyone might be after winning a Super Bowl. But it doesn’t necessarily mean I’d want to sit on his lap and tell him I’ve been a good boy this year.

The Godfather: Troy Polamalu

You knew it was coming. No list of great NFL hair would be complete without the most famous ‘do in the business. Troy Polamalu, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ strong safety, has great hair.

Polamalu also owns perhaps the most famous hair-related moment in NFL history. On October 15, 2006, Polamalu intercepted a pass by Damon Huard of the Kansas City Chiefs, and ran it back nearly to the end zone—only to have Chiefs RB Larry Johnson get ahold of his hair and yank him to the ground.

He was asked later that day if he was going to get his hair cut.

“I lost half of it already,” he said.

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Peko & StingRey Bringing the Heat

StingRey

The Bengals are finding out rather quickly just how effective linebacker Rey Maualuga can be as a pass-rusher. I can tell you this, you’re not going to block him with a running back. Just ask Kenny Watson, who was thumped by Maualuga on a play when rushing the passer. Watson was left sprawled on the field like road kill. He had to shake out the cobwebs before being helped to his feet by teammates.

Maualuga is having a good overall showing in camp and is better in pass-coverage then he’s been given credit. He may be ahead of linebacker Rashad Jeanty in that category who has struggled in coverage.

Big butts in the middle

NFL teams may want to think twice about trying to run up the middle on the Bengals defense. Defensive tackles Domata Peko and Tank Johnson are proving to be a force clogging the middle up like the Hoover Dam. Johnson is nasty in the trenches and Peko is very agile for a big man. I watched Peko track down a 25-yard run to the outside. They play off one another extremely well.

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Peko in a Rush

The Bengals' Domata Peko plays in a division known more for its nose tackles than its nose for the end zone, but he is quietly building a resume to pit against the Casey Hamptons, Haloti Ngatas and Shaun Rogers of the world.

Of the NFL's defensive tackles in 2008, Cleveland's Rogers, with 76, was the only one who had more tackles than Peko and his 67 in numbers that were compiled by press-box stats. After the Bengals coaches looked at film, they had Peko for 108 tackles.

"You don't hear a lot about him, but he's a quiet assassin," says Kyle Cook, the Bengals center. "He may not be those guys, but he's Domata Peko and he's a unique guy. He's athletic enough that he can get you leaning one way and then get past you the other way and he's still strong enough to be stout against the run."

Cook should know. Stretching back to their days at Michigan State, this is their fifth season going head-to-head, although they can't bang helmets officially this year until training camp starts. But the 6-3, 320-pound Peko has banged enough heads that people are starting to notice.

Even Rogers.

"He came up to me after one of the games, telling me I'm doing a good job and to keep it going," Peko says. "That gives me encouragement. I'd liked to get mentioned like those guys. I'm not looking for it, but if I keep working hard and show up on film, guys will know."

'09 NFL DEFENSIVE TACKLE LEADERS: Shaun Rogers, Browns 76; Domata Peko, Bengals 67; Vince Wilfork, Patriots 66; Kevin Williams, Vikings 60; Jamal Williams, Chargers 56.

Peko is the strong, silent type. He doesn't say much and then all of a sudden you look up and he's battling former teammate Justin Smith for the league's defensive line tackle title. (Smith, with 73, ended up third behind Rogers and leader Trent Cole of the Eagles among ends and tackles.)

The cry is for leadership, and suddenly Peko's home has become a spot to hit for people on the team, whether it's a center like Cook or a wide receiver like Chris Henry.

"The guy is more than an effective player; he's good," says Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes. "Things go right and we win some games, then people are going to be talking about him and that should be getting to just about now."

Peko is already crunching numbers. Not only would he like to pass Rogers this year and lead the league in tackles, but he'd like to get at least five sacks. A big number, considering he only had 0.5 last year and 4.5 in his three-year career.

But he knows where the bread is buttered. Albert Haynesworth and Kevin Williams led all defensive tackles with 8.5 sacks. And Peko feels like after an offseason Hayes and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer unveiled new pass-rush drills and a little bit more freedom to go for it, he figures the time is now. A player that doesn't turn 25 until November, Peko is still growing into the pro game.

The idea, Hayes says, is "to get him to understand how he can increase his pass rush. Just to know what he needs to do to be effective when the opportunity comes. Don't be down the middle. Get an edge on his man."

Because he works primarily on first and second downs, Peko is emphasizing sniffing out play-action passes.

"A lot of times last year we didn't even know it was a pass; we thought it was a run," he said. "But this year (Zimmer) told me if I ever think it's a pass on first and second down, I can have the freedom to just swim past the center real quick and get upfield. That's something he just told me to do whenever I want. It feels like there is (more freedom on the line). He's just telling us to get after it, man. Get after the quarterback. We want to get some sacks. That's where we struggled last year. We can't do that. We have to get after the quarterback. That's how you win games."

