Free agent NFL running back Dalvin Cook signed with the Dallas Cowboys on August 28 and will initially join the team’s practice squad, according to the Associated Press. Cook, who spent his first six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, played for both the New York Jets and the Baltimore Ravens last season. With the Cowboys, he will have the opportunity to compete for playing time in a running back group led by Ezekiel Elliott, who has accumulated 2,525 career touches over his eight seasons. Shortly after the signing was announced, Cook posted a cryptic message on social media, sharing the number “four” as an emoji and updating his profile name to “Dalvin ‘4’ Cook,” sparking speculation among fans.
Fans quickly linked the number “four” to starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who has worn the No. 4 jersey for the Dallas Cowboys since 2016. Cook, who wore No. 4 during his standout three years at Florida State University—where he scored 40 touchdowns in his last two seasons—also switched from No. 33 back to No. 4 during his final season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.
Cook’s enigmatic post could signify several things, such as:
– His preferred jersey number
– The Cowboys being his fourth NFL team
– His four Pro Bowl selections
Alternatively, and perhaps most intriguingly, it could be a hint or request for the Cowboys to finalize a new contract for Prescott. Without a new deal, Prescott, who is 31, will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 NFL season. Despite signing a four-year, $160 million extension in March 2021, Prescott is now tied with Daniel Jones and Matthew Stafford for the 14th-highest average annual salary among quarterbacks at $40 million. The clock is ticking if the Cowboys want to complete a new deal before their Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns on September 8.
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