As a four-time Pro Bowler, you'd think Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook wouldn't need to field questions about proving people wrong. Heck, you might even consider it a surprise than anyone is doubting someone who averaged 4.7 yards per attempt in his first six years in the NFL.
But such is life for running backs in the league as evidence shows most players at the position suffer a steep decline in play as they approach 30 years of age. In 2023, after surprisingly being cut by the Minnesota Vikings, Cook averaged 3.2 yards per attempt for the New York Jets, who never gave him a starting role.
NFL teams, clearly, are no strangers to the evidence mentioned above. Each year, the running back market appears to be in further decline and teams are less willing to sign these players to big deals.
In spite of al of this, Cook believes he doesn't need to prove anyone wrong because of his resume, which includes four 1,000+ yard seasons.
"Nah, my resume speak for itself, to be honest," Cook told reporters after signing to the Cowboys' practice squad.
With that being said, Cook has a much more powerful why driving him ahead of the 2024 NFL regular season, where he'll suit up in the silver and navy while wearing No. 20: It's the one human on Earth Cook feels he needs to prove it to.
"But I just had a son, he just turned one a week ago," Cook shared with reporters. "I got everything to prove to him, to be honest, and I owe the world to him, every day I put on my pads, every day I wake up, that's my why."
In order to prove it, Cook understands what it takes. He just turned 29 years old and two years removed from a Pro Bowl season, he was signed by the Cowboys to the practice squad because they weren't interested in adding him to the 53-man roster (which could change later on).
For the running back, it's not about what he does on the field but rather away from it.
"In this league, running backs we obviously take our bodies through so much but it's a point where you got to know, I'm getting at a certain age, I got to start upping the stuff off the field, and that's for me, I just picked up a certain routine and I just ran with it and I just feel like it's got me to this point where I'm I'm healthy and ready to go." Cook said. "So just just stick to a routine, man, no matter the age man, if you got it go get it."
With Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn on the 53-man roster, it'll be interesting to see when Cook gets that chance to prove to go get it. For now, he's got a powerful motivation watching from home: Dalvin Cook Jr.
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