Jets RB Dalvin Cook embracing Super Bowl expectations

Running back Dalvin Cook is the newest member of the New York Jets embracing the Super Bowl expectations hovering over the franchise now that Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback. 

"I think it’s very realistic," Cook recently told Steve Serby of the New York Post about the Jets being the last team standing come February. "Obviously you look at the roster, you look at the people we’ve added and the things that we already had, just combining that in one, and I think it’s something to be excited about. We just gotta go out there and do our part." 

Shortly after Cook signed a one-year contract reportedly worth up to $8.6M with the Jets earlier this month, he joked about "being on the other side of" Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers while starring with the Minnesota Vikings from the 2017 NFL Draft through last season. Even before the Jets landed the four-time Pro Bowler, who rushed for over 1,100 yards across each of the past four campaigns, players such as Rodgers, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback D.J. Reed made it known that winning Super Bowl LVIII became the club's goal after the future Hall of Famer made his much-anticipated move from the Packers this past April. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Jets as seventh among the betting favorites at +1800 odds to emerge victorious on Super Bowl Sunday. 

"That’s why I came, that’s why I’m here, to help any way I can to get to where we need to go, and that’s holding up the trophy, and that’s what we’re trying to do," Cook added. "...Yeah, we got the pieces. We just gotta go put it together." 

The 2022 Jets improved to 7-4 after then-backup signal-caller Mike White replaced the benched Zach Wilson. White later suffered fractures to his ribs and, respectfully, wasn't at Rodgers' level when healthy. If the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player returns to his best form this fall as many expect, Cook and company could gift the Big Apple a championship parade to remember.