Jets takeaways from Robert Saleh, including team's level of interest in Dalvin Cook
Robert Saleh said the Jets won’t hold a joint practice with the Giants and he is not interested in appearing on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this year but the head coach did not close the door on a pursuit of free agent running back Dalvin Cook.
When asked Friday if there was interest in Cook during his pre-practice news conference ahead of the team's final day of minicamp, the head coach indicated the team would look into it, but said it wasn’t a question for him to answer.
“Obviously, we’ll turn the stones over on that one,” Saleh said, “but, again, that will probably be more of a [GM Joe Douglas] question.”
He added: “I’m not sure how the money works on that.”
Cook, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, would be one of the top running backs on the market, coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he rushed for 1,173 yards on 264 carries (4.4 yards per attempt) with eight touchdowns. The six-year vet added 295 yards on 39 catches (7.6 yards per reception) with two TDs.
And according to Over The Cap, New York currently has $24.79 million in salary cap space.
Saleh's answer on the running back was much more open than his answer on free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. When asked on May 31 after the team showed interest in Odell Beckham Jr. if the team would be in the running to land Hopkins, Saleh said he was not in the team's plans, saying "We love our current group."
On the TV front, Saleh said he had not gotten word about if Gang Green would be making their second appearance on the behind-the-scenes training camp show and expressed hope his team would not appear.
"I know there's several teams that would love for 'Hard Knocks' to be in their building, we're just not one of them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saleh said he already spoke with Giants head coach Brian Daboll to inform him they would “bypass this year” and not hold a joint practice ahead of the two teams playing in the final week of the preseason because the two teams play early in the regular season (Week 8). He added they will plan to hold a joint practice next season.
The head coach added they are “still ironing out details with Carolina and Tampa but plan on practicing with both of them” ahead of their preseason matchups.
At the end of the offseason program and some 40 days, until training camp begins, Saleh was asked if his team is ready for the next step and prepared for a potential circus around the team.
“Well there’s a difference between being ready and prepared,” the head said.
“We’re prepared for everything. Like we have no control over this,” he said while gesturing with both hands toward the assembled media members. “But we have control over what we put on the field for ourselves every day.
“Knock on wood, I’ve been part of some really really special football teams in Seattle, San Francisco, so there’s attention, the external attention should have no bearing on what you do day in and day out. And for a lot of guys on our team, it’s probably gonna be new for them, but they’ve also gotta be reminded that they played big-time college football, they’ve been in big-time moments. While the circus on the outside is going on they still gotta keep the main thing the main thing and that’s putting your best foot forward.”
