New rule might give Dalvin Cook leverage over Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings running back might have just gained an edge in contract negotiations.

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Dalvin Cook was going to stop participating in any team-related activities until the Minnesota Vikings were able to give him an extension and pay him closer to what he’s worth.

His reported holdout would include training camp, but the newest CBA makes it hard for players to stage holdouts during camp like they used to and some believed the Vikings had the majority of the leverage due to the new regulations.

However, the young running back might have just gained a ton of leverage over Minnesota with a new rule that was agreed to on Friday by the NFL and the NFLPA.

How does this new rule give Dalvin Cook leverage over the Minnesota Vikings?

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Friday, players can now gain an entire accrued season if they are both on the Week 1 roster and they play in at least one game. Previously, guys had to appear in at least six matchups to gain an accrued season and avoid having their contract toll into the next year.

With the guidelines in the new CBA, it still might be best for Cook to at least report and participate in this year’s training camp. However, if he still doesn’t have a new deal by the time the regular season starts, he can essentially play in the Vikings’ first game, sit out the rest of the year, and then he would still become a free agent in 2021.

If Minnesota wants to avoid this (which they should), they should be working day and night to get an extension done for their top running back.

Cook wants to remain with the Vikings and the team wants him to stick around past 2020. Without him on the field during the upcoming season, Minnesota’s chances of having success will shift dramatically in the wrong direction.

In the recent past, the Vikings have commonly been able to get players to agree to an extension within the first few days of training camp. For the sake of Minnesota’s 2020 season, let’s hope the same happens for them and Cook this year.