The Minnesota Vikings have outlined dates for training camp; This despite multiple Vikings players, including quarterback Kirk Cousins and linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, expressing concern over player safety guidelines.
Per the team, Vikings' rookies and quarterbacks should report on Thursday. The rest of the roster, meanwhile, is expected to report on July 28. If the dates do hold, though, one prominent Viking is unlikely to arrive punctually.
The start of training camp looks to be the official start of star running back Dalvin Cook's holdout, sources told The Athletic. The Pro Bowler revealed he intends on sitting out training camp until the Vikings offer a satisfactory contract extension. Cook's representatives and the franchise have yet to engage in any substantive dialogue. Evidently, Cook doesn't believe that's happened at this juncture.
Last week, another star rusher from Cook's 2017 draft class, Derrick Henry, received a four-year, $50 million deal ($25.5 million guaranteed) from the Tennessee Titans, for whom Henry led the NFL in rushing in 2019 and nearly carried to the Super Bowl.
Cook, who ran for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, is reportedly willing to accept a slightly smaller deal than Henry's. Though Minnesota and Cook still seem to be very much apart of agreeing to terms.
After being drafted no. 41 overall, the Florida State alumn signed a four-year contract for roughly $6.4 million. Entering his age-25 season, the is slated to make about $1.3 million in 2020.
The sides indeed had made some traction in the spring. But ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Cook is “planning to hold out simply because he felt…disrespected by the offer that the Vikings put on the table.”
In June, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Cook was done participating in team activities until the Vikings made a better offer.
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
Follow Us
Subscribe