It was recently reported across sports news that Vikings RB, Dalvin Cook, will not participate in the Vikings’ off-season activities, and will not take part in training camp until his contract is extended. Basically, he is saying, he will not be showing up for camp or anytime afterwards.
This is a huge obvious problem for me, and others.

Cook was surely a huge part of the Vikings’ success in 2019, with 1135 rushing yards, 519 receiving yards, and 13 TDs, and was a colossal reason why they were as good as they have been. He is an amazing RB, and Minnesota Vikings could struggle without him, the dual threat RB is very special, his breakaway speed is awesome, he can bust off a huge run in the open field, like very few.

But, I am getting fed up with these players who complain about the millions they make – it seems as if they just don’t care about playing the game nearly as much anymore. It has gotten to be 100% all about the money these days, I am not saying players shouldn’t be paid relative to their worth on the field to their teams.
But overall, for what they do, they are simply overpaid, there, I said it.
Let’s be honest, they are playing a game.
For money.
I think many more players need to remember, they could very easily be mopping floors or flipping burgers instead of being blessed with the amazing opportunity to enjoy their work and making tons of cash, they are not engineers, soldiers, or doctors.
They run with a ball in their hands and score TDs.

I love sports, and I love competition and the eye popping skills – I rarely get involved with the financial part of it – because it annoys me, quite honestly. But, I also feel players should be appreciative – teams should pay them well – but when anyone is making millions /year to play a game they grew up loving, they should cherish the opportunity. Don’t kick it in the face, and ask for more, because the other guy is making 2 million more per year. When a guy is making 5 million and another guy is making 7 million /year, is there really that much of a difference, or is it egotism and bragging rights coming into play?

Anyway, I digress.

Dalvin Cook has a year left on his rookie contract – I have always felt if a player produces like they have been able to show they can – and they stay healthy – the money and contract will take care of itself.
Don’t get me wrong, I love watching me some Dalvin Cook – but he’s been hurt every year he’s played.
He has missed 19 games in 3 seasons – which is almost 40% of the games available.
That’s tough.
For Minnesota to lock him down at a high end cap hit is gonna hurt the team, and the Vikings can’t rely on him to stay healthy. Dropping too much cash into a RB doesn’t always seem to pay off most of the time, from what I have seen.

I’d hate to see him go, but if we are being 100% honest, Minnesota could also benefit from trading him, and fill some of the voids that need to be addressed.
Maybe the Vikes should just unload him for picks or some Oline help, and lets be truthful about the Minnesota issues, they don’t really have the money to pay him a whole bunch more. Look what happened with AP, Minnesota kept him too long, after he had run his course, and became a shell of the back he once was – and they didn’t get very much for him, maybe the Vikings make a move and move him?

The Vikings are lucky to have really strong young backs that can fill the void if this goes sideways – with Alexander Mattison and Mike Boone, both who have shown to be able to handle carries. Mattison had a 4.6 avg when running the rock, and he also showed some trustworthy hands out of the backfield, Boone and Mattison played pretty good when they were given the opportunity to log some carries. Boone had some solid stuff – and Mattison showed some bona fide skills last season.

I understand he wants to get paid and he deserves more than what he is currently getting, but he is still in his initial contract, and hasn’t shown the durability to stay on the field for 16 games in a season yet. I also feel a RB should be able to handle 200+ carries without injury – otherwise maybe he doesn’t deserve the big massive payday contract. Derrick Henry had 303 carries in 2019, Christian McCaffrey is as durable as they come in this game, Ezekiel Elliott handles the ball 290+ times /season since 2016.
That is a lot of work.
I think maybe Dalvin’s contract should have language in – it protects the team, if he gets hurt, I think there needs to be an injury clause.
His injury history hasn’t been great.

I love Dalvin, he was my favorite RB coming out of FSU – but holding out for a RB, who has had 1 season of big production and more history of injuries, isn’t a great thing, in my opinion.
The Vikings have 2 very capable backs behind him, in Mattison and Boone – the Vikings may end up letting him go, and go with Matteson as their RB1, and then use Boone as their RB2, we would see if they can handle the load. I would rather Dalvin, but he isn’t worth 13 million /season, he needs to show he can stay on the field with no injuries.

I think he is good for around 7m /year, which is a huge increase, and a ton of money, it is still pretty team friendly, he would be revered by fans, and he would also be looked at as a good person and a team guy. Minnesota has to be careful with this – and not pay too much, as he has been injury prone and RBs tend to have a short shelf life to begin with.

I’m of the old school mindset that when you sign a document saying you commit to something you follow through, that’s another problem I have.
These guys are under contract. Him holding out might not work out, Cook complaining about making more money might cost him his job with the Vikings – and we know risk assessment is important.

Dalvin is very good, but he is also a risk.