Latest news with #DalvinCook
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former MN Vikings RB Hangs Up Cleats
There have been some truly incredible running backs to wear Minnesota Vikings purple over the years. You don't have to go back as far as Chuck Foreman when the franchise has rostered Robert Smith, Adrian Peterson, Dalvin Cook, and Aaron Jones litter recent memory. The league has changed a lot since Foreman, and even moreso since Peterson. There are very few bell cow backs across the NFL at this point, and that means the running back room needs to be a strong collection of its parts. Minnesota has been fortunate to select the right names behind their starter as well. Latavius Murray is among those solid backups, and his brief run with the Vikings was a successful one. Related Headlines Minnesota Twins Trade Two Relievers at Last Minute Timberwolves Bring Back Fan Favorite Uniform; Tease Full Rebrand Chicago Cubs Stop at Twins Garage Sale for Willi Castro Latavius Murray calls it a career Last season former Minnesota Vikings running back Latavius Murray was without an NFL team willing to put him on the field. Rather than wait around for another suitor after training camp this season, he's ready to be done. Murray signed with the MN Vikings prior to the 2017 season. Dalvin Cook played just four games that season so it became the Murray and [Jerick] McKinnon show. Murray turned 216 carries into 842 yards and eight touchdowns. His opportunities diminished in 2018 with Cook coming back from injury, but he remained a productive part of the offense. He ran for 578 yards and another six touchdowns. Murray signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and found plenty of playing time with the consistent uncertainty of health tied to Alvin Kamara. The former UCF product turned in a nice ten-year career after being a sixth round pick. Now 35 years old, Murray leaves the game with 6,552 yards and 59 touchdowns to his credit. Rarely the lead guy, he constantly produced when given opportunities. He made a Pro Bowl with the Oakland Raiders in 2015 and walks away with more than $22.1 million in career earnings. Related: As was the case with Murray behind Cook, the Minnesota Vikings will look for quality production from Jordan Mason behind veteran Aaron Jones this season. They kick off the exhibition schedule on August 9 against the Houston Texans. Related Headlines Minnesota Twins Trade Two Relievers at Last Minute Timberwolves Bring Back Fan Favorite Uniform; Tease Full Rebrand Chicago Cubs Stop at Twins Garage Sale for Willi Castro
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can Cowboys profit after investing just $8 million, Day 3 pick in crucial position?
One of Dallas' biggest offseason roster questions was the direction of the Cowboys backfield. Dallas entered last season with fan favorite and franchise great Ezekiel Elliott as its No. 1 back, who returned to the team after playing in New England the year prior. Alongside the former rushing champion were veterans Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Hunter Luepke, Deuce Vaughn, and Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook. While Elliott opened the year as the starter, midway through, Dowdle cemented himself as the lead back and finished with a career high 1,079 yards rushing, while Elliott was granted his release in December. Fast forward to 2025, and with training camp swiftly approaching, Dallas finds itself in a similar position with its run game as it did a year ago, only this time, a wave of new faces enters the picture. Dowdle signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, and the team signed veteran backs Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams to one-year deals in response. They then selected Texas RB Jaydon Blue in the fifth round, as well as Clemson back Phil Mafah in the seventh, leaving Vaughn and Luepke as the only returning players from 2024. Dowdle didn't sign for huge money, and the Cowboys have barely invested in the group since his departure, with the six players on the roster counting just $8 million towards the offseason salary cap. The lack of heavy investment leaves one burning question: Who will emerge as Dallas' lead back as the team gets deeper into the season? The holiday season is daunting; the Cowboys will play six consecutive games against teams that made the playoffs a year ago, including the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, and second matchups against both the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. The Cowboys waited until midseason to declare a RB1 last season. This is a stretch that will require Dallas to have its answer already in hand. It's easy to envision the coaching staff will rely on the experienced first. Following a 2022 Pro Bowl campaign with the Eagles, Sanders himself signed with the Panthers. The 2019 second-round pick wasn't able to replicate his 1,200-yard and 11-touchdown season, instead rushing for just 637 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games with the Panthers. The 28-year old will look to steer his career back in the right direction with a new beginning and has had clear support from head coach Brian Schottenheimer. "I don't know why anyone would be surprised by Miles' ability," Schottenheimer told reporters during the spring. "Having been in the division and playing against Miles when he was in Philadelphia, you talk about a guy that's a home run threat, a guy that's got incredible ability to hurt you running, catching out of the backfield, all that