There seems to be an additional nugget as to why Dalvin Cook is still a free agent.
The former Minnesota Vikings running back reportedly offered his ex-girlfriend $1 million to clear him of any wrongdoing stemming from her 2021 claim that he assaulted her.
US Army Sergeant Gracelyn Trimble charged Cook with assault, battery and false imprisonment during a November 19, 2020 incident at his home in Grove Heights, on Minneapolis Star Tribune reported, citing a lawsuit filed in Dakota County District Court.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, number 4, carries the ball during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 8, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Cook allegedly offered $800,000 before raising the offer to seven figures. Trimble’s attorney, Daniel Cragg, said Cook’s initial offer was «evidence of a crime.»
«This fails the sniff test, and can and should be admissible as evidence of Cook’s guilty conscience,» Cragg wrote.
Cook said in a statement that he was aware that his lawyers had offered Trimble the $800,000 in May «to provide an affidavit exonerating him of wrongdoing,» the filing reported.
Trimble also reportedly turned down the million dollars, which would also have required her to write a letter to the NFL clearing Cook of any wrongdoing.
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (4) attempts to reverse direction to reach the end zone during the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins on October 16, 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL. (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
AARON RODGERS SAYS JOINING JETS HAS ‘REJUVENATED’ HIM, SUGGESTIONS FOR PLAYING BEYOND 2023
According to Trimble’s initial lawsuit, the couple met in Florida in 2018 and had an on-off relationship, but Trimble claims she flew to Minnesota in November of last year to officially end the relationship and get their belongings back.
The lawsuit says she entered his home through the garage, grabbing a sledge hammer as she entered, and claims that Cook became upset when she asked him for help getting her things, at which point he allegedly «grabbed her arm and threw her entire body onto the couch, slamming her face into the coffee table and causing the lower part of her forehead and the bridge of her nose to split open,» the lawsuit says.
At the time, she claimed that she tried to use the mace on Cook, but was overpowered and the mace went into her eyes. She then went to the shower and was allegedly assaulted again by Cook. According to her outlet, she grabbed a gun that belonged to the NFL player and called a friend of hers, which allegedly prompted him to threaten her and attack her with a broomstick.
Dalvin Cook, number 4 of the Minnesota Vikings, runs during the first half against the New York Giants in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at US Bank Stadium on January 15, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Cook’s attorney, David Valentini, responded to the lawsuit filing with a statement Tuesday, alleging that Trimble broke into Cook’s home and then assaulted him and two other guests.
The Vikings released Cook in June as part of a salary-cap drop, and he remains unsigned despite being tied to several teams, including the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
Cook has made four straight Pro Bowls while averaging 1,256 rushing yards in that span and finding the end zone 46 times.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.