NFL Rumors: Jets RBs prove they can cook without Cook, Dalvin Cook trade on the rocks?
The Jets will take one Dalvin Cook trade, please. Neat or on the rocks?
It's starting to look like Cook to the Jets isn't happening this offseason. In the Jets' preseason opener against the Panthers, New York's running backs came out to play, rushing for 141 yards and adding another 93 yards in the air.
Fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda led the RB room with 56 rushing yards while 2021 fourth-rounder Michael Carter led the receiving room with 34 yards.
Sans Breece Hall, the Jets' ground game looked plenty potent against the Panthers' backups, which may have at least partially swayed New York's front office's thoughts on acquiring veteran Dalvin Cook.
The Jets running backs aren't paying much attention to the Cook rumors, that's for sure.
"We ignore it. Talk is cheap. Dalvin's a great 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."
Ever since Cook visited the Jets, talk has died down about New York actually giving the ex-Vikings back a deal. Cook has arguably peaked more interest in Miami, where he was spotted working out this past month, and he seems to be a bigger Dolphins fan-favorite.
Heading into 2023, the Jets will likely name Breece Hall as the RB1 with Carter, Zonovan Knight, and Abanikanda contributing in some way or another. Why go after Cook at all? If New York is worried about Hall's ability to stay healthy and has lost faith in Carter after his disappointing second campaign, rostering another RB1 like Cook provides air-tight insurance.
As it stands, though, the Jets may choose to go all-in with their current running back corps in 2023.
NFL Rumors: Ezekiel Elliott hasn't signed with Patriots yet because of 1 key factor
Money talks. And based on the latest rumors, the Patriots haven't offered Ezekiel Elliott much of it.
Elliott has stayed quiet since visiting New England two weeks ago and even dining with quarterback Mac Jones. As one of the top remaining running backs on the market, Elliott holds some leverage against RB-needy teams, albeit one bowling ball of an injury would knock all his pins down.
The former Cowboys running back isn't backing down now, however, as a new report suggests Elliott is holding out for a more lucrative contract.
Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal wrote:
"Per league sources, there are several teams that remain in the mix to sign free agent running Ezekiel Elliott, including the Patriots. So what's taking so long? Money. Shocking, right? Zeke would like more of it."
According to Giardi's sources, the teams currently interested in Elliott would "prefer to pay the bare minimum"; one anonymous team intimated that they would only sign him after Week 1 so his contract is not guaranteed.
This offseason revealed how stiff the market was for running backs even as experienced as Elliott, and the Pats may still be weighing Elliott's risk versus reward.
Risk: Elliott gets injured, and the Pats paid him for nothing.
Reward: Elliott serves in a limited but efficient role to lessen Rhamondre Stevenson's workload, and plus New England prevents a rival from potentially signing him.
With over $17 million in available cap space, the Patriots have enough to pay Elliott. Given that Elliott is still loitering at their doorstep, one would assume New England just doesn't want to.
NFL Rumors: Jordan Love expected to perform worse than Rodgers', Favre's first year with Packers
First-year full-time starting quarterbacks unite!
Jordan Love is getting handed the keys to the Packers kingdom in 2023, and much ink has already been spilled on how he might perform.
"Up-and-down" might best describe his offseason: Love threw some dots at camp this summer, but he also made rookie mistakes. The 2020 first-rounder is riding a high tide of expectations to keep Green Bay competitive in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, and at least one pundit thinks he's going to fall face-first into the water.
NBC Sports' Peter King recently listed his projection for Love and claimed he would do worse than Favre's or Rodgers' first year in Green Bay:
I expect Love will have a shakier first year than Favre's in 1992 (8-5, 85.3 rating) or Rodgers' in 2008 (6-10, 93.8). Outside of the veteran backfield, Love's skill group is incredibly green.
Some teams skew young, but imagine Love's dual challenges: following two Hall-of-Famers at sports' toughest position to master, and relying on five receivers age 24, 23, 23, 22 and 22.
The counterpoint, of course, is: Look at how Brett Favre and Rodgers turned out. One bad season does not make a bad quarterback.
Love looked solid in his preseason opener against the Browns, going 7-of-10 for 46 yards and recording one touchdown against zero interceptions. Accuracy, athleticism, comfort in the pocket, building rhythm and cadence — it's all coming together slowly for the Packers heir.
That being said, Love's weapons are just as unproven as he is. His top two wide receivers could be 2022 picks (Watson and Doubs). His top two tight ends could be rookies (Musgrave and Kraft). For an offense as young as the Packers', patience cannot be preached enough. Take your overreactions elsewhere, perhaps to Aaron Rodgers' new team.