stuff." Meanwhile, Williams, who entered the league in 2021 as a second-round draft choice by the Broncos, has rushed for 2,394 yards and 11 touchdowns across four seasons in the Mile High. The challenge? He hasn't been able to build off his All-Rookie performance when he rushed for 903 yards and four touchdowns, including a 111-yard outing against the Cowboys that year. One silver lining with the former All-American back from North Carolina is his ability to play through the air. Last season, he set career highs in receptions (52) and receiving yards (346). While both figure to be in line for high reps early, the front office will certainly hope to have found gems in its pair of rookies, Blue and Mafah, as the regular season progresses. Blue is known for his blazing speed and clocked the second-fastest 40-yard-dash time (4.38s) at the combine. He rushed for 730 yards and eight touchdowns while also recording 42 receptions for 368 yards and six scores through the air. The rookie back is quick, agile, and can be a mismatch out of the backfield in the passing game. Mafah, a Third-Team All-ACC selection, finished his final season at Clemson rushing for 1,115 yards and found the end zone 21 times over the past two years. The 6-foot-1, 234-pound back is a powerful downhill runner known for his aggressive and physical play. Luepke remains a valuable option at fullback, while Vaughn, who has appeared in 14 games over his first two seasons, could be on his last chance to prove to the coaches he belongs on the roster. A backfield this crowded could lead to a committee approach if the team sees production out of multiple backs who each bring a different quality to the field. Nevertheless, time is also a factor in this scenario. Quarterback Dak Prescott returns from a hamstring injury that ended his season last November. Having a go-to back and a reliable run game overall will be critical in helping to relieve pressure from the veteran signal-caller. Carrying the rock effectively, will be needed more than ever if Dallas hopes to compete in what has now become a more competitive NFC East division. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Will Sanders, Williams, or rookie Jaydon Blue emerge as Cowboys' RB1?
Washington Post
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Buffalo Bills RB James Cook in attendance for team's mandatory practice amid contract concerns
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills running back James Cook put aside his contract concerns — and avoided the potential of being fined — by attending the start of the team's three-day mandatory series of practices on Tuesday. 'Business is business at the end of day, and I respect his decision to be here and be amongst the team,' coach Sean McDermott said before practice. 'We need everyone to win.' Cook's attendance comes after he went public with his desire to negotiate a contract extension while entering the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. He was the NFL's co-leader in rushing touchdowns with 16 last year, and skipped Buffalo's six previous spring practices and month-long workout sessions, all of which were voluntary. Cook was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Georgia. His older brother is Dalvin Cook, best known for his six seasons in Minnesota and who spent last year appearing in two games with Dallas. In February, Cook informally began his public negotiation by posting the message '15 mill year' on his Instagram account. A month later, during an appearance on a podcast with former NFLers Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Cook said, 'Pay me the big bucks,' and adding, 'I want to get what I asked for.' He also made the case for his fellow NFL running backs being underpaid in saying: 'I feel like we deserve to get paid,' and asking, 'How (are) we not valuable?' In April, Cook listed his Buffalo-area home as being for sale. General manager Brandon Beane has on several occasions noted how much he respects and values Cook, while also acknowledging the two sides aren't on the same page in contract talks. In late March, Beane specifically referenced Cook in announcing he was cutting off contract discussions to focus on the draft. 'Just because we don't have James signed today doesn't mean next year we still can't get him done before he gets to free agency,' Beane said. 'We want him to have success. We're rooting for him ... But we are where we are, and there's no hard feelings from us.' Cook proved to be the odd-man out in Beane's offseason binge of signing core players to multiyear contract extensions. The group was made up of quarterback Josh Allen, receiver Khalil Shakir, edge rusher Greg Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford. Cook's 16 touchdowns rushing matched a Bills single-season record set by O.J. Simpson, and he also scored two more receiving. He was part of a Bills offense that finished second in the NFL in averaging more than 30 points per outing. After scoring just two touchdowns rushing in each of his first two seasons, Cook's jump in production coincided with Joe Brady's first full season as Buffalo's offensive coordinator , and the team's initiative to have Allen rush less to reduce exposing him to injury. ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Bills RB James Cook present for team's mandatory practice amid contract concerns, AP source says
