Ruh-Roh, Cook Plans to Hold Out?

[kidfozzy.]

Meh, if he’s asking for $10+ million, let’s start Mattison and ship Cook.

[Maelstrom88]

I love Cook and think he's a special talent bit with the injury history I just don't think he's worth top dollar to a team already cash strapped like we are. Barr is getting Cook's money. When you have a lot of talent tough choices need to be made. I'd be ok with a base salary of 10 to 12 with bonus based incentives if they can afford it. He likely wants more than that.

[Cliff]

Cook is the most important piece to the offense. He is arguably a top 5 RB and is currently the 42nd highest paid. He's earned much more than that without question. I also wouldn't play without a new contract.

[VikingsVictorious]

Cook is the most important piece to the offense. He is arguably a top 5 RB and is currently the 42nd highest paid. He's earned much more than that without question. I also wouldn't play without a new contract.

If you don't play without a new contract you lose a year of your prime and get fined through the roof and teams can no longer waive the fines when you do sign and you earn no service time towards free agency. As Gordon and Bell have proven not playing is a losing proposition. James Conner stepped up and Bell was barely missed during the hold out year. Ekeler stepped up and Gordon wasn't missed during his holdout. Bell signed with the Jets and went from superstar to nobody overnight. Gordon has moved on to the Broncos after losing a lot of money last year and was only able to get $8 million a year on his new contract. History isn't on the side of RBs going all in on the holdouts.

[StumpHunter]

Cook is the most important piece to the offense. He is arguably a top 5 RB and is currently the 42nd highest paid. He's earned much more than that without question. I also wouldn't play without a new contract.

If you don't play without a new contract you lose a year of your prime and get fined through the roof and teams can no longer waive the fines when you do sign and you earn no service time towards free agency. As Gordon and Bell have proven not playing is a losing proposition. James Conner stepped up and Bell was barely missed during the hold out year. Ekeler stepped up and Gordon wasn't missed during his holdout. Bell signed with the Jets and went from superstar to nobody overnight. Gordon has moved on to the Broncos after losing a lot of money last year. History isn't on the side of RBs going all in on the holdouts.

Gordon and Bell held out and their team's went in the crapper. The Steelers were the 2nd worst rushing team in 2018 when Bell held out. The Chargers were the 5th worst the year Gordon held out. Both teams dropped double digits in yards per game, with the Steelers dropping 15 yards (+ Bell's receiving yards), and the Chargers dropping 27.

Bell got a massive contract and his holdout more than worked out for him.

Gordon got 13.5 million in guarantees this year. If he had gotten seriously hurt last year that number could have been 0. He gave up a couple million in 2019 to ensure he makes 13.5, probably 16 million, in 2020, a good business decision for him.

Cook is set to make 1.5 million this year. He can sit out for the beginning of the season, come back in week 8, and still make a good amount in 2021 with a lot less hits on his body. That is more than worth it for him.

I said it last year. It made zero sense financially for Cook to play a full season under his current deal and the Vikings needed to trade him or extend him. The worst thing that can happen is having him holdout. It is a season killer.

[VikingLord]

Cook is the most important piece to the offense. He is arguably a top 5 RB and is currently the 42nd highest paid. He's earned much more than that without question. I also wouldn't play without a new contract.

What is the point of a contract if players sign it and then ignore it when it suits them?

Cook is talented but can't stay healthy. He might be worth investing in, even potentially investing heavily in, if he can prove he can stay healthy and perform at a high level for an entire season. He hasn't done that yet. My advice to him would be do exactly that - show up and perform and give the Vikings a reason to want to extend you beyond the flashes you've shown.

Otherwise, I say ship him for what they can get. He'll likely fetch at least a high 2nd rounder if not a 1st.

[VikingsVictorious]

If you don't play without a new contract you lose a year of your prime and get fined through the roof and teams can no longer waive the fines when you do sign and you earn no service time towards free agency. As Gordon and Bell have proven not playing is a losing proposition. James Conner stepped up and Bell was barely missed during the hold out year. Ekeler stepped up and Gordon wasn't missed during his holdout. Bell signed with the Jets and went from superstar to nobody overnight. Gordon has moved on to the Broncos after losing a lot of money last year. History isn't on the side of RBs going all in on the holdouts.

Gordon and Bell held out and their team's went in the crapper. The Steelers were the 2nd worst rushing team in 2018 when Bell held out. The Chargers were the 5th worst the year Gordon held out. Both teams dropped double digits in yards per game, with the Steelers dropping 15 yards (+ Bell's receiving yards), and the Chargers dropping 27.

Bell got a massive contract and his holdout more than worked out for him.

Gordon got 13.5 million in guarantees this year. If he had gotten seriously hurt last year that number could have been 0. He gave up a couple million in 2019 to ensure he makes 13.5, probably 16 million, in 2020, a good business decision for him.

Cook is set to make 1.5 million this year. He can sit out for the beginning of the season, come back in week 8, and still make a good amount in 2021 with a lot less hits on his body. That is more than worth it for him.

I said it last year. It made zero sense financially for Cook to play a full season under his current deal and the Vikings needed to trade him or extend him. The worst thing that can happen is having him holdout. It is a season killer.

You cherry pick things to such extremes it blows my mind. Bell went from being a superstar to a complete nobody by signing with the jets and sure he got a lot of money. I think the Steelers were offering as much or more. Gordon signed for 8 Million a year. Weren't the Chargers offering more. You add in Bell's receiving while ignoring Ekeler's receiving. Both those holdouts were complete failures.

