The New York Jets’ running back Dalvin Cook has found himself at a frustrating low in his career.
Having concluded his Black Friday game against the Dolphins with a career-low of just one carry, Cook is evidently unhappy with the role he has been cast into at the Jets.
Moreover, he made this clear in a recent interview with Rich Cimini of ESPN.com where he expressed, “For any guy that has produced in this league, it’s frustrating. You want to be productive.” But it’s more than just his frustration.
Cook’s performance this season for the New York Jets, he has only 50 carries from 11 games, accumulating a lackluster total of 162 yards.
This is a stark contrast to Jets’ starter Breece Hall who boasts a noteworthy 124 attempts tallying up to a solid 569 yards.
A look at these numbers seems to justify Cook’s frustrations.
“I was hoping just to be in the right situation for me,” Cook told Cimini. “Like I said, I want an opportunity. I feel great. My body is ready to roll. I was just hoping for a great opportunity.”
Despite the deep-seated disappointment, Cook proves that he isn’t the one to take the easy way out.
According to him, he isn’t planning to ask the management for a release. The reason behind this decision is his family, who have now established their roots in New Jersey.
Even though the Jets could let go of him once their playoff contention has ended, he’s still looking to commit to his current team.
Going against the norm of players asking for greater involvement, Cook has also clarified that he won’t be asking for increased touches, something most players with declining playtime do.
“Honestly, I feel like if you put my tape on, I proved myself in this league,” he said. “I don’t go beg for carries. I feel like I was brought here for a reason.”
Jets RB Dalvin Cook is frustrated. But he says he won't ask for more touches, and he won't ask to be released. https://t.co/Gr9FTnWws4
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 3, 2023
Regardless of the reasons, the current situation undeniably doesn’t seem to be beneficial for anyone involved.
There lie two apparent realities – first, Cook is underutilized in the Jersey setup, and second, the Jets are potentially losing out on productivity they could gain from Cook’s experience.
While Cook may not want to leave New Jersey, you can never rule out the unexpected in the world of professional sports.
As the playoffs approach, other opportunities could arise to compete in a team with genuine prospects of contesting the championship.
Under these circumstances, it begs the question – if the Jets aren’t using Cook to his potential, why not let him go? Allowing him to chase a championship elsewhere could potentially benefit Cook and the Jets.
