'No Change!' Source Reveals View on Dalvin Cook Rumor

It is like clockwork at ESPN.

The weekend approaches and the network lets out of its cage a monkey throwing feces against the wall.

The Dallas Cowboys front office and coaching staff recognizes this team's much-ballyhooed strengths (obviously). But here's a dirty little (less obvious) secret ...

Personnel boss Will McClay and head coach Mike McCarthy, privately, aren't kidding themselves about the team's situation at running back.

Ezekiel Elliott is the lead guy. Rico Dowdle is right behind him. Then come a jumble of bodies ... That one guy at ESPN continues to insist is destined to someday include Dalvin Cook.

Yes, it's "that guy'' ahead, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN , who no matter what he may claim about "sources'' or even "insight,'' is manufacturing out of thin air a Dallas interest in the faded four-time Pro Bowl running back Cook.

Cook himself has expressed interest in Dallas, last year and this year. But in 2023, he eventually landed with the New York Jets, and he did not look good.

They dumped him late in the season and he joined the Baltimore Ravens ... and he once again did not look good.

Related: Cowboys Have RB Miles Sanders as 'Top Target'?

It's always wise, right about now, to remind ourselves that this is a "never-say-never'' business. So, something could change. A Cowboys injury. A woeful showing. A stunning Cook workout. Something.

But the Cowboys position on Cook has respectfully been "no thanks.'' And about a week ago, when we asked a team official about any alteration in that stance, we were told, "No change.'' ... Which also means "no change'' in the way ESPN keeps connecting Dalvin to Dallas.

It's monkeys throwing feces at the wall.