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills running back James Cook put aside his contract concerns — and avoided the potential of being fined — by attending the start of the team's three-day mandatory series of practices on Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because coach Sean McDermott isn't scheduled to address the media until later in the day. The Athletic first reported Cook was present at the team's facility. Cook's attendance comes after he went public with his desire to negotiate a contract extension while entering the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. He was the NFL's co-leader in rushing touchdowns with 16 last year, and skipped Buffalo's six previous spring practices and month-long workout sessions, all of which were voluntary. Cook was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Georgia. His older brother is Dalvin Cook, best known for his six seasons in Minnesota and who spent last year appearing in two games with Dallas. In February, Cook informally began his public negotiation by posting the message '15 mill year' on his Instagram account. A month later, during an appearance on a podcast with former NFLers Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Cook said, 'Pay me the big bucks,' and adding, 'I want to get what I asked for.' He also made the case for his fellow NFL running backs being underpaid in saying: 'I feel like we deserve to get paid,' and asking, 'How (are) we not valuable?' In April, Cook listed his Buffalo-area home as being for sale. General manager Brandon Beane has on several occasions noted how much he respects and values Cook, while also acknowledging the two sides aren't on the same page in contract talks. In late March, Beane specifically referenced Cook in announcing he was cutting off contract discussions to focus on the draft. 'Just because we don't have James signed today doesn't mean next year we still can't get him done before he gets to free agency,' Beane said. 'We want him to have success. We're rooting for him ... But we are where we are, and there's no hard feelings from us.' Cook proved to be the odd-man out in Beane's offseason binge of signing core players to multiyear contract extensions. The group was made up of quarterback Josh Allen, receiver Khalil Shakir, edge rusher Greg Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford. Cook's 16 touchdowns rushing matched a Bills single-season record set by O.J. Simpson, and he also scored two more receiving. He was part of a Bills offense that finished second in the NFL in averaging more than 30 points per outing. After scoring just two touchdowns rushing in each of his first two seasons, Cook's jump in production coincided with Joe Brady's first full season as Buffalo's offensive coordinator, and the team's initiative to have Allen rush less to reduce exposing him to injury. ___ AP NFL:
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Minnesota Court Of Appeals Issues First UPEPA Decision In Dalvin Cook Case
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 8: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings points to the crowd after ... More scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by) Dalvin Cook was an NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings. An altercation that took place in 2020 resulted in a personal injury lawsuit against Cook by Daniel Cragg and Anne St. Amant on behalf of Gracelyn Trimble (who was apparently injured in the altercation) in the Dakota County District Court in Minnesota. Cook and Trimble settled that action in 2024. Meanwhile, back in 2021, Cook sued Cragg, St. Amant and their law firm, Eckland & Blando, LLP, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, claiming that they defamed him. Cook alleged that the defendants in this defamation suit had provided to the media an unfiled and unserved complaint which painted Cook as having done serious physical injury to Trimble. Cook also alleged that defamatory statements about him were made public record by the defendants filing an unsealed memorandum as part of the supposedly confidential settlement negotiations between the parties (this latter filing apparently resulted in defendants being sanctioned by the trial court, which sanctions were later affirmed on appeal). This Hennepin County litigation percolated for several years with the defendants filing motions and Cook filing amended complaints to avoid dismissal. Eventually, Cook filed his Third Amended Complaint which added certain claims. Now enters our deus ex machina. In 2024, Minnesota adopted the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act ("UPEPA") as its Anti-SLAPP law. With the UPEPA newly available, the defendant then brought a UPEPA special motion to dismiss Cook's lawsuit. The Hennepin County judge overruled the special motion and the defendants appealed. All of this resulted in the opinion in Cook v. Trimble, 2025 WL 1287932 ( May 5, 2025), which, as far as I am aware, is the first Minnesota opinion to consider the Minnesota UPEPA. The Minnesota Court of Appeals first noted that appeals of UPEPA motions are subject to de novo review, which basically means that the Court of Appeals takes a fresh look at everything without giving deference to the trial court's ruling (as opposed to an abuse of discretion review where substantial deference is given). Here, that meant the Court of Appeals would take a fresh look at the merits of the defendants' UPEPA special motion. The Court of Appeals then noted that Minnesota recognizes a judicial-proceedings privilege. Under this privilege, a statement is protected from defamation claims if it was made by a judicial officer or one of the parties or their counsel, are made within the judicial