[VikingLord]

I said it last year. It made zero sense financially for Cook to play a full season under his current deal and the Vikings needed to trade him or extend him. The worst thing that can happen is having him holdout. It is a season killer.

Even if they pay him, which I don't see how they could given their cap situation, that doesn't make them Superbowl contenders. Not only is the overall team not strong enough to be in that conversation, but it is highly unlikely Cook stays healthy and effective the entire season regardless. So even if he does elevate them into that conversation when healthy, there is almost no reason to believe he'll keep them there.

[StumpHunter]

I said it last year. It made zero sense financially for Cook to play a full season under his current deal and the Vikings needed to trade him or extend him. The worst thing that can happen is having him holdout. It is a season killer.

Even if they pay him, which I don't see how they could given their cap situation, that doesn't make them Superbowl contenders. Not only is the overall team not strong enough to be in that conversation, but it is highly unlikely Cook stays healthy and effective the entire season regardless. So even if he does elevate them into that conversation when healthy, there is almost no reason to believe he'll keep them there.

If the front office truly believes that, they should have blown everything up. Cutting Reiff, Stephen and Rudy this year saves about 5 million more in cap next year (with the dead cap hits moving to this year instead of next) than if they wait until 2021. It also makes room for younger guys to step up and develop on the field instead of sitting behind a vet.

I don't disagree with you that this team isn't good enough to win it all as currently constructed, but it just feels like they went half way with a rebuild when they should have done everything possible to make 2021 a better roster. Even if that means winning 6 games this year instead of 8. Sacrifice 2020 for the future instead of whatever it is they are currently putting out on the field. That means trading Cook instead of waiting until he holds out. That means cutting Stephen and Reiff, two guys who might help this year, but won't in 2021. Just weird decision making all around.

[Cliff]

If you don't play without a new contract you lose a year of your prime and get fined through the roof and teams can no longer waive the fines when you do sign and you earn no service time towards free agency. As Gordon and Bell have proven not playing is a losing proposition. James Conner stepped up and Bell was barely missed during the hold out year. Ekeler stepped up and Gordon wasn't missed during his holdout. Bell signed with the Jets and went from superstar to nobody overnight. Gordon has moved on to the Broncos after losing a lot of money last year and was only able to get $8 million a year on his new contract. History isn't on the side of RBs going all in on the holdouts.

If you don't play with a new contract and get injured, you don't get another contract period.

Cook doesn't have a ton to lose, honestly. Again, he's coming in at 45th highest paid in the league.

I don't know how it worked for other teams but the Vikings aren't built to win games without Cook.

[RandyMoss84]

Cook is the most important piece to the offense. He is arguably a top 5 RB and is currently the 42nd highest paid. He's earned much more than that without question. I also wouldn't play without a new contract.

I would not put Cook in the top 5 since he could not stay healthy

[StumpHunter]

Gordon and Bell held out and their team's went in the crapper. The Steelers were the 2nd worst rushing team in 2018 when Bell held out. The Chargers were the 5th worst the year Gordon held out. Both teams dropped double digits in yards per game, with the Steelers dropping 15 yards (+ Bell's receiving yards), and the Chargers dropping 27.

Bell got a massive contract and his holdout more than worked out for him.

Gordon got 13.5 million in guarantees this year. If he had gotten seriously hurt last year that number could have been 0. He gave up a couple million in 2019 to ensure he makes 13.5, probably 16 million, in 2020, a good business decision for him.

Cook is set to make 1.5 million this year. He can sit out for the beginning of the season, come back in week 8, and still make a good amount in 2021 with a lot less hits on his body. That is more than worth it for him.

I said it last year. It made zero sense financially for Cook to play a full season under his current deal and the Vikings needed to trade him or extend him. The worst thing that can happen is having him holdout. It is a season killer.

You cherry pick things to such extremes it blows my mind. Bell went from being a superstar to a complete nobody by signing with the jets and sure he got a lot of money. I think the Steelers were offering as much or more. Gordon signed for 8 Million a year. Weren't the Chargers offering more. You add in Bell's receiving while ignoring Ekeler's receiving. Both those holdouts were complete failures.

If what was reported is true for Bell and Gordon, yeah, they should have taken the deals offered. If not, Bell made the right decision financially, Gordon as well.

If the Vikings are offering a decent contract, Cook is also be foolish for turning it down and I question why he wasn't traded. If they are offering something ridiculously low, or nothing at all, Cook would be smart to not join the team until he absolutely has to and the team should up their offer.

[Cliff]

Cook is the most important piece to the offense. He is arguably a top 5 RB and is currently the 42nd highest paid. He's earned much more than that without question. I also wouldn't play without a new contract.

I would not put Cook in the top 5 since he could not stay healthy

I did say "arguably"

[RandyMoss84]

I would not put Cook in the top 5 since he could not stay healthy

I did say "arguably"

Oh right!

[Cliff]

What is the point of a contract if players sign it and then ignore it when it suits them?

You can ask the same question of the teams, no? How many times do teams cut a player after injury and forego them millions of dollars?

Cook is talented but can't stay healthy. He might be worth investing in, even potentially investing heavily in, if he can prove he can stay healthy and perform at a high level for an entire season. He hasn't done that yet. My advice to him would be do exactly that - show up and perform and give the Vikings a reason to want to extend you beyond the flashes you've shown.

Otherwise, I say ship him for what they can get. He'll likely fetch at least a high 2nd rounder if not a 1st.

I imagine you would like for him to play for no more money as it's good for your favorite team. For him, he's risking injury in a very violent game and potentially losing out on millions of dollars.