Cook visits Jets, says they are top of his list
Dalvin Cook got an up-close view of Aaron
Rodgers and the New York Jets while watching practice from the sideline Sunday in Florham Park, N.J.
The free agent running back has to see if he'll spend the rest of training camp in their backfield — or elsewhere.
Cook spent Sunday meeting with the Jets as he ponders the next stop of his career. The fourtime Pro Bowl selection was released by the Vikings on June 8 for salary cap savings, according to a person familiar with Minnesota’s decision.
The Jets are the first team Cook has officially visited as a free agent, with his hometown Miami Dolphins also among possible suitors. New York also must consider whether to make him an offer before he leaves the team's practice facility.
Cook, who turns 28 on Aug. 10, was greeted by chants of “Dal-vin Cooook! Sign that contract!” from fans in the stands as he walked onto the field. He later responded to the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a green heart emoji. Several Jets players, including Rodgers, greeted Cook and he spent a few moments chatting with owner Woody Johnson.
“He's a good young man, a very good young man,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “We didn't interact too much. There's a lot of stuff going on, especially when it's open to the public. But it was good to say hello.”
Cook has talked up the Jets in TV interviews in recent days, telling NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Friday they “are right at the top of the list” and the odds of him signing with them were “pretty high.” He reiterated those comments Saturday during an interview with ESPN, saying he thinks "the coaching staff, I think everything about what they got going on, just says winning.”
But Cook, a former Florida State star, also said in the interview he was interested in the Dolphins and it would be “a Cinderella story” to play for his hometown team.
Cook, who has run for at least 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons, was scheduled to count more than $14.1 million against the Vikings’ salary cap before he was released.
Rodgers backs Hackett
Aaron Rodgers is sticking by his offensive coordinator and firing his hardest throw of the summer at Sean Payton. Rodgers was bothered by critical comments Payton, the Broncos head coach, recently made about offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Payton told USA Today for a story that Hackett's 15-game stint with the Broncos last season ”was one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
Payton also said there were “20 dirty hands” around Russell Wilson’s career-worst season, and took some shots at the Jets — Hackett's new team where he and Rodgers are reunited after enjoying success together in Green Bay.
“It made me feel bad that someone who has accomplished a lot in the league is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some sort of easy fall if it doesn’t go well for that team this year,” Rodgers told NFL Network. “I think it was way out of line, inappropriate, and I think he needs to keep my coaches’ names out of his mouth.”
Rodgers said Hackett is “arguably my favorite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL.” The pair was together for two of Rodgers's four NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 with the Packers.
Payton on Friday said he regretted his comments, and said he would reach out to Hackett and Saleh “at the right time” to do so.
Emotional Bills return
Buffalo Bills co-owner Kim Pegula watched practice in Pittsford, N.Y. from the front seat of the family’s SUV in making an encouraging and surprising first public appearance in 14 months since a debilitating cardiac arrest.
Remaining in the SUV through the end of practice, she was kept company mostly by her son, Matthew, with her husband Terry Pegula regularly stopping by to chat.
Pegula was most recently described as still dealing with significant language and memory issues after going into cardiac arrest in June 2022 shortly after celebrating her 53rd birthday. She spent extensive time being treated in the hospital before being released to begin what is regarded as a lengthy rehab process.
Though coach Sean McDermott stopped by to great Kim Pegula before practice, and quarterback Josh Allen met with her after the session, several players were unaware of her presence.
Rams bring in Freeman
One day after the abrupt retirement of Sony Michel, the Los Angeles Rams signed veteran running back Royce Freeman. Freeman joined his fourth NFL team in six pro seasons. He was with the Houston Texans for the past 1½ seasons, spending most of 2022 on the practice squad . . . First-round pick Calijah Kancey of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was carted off the practice field with what coach Todd Bowles described as a right calf strain. The defensive tackle was the 19th overall pick in the draft and is expected to be an immediate starter . . . The Minnesota Vikings broke a months-long stalemate with outside linebacker Danielle Hunter, agreeing to a pact worth a reported $17 million guaranteed.