Veteran free agent running back Dalvin Cook has been linked to the New York Jets ever since he visited the team and claimed that there was a good chance he would ultimately sign with them. But it doesn’t sound like the other Jets running backs are all that concerned about whether he joins the team or not.
During the team’s preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, Jets running backs managed 141 rushing yards in the game. And after the game, Jets running back Michael Carter made it clear that while Dalvin Cook is certainly talented, they’re not necessarily itching for him to join the team. Instead, they’re just focusing on getting better.
“We ignore it. Talk is cheap,” Carter said according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. “Dalvin’s a great player. Dalvin’s probably one of the best college football running backs of all time [at Florida State], in my opinion growing up in north Florida. He’s a really good player. At the same time, we feel like we’re great players, too. We’re just young in our careers. We’re all chasing greatness in terms of team and personal goals. Nothing but respect for [Cook], but we’re not really focused on that. We’re just trying to get better and grind.”
Still, Cook will undoubtedly sign somewhere before the start of the season. And at least at one point, it looked like the Jets would be the frontrunners to land him. So we’ll have to see what happens.