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What does Dalvin Cook bring to the New York Jets?

By Russell S. Baxter

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 04: Dalvin Cook #4 of the Minnesota Vikings runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 04: Dalvin Cook #4 of the Minnesota Vikings runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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After weeks and weeks of speculation, running back Dalvin Cook is headed to the AFC East and joining the new-look New York Jets.

In this era of social media, apparently all needs to do is find someone’s Twitter account to confirm a signing. There was a hint of it on Monday with the New England Patriots agreeing to terms with former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Now ponder this retweet.

https://twitter.com/dalvincook/status/1691226215363874816

The newest offensive acquisition of the New York Jets is four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook, who was cut loose by the Minnesota Vikings just over two months ago. He will see a familiar face in new Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was also a longtime member of the NFC North.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport have the details on Cook’s contract.

The six-year NFL veteran just celebrated his 28th birthday on August 10. Now he joins a team that hopes to end the longest current playoff drought in the league. Cook comes off a season in which he started all 17 games. He finished with 1,468 yards from scrimmage and a team-high 10 touchdowns with the NFC North champion Vikings.

In six seasons with the Purple Gang, the 2017 second-round pick from Florida State overcame injuries early in his career to amass 7,787 scrimmage yards and 52 TDs in 73 regular-season outings.

Cook should not only make life easier for Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, it means that running back Breece Hall can return when he is 100 percent healthy. The former Iowa State standout was in the midst of a strong rookie campaign, running for 463 yards and four scores while catching 19 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown in the team’s first seven contests.

However, he was lost for the season in that seventh game with a torn ACL. What’s surprising as well as disappointing is the fact that despite missing the team’s final 10 outings, he still led Robert Saleh’s club in rushing yards.

One last note. Talk about familiarity? Cook certainly had his share of success within the AFC East this past season, especially when it came to the big play. There was a 53-yard touchdown run in a Week 6 victory at Miami, 24-16. He also ran 81 yards for a score in the club’s thrilling 33-30 overtime win at Buffalo (Week 10). Three weeks later, he carried 20 times for 86 yards and one TD in Minnesota’s 27-22 win over the visiting Jets.

Food for thought when it comes to this Cook.

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