proceeding, and the statement is relevant to the subject matter of the litigation. The problem for the defendants was that their 2021 media statements were not made in court or otherwise within the judicial proceeding of the Hennepin County action. Thus, the media statements did not fall within the protection of the judicial-proceedings privilege. Or, to look at it another way, media statements are fair game for defamation actions. On the other hand, the judicial-proceedings privilege would protect the statements made in the unsealed memorandum that was filed with the Hennepin County court. All the elements of that privilege were satisfied, and even if Cook didn't like the way that memorandum was unveiled to the public ― and the court didn't either since defendants were apparently sanctioned for that ― the privilege still attached to the memorandum and its contents and thus was protected speech. The result was that Cook's defamation claims as to the memorandum should have been dismissed under the UPEPA special motion because of the judicial-proceedings privilege. Going back to the media statements, while they were not privileged, that did not ipso facto mean that Cook had a good case for defamation against the defendants. To survive dismissal, Cook had to come forth with clear and convincing evidence that the defendants acted with malice in making the media statements. Reviewing Cook's evidence, however, the Court of Appeals found that he had not met that burden. Because Cook could not meet the malice requirement of the defamation claim, he could not make out a prima facie (at least miminal) case for defamation against the defendants. Thus, this claim should have been dismissed on the UPEPA special motion as well. Cook had a final claim which was for invasion of privacy based on the statements. This claim was based on statements made by the defendants about Cook which were claimed to be both highly offensive to a reasonable person and not of legitimate concern to the public. The Court of Appeals held that Cook had made out a prima facie case for invasion of privacy and thus it was proper that the UPEPA special motion was not granted as to this claim. Thus, the end result was that the Court of Appeals reversed the Hennpin County court as to the media statements and the memorandum, holding that the UPEPA special motion should have been granted as to those claims. Yet, the Court of Appeals also affirmed the denial of the UPEPA special motion as to Cook's invasion of privacy claim and remanded the case back to the Hennipin County court for further litigation on that claim. ANALYSIS Not only is this the first UPEPA appellate opinion for Minnesota, but it also presents a good example of how the UPEPA special motion works. The first inquiry was whether Cook's cause of action fell within the scope of the UPEPA. Because Cook was complaining of the defendants' speech (the media statements) and petition activity (the filing of the memorandum), the action fell within the scope of the UPEPA's protections for freedom of speech and to petition. This inquiry was thus satisfied in the affirmative. The second inquiry was whether Cook could establish a prima facie case against the defendants that would survive summary judgment even in the face of the defendants' rights to free speech and to petition. As to the memorandum, Cook could not overcome the protections for petitioning activity (the judicial-proceedings privilege) and so Cook failed on this point and the UPEPA special motion should have been granted as to the memorandum. As to the media statements, Cook could not offer adequate proof of one element ― malice ― and so could not make out a prima facie case for defamation as to the media statements. The UPEPA special motion thus should have been granted as to Cook's defamation claims as well. However, Cook could make out a prima facie case on his invasion of privacy claim and so the UPEPA special motion was properly denied as to that claim. This is exactly how the UPEPA was designed to operate and it did so with so with flying colors in this case. But the UPEPA also correctly operated in two other ways that deserve examination. It will be recalled that the UPEPA special motion was originally denied by the Hennepin County judge. If this had been an ordinary motion to dismiss, it would have meant that the defendants would have to suffer through the expense and emotional angst of having to suffer through the litigation as to the media statements and memorandum only to see those claims dismissed in the end anyway. The UPEPA special motion, however, created a right for the defendants to immediately launch an appeal of right to the Minnesota Court of Appeals which then corrected the Hennepin County judge's ruling and cut down Cook's claims to only his single viable claim, which was the invasion of privacy claim. The importance of this immediate appeal of right provided by the UPEPA to a losing UPEPA movant is thus illustrated. The final important UPEPA provision which came into play in this case was that of uniformity of interpretation. As Minnesota's first UPEPA case, the Court of Appeals had no guidance from previous court opinions. The uniformity provision allowed the Court of Appeals to look to the decisions of other states which have adopted the UPEPA to help determine how the UPEPA was to correctly be applied. This is the great benefit of uniformity and it should not be underestimated. Anyway, Minnesota has now started down its path to protecting the free speech and related rights through the UPEPA. And that's a good thing.
