Jeremy Fowler, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. –
In his first public comments at the team facility since October, embattled Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook acknowledged that his participation in the team’s offseason conditioning program will take him only so far with his teammates.
Cook said he needs to prove his reliability over time after missing the final 10 games of 2011 because of a domestic assault case. He was acquitted in March.
“I feel like I have to earn (my teammates’) trust again,” Cook said Wednesday morning, May 2. “I definitely let them down last year by being in this situation I was in. … I’m really looking forward to earning their trust and being a contributing factor on the team.”
Earlier in 2011, Cook was arrested for allegedly brandishing a handgun in his hometown of Lynchburg, Va., but charges were dropped.
Then Cook spent the weekend of an Oct. 23 loss to Green Bay in jail after allegedly choking his girlfriend during an argument. The Vikings showed some leniency toward Cook, suspending him with pay while letting the legal process play out.
Cook said he first appeared at the facility two weeks ago and participated in the start of offseason workouts last week. Cook has spoken with coach Leslie Frazier, who was “very encouraging,” Cook said.
A few teammates called or texted Cook while he was away, and now that he’s back, he’s taking the reserved approach.
“There’s not really too many words coming out,” Cook said. “I feel like they’re just watching me to see what
I can prove to them.”
Cook knows he can’t replace the 10 games he missed last season. In all, the second-round pick from 2010 has played in 12 NFL games, missing most of his rookie year to injury. To make sure he doesn’t miss more time for off-field problems, Cook said, he’s working on “becoming a better man on and off the field, just becoming a better person and my faith and familywise.”
Cook is feeling grateful to still have a role on the team.
“To be able to work out with my teammates and be in this environment, it feels great,” Cook said.
The Vikings are noticing a rejuvenated Cook, quarterback Christian Ponder said, citing Cook’s eagerness to get started even before offseason workouts began.
“You can tell he’s trying really hard. We all make mistakes,” Ponder said. “Obviously, that was a tough situation that he put himself in. I’ve talked to him. We’ve all talked to him. He seems like he’s learned. … He’s doing everything he can to earn the respect of all of us, and he’s working hard. We see it in him. We definitely notice it, for sure.”
Added right tackle Phil Loadholt: “We know what kind of guy Chris is. I think that’s the reason he’s still around.”
