Vikings Running Back Dalvin Cook Plans On Holding Out
The conversation surrounding NFL running backs seems one sided at this point. They are not worth the money and their production can be replicated in some form or fashion. I agree with it to a point, but there are multiple backs who are superior than most.
Ezekiel Elliot, Christian McCaffrey, and Derrick Henry are all guys that can’t just be replaced. Just like Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, who is reportedly steadfast on holding out without a “reasonable extension”.
Pro-Bowl RB Dalvin Cook no longer will participate in any team-related activities until and unless he receives a “reasonable” deal, a source said Monday.
“He’s out,” a source told ESPN. “Without a reasonable extension, he will not be showing up for camp or beyond.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2020
So if you’re Minnesota, what do you do? You just traded away one of your top playmakers -wide receiver Stefon Diggs- and don’t have very much to work with on offense other than Adam Thielen if Cook doesn’t get his deal.
Minnesota’s backup running backs, Mike Boone and Alexander Mattison, would be fine in a shared backfield, but they would never be able to replicate the type of explosiveness that Cook brings to the table.
Good lord this Dalvin Cook spin move 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/OistbcBOXG
— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) December 16, 2018
Still, does Minnesota really want to pay a running back? At the end of the day I guess that question can be answered with what Cook considers ‘reasonable’, but in the same breath Cook has never been able to stay healthy for an entire NFL season.
Last year was the healthiest year of Cook’s career, as the former Florida State product was able to gut out 14 games (which of course ended in a Pro-Bowl selection). But in the two seasons prior, Cook only managed to play in 4 and 11 games respectively. Does that mean he can be considered injury prone? Who knows.
What I do know is that the Vikings have a decision on their hands. Do they pay their explosive play maker? Or do the Vikes just ride it out with a backfield of Mattison / Boone? I guess time will tell.
-Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)
Featured image courtesy of Twitter / @ SKORNorth