And if the Bengals win games, Peko knows what's next.

"I'm not looking for attention, but one of my goals is to go to a Pro Bowl," he says. "Whether it's in Hawaii, Florida, wherever. But you don't do that winning four games and we've got a good team here this year."

His instinct, though, is not to jazz it up. He's the son of a minister and the lessons have been constant. A year ago this week Peko reached one of the earliest extensions in Bengals history (right there with Chad Ochocinco and Andrew Whitworth in their third seasons) when he signed a five-year extension that can give him as much as $30 million with escalators in a top 10 deal at his position. On that day his mother invoked the rule again.

"He has kept the faith and he's never forsaken it," Sua Peko said. "Growing up in he church I think is 100 percent why things have happened for him the way they have. He always has to keep this in mind."

He's been true to the word and continues to be active in his Florence, Ky., church, Seven Hills Christian. A couple of weeks ago the members fanned out into the poorer sections of Cincinnati and Covington, Ky., with free clothes, toys and bibles, and offered food under tents.

"I tell them whatever they need, I'll help them do," he says.

Which is the way it's sounding on the pass rush these days.

D-TACKLES AT A GLANCE

Last year's starters: Domata Peko (fourth year), Pat Sims (2). Key free agent: Tank Johnson (6). Inexperienced vet: Jason Shirley (2). Rookies: Seventh-rounder Clinton McDonald (Memphis), free agent Pernell Phillips (Central State). Ends that can be tackles: Frostee Rucker, Jonathan Fanene.

Johnson is thought to be a leading candidate to be a passing-down tackle, a derby in which Hayes doesn't eliminate Peko.

"Has yet to be decided," he says. "The best rushers will be on the field."

Traditionally the Bengals have kept four tackles, which means it is a free-for-all after Peko, Sims and Johnson. Consider if they keep nine defensive linemen, they'd like No. 9 to be a swing end/linebacker.

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From Samoa to Cincy: Peko's Long, Strange Journey

Domata Peko was born and raised in American Samoa, a sun-soaked island in the rugby-crazed South Pacific.

As the son of a preacher, Peko—a devout Christian—always envisioned joining the ministry.

In fact, the 6'3", 325-pound linebacker didn't step onto a football field until his senior year of high school.

So the only thing longer than the 7,300-mile journey from Samoa to Cincinnati were the odds of Peko making it to the NFL.

Yet here he is, entering his fourth year in the league, a starter and leader on an ever-improving Bengals defense.

The humble Samoan attributes his success to his family and faith.

"My dad is the pastor, so that's how I was brought up," Peko said. "I have to be thankful to God because that's how I got everything."

It's been a strange journey for Peko, who started his collegiate career at the College of the Canyons, a community college in Southern California.

After two dominating years there—where he was named a Junior College All-American—Michigan State recruited him.

While there Peko, who grew up on an island of 64,000 people, routinely played conference games in front of 100,000 screaming fans.

He admits to initially feeling flustered.

"In Samoa, you never have that many people watching you play," said Peko. "I (got) nervous at first, but after your first hit on the field you feel right back at home."

Even a bigger adjustment than the crowd was the weather. In his hometown of Pago Pago—the capital of American Samoa—three straight days of 75-degree weather is considered a cold front.

That's quite a difference from the snowbelt weather of East Lansing.

Peko called his first winter "freezing" and "unbearable."

"It was the first time I had ever seen snow," he recalled. "I even made a snow angel and a snow man."

His senior season at Michigan State, Peko earned a starting spot on the Spartans' talented defense. After garnering an All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention, the Bengals drafted Peko in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Every year since, the hard-working defensive tackle has improved his individual numbers, racking up a career-high 67 tackles in 2008. The Bengals' defense also vastly improved last year, jumping from 27th to 12th overall under first-year coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Peko said with the addition of rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga to the roster—a fellow Samoan—he thinks the Bengals' defense can now match the vaunted defense of Cincinnati's division rivals.

"You look at Baltimore's linebackers, and they've got Ray Lewis. Everyone knows Pittsburgh's linebackers. Cleveland's got their linebackers," Peko said. "Now we've got a big-name 'backer in the middle [Maualuga] to go with Keith Rivers. He's the next Junior Seau. Our defense took a huge step [on draft day]."

Peko even believes the Bengals can compete for a Super Bowl in 2009.

He said he's willing to nurture the team's young defenders like Maualuga to make that happen.

"A lot of young guys come up to me and tell me, 'Man, what year is this for you? Is this like year six? Year five?' And I say, 'No, it's my third year,''' he said. "They're just looking up to me now. It's time to step up as a leader on this defense.

"I'm ready to be a premier defensive tackle in this league...I'm ready to play for our fans. I want to get a ring."

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