Dalvin Cook 'Not On Same Page with Jets'; Bills & AFC East Waiting for a Sign?
There was always sort of a "dual arrogance'' abut all of those stories that absolutely assured that NFL free agent running back Dalvin Cook would end up signing with the New York Jets.
The Cook part? His suggestion that the hookup would make the Jets a "superteam.'' The Jets part? There has long been this assumption that athletes will simply gravitate to New York because it's the "Big Apple,'' or something.
And now the Dalvin Derby has both of those sides in limbo - with the Buffalo Bills watching - as Cook as visited Jets training camp almost accompanied by a parade ...
With the parade now having left town without a contract. And why? ESPN reporter Diana Russini says the lack of a contract for Cook is because of how New York feels about recovering running back Breece Hall.
"I think this team is very certain about their identity and who they want playing which roles. And Breece Hall is their guy,'' Russini told Pat McAfee.
But wait; What happened to "superteam''? Was Dalvin aware that he would be sitting the bench on his new "superteam''?
"Would it be nice to have the insurance of a Dalvin Cook-type player on this roster ...?'' Russini said. "(Cook) wants to be the featured back. You want to be the main guy. So, I’m not sure if both sides are really on the same page with that role.”
Oops. Alas, for now, yet another "superteam'' derailed.
The Jets world may struggle to grasp this, but trading for Aaron Rodgers - headline-grabber than it is - does not automatically morph a mediocre team into a "super'' one. New York is making its move in the AFC East, but not yet in the standings.
Where will Cook end up? Who will pay him? What will his role be? We're approaching mid-August, and the other teams that have poked around this idea, which include the Dolphins and Patriots and yes, the Jets, do not have answers.
But it appears once again that "Everybody wants to play in New York!'' isn't the answer, either.
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