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Dalvin Cook, who is currently seeking a new team, was recently interviewed about leaving the NFL team he had always played for. During the interview on Rich Eisen’s show on Monday, Cook revealed that he had anticipated being released from the Vikings and may have even hoped for it.
“I kind of knew it was coming during the season, to be honest,” Cook told Eisen. “The relationship of the run and the pass wasn’t there all year. So it was like, you know, I want to go somewhere to get the ball, and they want to get the ball out a lot, so it was kind of something that was well needed for both of us, and I kind of knew it was coming during the season.”
Despite the situation, Cook stated that he holds no negative emotions towards anyone involved.
“I love those guys, like as far as like [coach Kevin O’Connell] and [G.M.] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] and all the people, like they are great human beings, but as far as what they’re trying to do, like, you know, I want to be in a different system, and do what I want to do.”
As Eisen explained, the obvious question is: which system would you prefer to be in?
Cook said he is taking his time, and that “the market is the market right now for all the guys.” He acknowledged that his objectives are to “win and get the football.”
“And it’s not just about me getting the football,” Cook said, “it’s about me being put in a position to help the team win, each and every game.”
Last year in Minnesota, he was instrumental in securing victories for the Vikings against several teams. His contributions were particularly crucial in games played against Miami, Washington, Buffalo, and the Colts, where he made significant plays that helped the team win.
In 2022, the number of rushing attempts made by him decreased. On average, he carried the ball 15.52 times per game and had a total of 17.82 touches. In the previous year, he made 19.15 rushing attempts per game and had 21.7 touches per game. His highest numbers were recorded in 2020, where he had 22.2 carries per game and 24.4 touches per game. Additionally, the percentage of passes to runs changed from 58.4 percent in 2021 to 64.3 percent in 2022.
Cook was aware that an eight-figure salary with the Vikings in 2023 was unlikely due to the current market. This is also the case for other teams.
As he progresses in his career, it’s important for him to strike a balance between pay and workload, to minimize the wear and tear on his body and prolong his time in the game.
One advantage of his position is that if he shares the workload with other running backs, he may be able to play for a longer period of time without getting as much physical punishment. As Cook begins his seventh year in the league, he could potentially continue playing beyond that if he’s willing to accept lower pay and reduced production in the future, such as in 2023 or 2024.
Despite this, Cook has chosen not to hurry his search for a new team. This suggests that he has not yet found the ideal situation. At some point, he may need to select the best option available, unless a starting position becomes available on a team not currently in contention, due to an injury to one of their current players that would keep them out for most or all of the season.
It’s highly probable that Cook’s chances for 2023 could be affected by an injury during training camp or the preseason, as the running back position exposes many players to multiple collisions. Even a single injury could significantly alter his prospects.
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