FRISCO — Dalvin Cook built a career on being quick. So, it should come as no surprise that he answered the biggest question about him quickly as well.
Cook, signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad on Thursday, was asked if he still has what he had in Minnesota — where he was a four-time Pro Bowler and where averaged 4.7 yards per carry over six seasons.
Cook jumped at the question.
“I got it,” he said. “It’s right here.”
No other words necessary. But the proof? That can’t be attained as quickly.
Cook spent last season with two teams. The New York Jets signed Cook in August, right before the beginning of the season. That also coincided with a new development, Cook said. It was right about the time where he actually felt healthy enough to start working out after shoulder surgery. He played in 15 games for the Jets, averaging a career-low 3.2 yards per carry. Cook was released by the Jets in January before signing with the Baltimore Ravens. He played in one playoff game for Baltimore, rushing for 23 yards on eight carries.
For the majority of his career, Cook had been a fixture in an offense. The former second round pick had taken a starring role. Last season wasn’t that.
The change taught Cook a lot.
“Just keep your head down, no matter what,” Cook said. “No matter the circumstance, you still have to work hard, because I stuck to my routine throughout the season and then when I got to Baltimore, I was ready to go. I was ready to get the ball however times they needed me to, but it’s just unfortunate that I didn’t get it that much, but I was ready to go.”
And Cook said he was ready for this off-season as well. Unlike the year before, there was no shoulder rehabilitation to do. Those hours were spent working out and preparing for an opportunity — whenever, and wherever that would come. Cook did notice, though, that the Cowboys added his former head coach, Mike Zimmer, as their new defensive coordinator.
A light bulb went off in Cook’s head.
“I got the big eyes,” Cook said, opening his eyes wide to prove it. “I did, man. I think the world of coach Zim.”
Zimmer thinks highly of Cook, too, or else he wouldn’t be on the Cowboys.
“There’s no question, these players that you see that played for [Zimmer] were greatly influenced by his assessment of how they could help us win,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.
Cook said the Cowboys didn’t give him a specific plan for his usage. He’ll start on the practice squad, behind three other running backs on the active roster: fellow veteran Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and second-year running back Deuce Vaughn. Cook can be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for games three times before the Cowboys would have to make a final decision on whether to add him to the 53-man roster, or release him.
If Cook wants to eventually stay on the Cowboys active roster, he’ll have to prove he can still flash some of the ability he showed for years in Minnesota. That’s not an easy task for any running back closing in on 30-years-old.
“What I can tell you, man: in this league, running backs, we take our bodies through so much,” Cook said. “But it’s a point where you’ve got to know, alright, I’m getting up to a certain age, I’ve got to start upping the stuff off the field. As for me, I just picked up a certain routine and I just ran with it. I just feel like it’s got me to this point where I’m healthy and ready to go. So just stick to a routine. No matter the age, man. If you’ve got it, go get it. That’s my mindset.”
