“He’s Out” – Vikings Star RB Dalvin Cook is Sitting Out Team Activities Because of a Contract Dispute

The Minnesota Vikings’ best offensive play-maker is taking a stand in his search for a contract extension.

And that stand will take place away from Vikings team activities.

News from ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

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

Schefter tweets that Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook will not be a part of team-activities moving forward until he gets what he deems to be a “reasonable” deal.

Finally, a sense of normalcy. It’s not officially football season until we get a summertime contract dispute.

Ope! It turns out that this isn’t all that normal either.

Let’s face it. There isn’t much happening right now in the football world. Any and all team activities are being held virtually, so it’s not s if Cook is missing out on practice reps and things of that nature. But maybe missing team-building activities in Zoom meetings might be something that could hurt the team? Or its morale? I’m not sure. I’ve never written about a contract holdout during a pandemic before, so this is new territory for all parties.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Cook wants a new deal that will bring him security and a pay raise. And I can’t blame him, either. Last season, Cook earned a trip to the Pro Bowl on the back of a 250-carry, 1,135-yard, 13-touchdown season to lead Minnesota to a second-place finish in the NFC North and a trip to the postseason.

Ultimately, the Vikings should be looking to get a deal done with Cook. He is their most valuable player on the offensive side of the ball. OverTheCap estimates Minnesota will have a little more than $29 million in effective cap space in 2021. So it’s not like there isn’t room. But if they don’t, then I’m not going to complain about a division rival possibly being without its most important player. And I’m sure defensive players on the Bears, Packers, or Lions wouldn’t mind if they didn’t have to deal with Cook on game day.