Einstein's Dog

The problem with not drafting an RB is that it increases the impact of a Cook threat to "hold in" until week 11.

For me, it's not the social media post as much as it is the substance of the post, the $15M. It gave a clue into difficult negotiations and not surprisingly Cook is the last to be extended. You can keep claiming it means nothing (just as many dismissed Diggs social media as "kids will be kids").

Putting out a high number on social media is not a common tactic. Why do that? What do you think of that? While the negotiation is between Cook and Beane the public has received some information - and so far, IMO, Beane is the clear leader.

No, if the 6th rounder (Benford type) outplays the 1st rounder (Elam type) it doesn't matter.

No, Cook's team (with the amateur agent and devious Dalvin) have not done a good job. The idea of starting with a high number on social media may backfire big time. If that figure was never released there would be much more support for Cook. This may be a blessing for the FO. What if the FO never wanted to pay an RB big money? Cook's team has given the FO an out -the fanbase is clearly on the side of Beane. The trick now is for Beane to get Cook to play on his current contract this season. As for Cook knowing he has to play - I'm not so sure about that. Seems like most think Cook could get $12M if he were on the open market now. Playing as a 2 down back again in 2025 doesn't change that figure, so Cook may not want to risk it. As for the "given RB is an easier position to replace if need be", it's the "need be" part of the equation that is tricky. The RB room is kind of full for 2025 right now if you include Cook. But if Cook is going to sit out 11 games you may want to draft another RB in the upcoming draft.

And help McDermott's decision to go for it on 4th down.

They didn't care about that. What they did care about was when the one team had a strategy to defend the tush-push by guessing the count and sending a defender flying over the center -they got all bent out of shape about that. After the defense did it a couple of times the refs threatened to award Philly a TD - what? That annoyed me.

It's more like banning a play where one team gets the benefit of the doubt that the first down is made unless there is evidence to the contrary, and another team (the Bills) needs to provide evidence that the first down was made. Now that the play has been exposed that the refs have no idea with spotting the ball, the play should be retired. Also it's an unattractive play, already flirting with rule violations in getting pushed from behind, and seems like only a matter of time before someone just goes full out to injure the QB.

There's a problem in just giving Cook a raise because he outplayed his contract, and that is because that is part the incentive in the extension process. You don't let the player have it both ways - get a raise and go hit FA. Also the FO doesn't have any worries now about the optics, Cook and his team took care of that with the post about $15M - really stupid thing of his team to do.

Seems like a planted rumor out from SF trying to get a team to put in an offer with a made up ultimatum. SF would like to get someone to trade prior to a large payment going out to Aiyuk, don't see how SF paying him takes him off the trade market though.

I think James Cook's brother has already been personally insulted by the opening offer from the Bills. The problem as I see it is, the best 2 down RB in the league (D Henry) is making $8M/yr. Cook seems to want to be paid among the best 3 down RBs in the league ($12M to dare I say $15? per year). I don't think the Bills want, or plan, on Cook being a 3 down back for them. I'm still trying to make sense of why Cook's team put that $15M figure out there. Did they think the Bills fanbase would rally behind them?

I think they can use it as a tie-breaker, when the price is close. Like DK saying he doesn't want to play in the cold really means "he doesn't want to play for the New England losers unless they offer a couple million more than anyone else." We've been there.

The top 3 stuff doesn't matter, what matters is that you strive to get better. The easiest way for the offense to get better is/was improving at WR. The TEs are good to excellent, the RB room is excellent (although I can see that slipping w the Cook situation and would not blame Beane), and the OL is excellent and is QB. But the WR room looks weak again. And like many I still wish the move had been made for DK. Looking forward I hope they either add a decent draft pick at WR or get A Cooper back at the price they have in mind.

Right, I hope they don't feel roped in. And I'm not sure they did in 2022, it just felt that way to be me because of the way I had things ranked.

I disagree some. You shouldn't have such a gaping hole that you disgard a top tier BPA at a premium position of need. In 2022 I think the FO was so intent on a CB that they weren't even considering the top WR tier. C Watkins and G Pickens were still available - and since there were two of them they wouldn't have needed to trade up. Those two seemed upper tier to me whereas the CBs did not.