James Cook on IG Live - "15 mill year" EDIT: Scrubbed his IG and Doubled Down on Twitter

[ArdmoreRyno]

On 2/11/2025 at 10:36 PM, Straight Hucklebuck said:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/positions/RB/1/2025

 

It's CRAZY to see Ollie Gordon III at 19. Dude was unstoppable in 2023. 1700+ rushing, 21 touchdowns in like 9 games... 2000+ total yards. Last year, his OL was a massive disappointment and was keyed on. He might be like a Chuba Hubbard (another former Oklahoma State RB). Chuba was a 2,000 yard rusher his sophomore season season at OSU (also with 21 TDs). He went from 2,000 yards to barely 600 his next year. 

 

Hubbard is turning out to be a solid RB for the Panthers.  

[Process]

Deleting stuff from social media is not a big deal. That's usually how players publicly signal they are looking for something in today's day and age. 

 

Having your brother tweet "$20M a year" every day for 6 months and then immediately joining in once the season ends is childish. 

[BarleyNY]

6 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Have they even had discussions yet? Beane doesn’t even know the cap yet. How could he possibly begin to negotiate.

Cook is eligible for a new contract/extension on March 12th when the new league year begins. However I do not believe that there is anything preventing negotiations before then since he is already a member of the Bills. 

They should have a good idea of what the 2025 cap will be, but hard numbers aren’t out yet. They usually come out in late February. So next couple weeks, before the league year starts. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

Cook is eligible for a new contract/extension on March 12th when the new league year begins. However I do not believe that there is anything preventing negotiations before then since he is already a member of the Bills. 

They should have a good idea of what the 2025 cap will be, but hard numbers aren’t out yet. They usually come out in late February. So next couple weeks, before the league year starts. 

Having a good idea and knowing are very different things. If the cap is $5 million higher next year than projected don’t you think that might change a lot?

 

I actually doubt the Bills have begun negotiations with Cook. 

[CheshireCT]

17 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Have they even had discussions yet? Beane doesn’t even know the cap yet. How could he possibly begin to negotiate.

 

I agree with you. I just have suspicions (and they are only that), given on what we are seeing on social media from both Cook brothers. Perhaps the Bills have said "please be patient, we will make you an offer" and he isn't being patient.

[BillsShredder83]

On 2/11/2025 at 11:28 PM, ghostwriter said:

He’s worth it. He should be a priority. He’s worth every penny. If Allen is having a bad game Cook can carry the team.

We have a nasty OL, and Cook has stone hands. DO NOT GET ME WRONG, i love what dude brings to the table. but we have an absolutely filthy OL that will only get better with another year of continuity!!  I like what Davis brings as a compliment, and we can get a young back that is similar.

 

Package him with some picks for Crosby, Garret, or a WR maybe.  Or trade him for picks.  If he was the pass catcher he was advertised coming out as, id be on board.... but he is as high as he always looks if he thinks hes getting $$ better than Saquan. 

[BillsShredder83]

On 2/11/2025 at 11:32 PM, TheBrownBear said:

He's a nice player, but we rolled out great offenses with Singletary and Moss.  And Ray Davis is good young back to pair with another mid round running back.  If Cook won't play out his deal, then move him for a pick.

Too bad he had to publicly be a d-bag.  He couldve kept this internal and made a trade easier.  He didnt kill his trade value, but he hurt it.  We sure AF arent paying it,we woulda had more options that are realistic from the teams side of things.  Cant get paid if we dont have a fair trade partner.  Shoot him to the moon draft weekend.  His trade value wouldve been at his highest without this news.

[ALLinALLEN]

Gimme judkins for free

[BillsShredder83]

On 2/11/2025 at 11:43 PM, ghostwriter said:

I have no idea how much he will get paid but I do think Beane should exhaust all options to convince him to stay long term.

 

Bills fans are looking at this the wrong way. They see a RB, I see a weapon. Whenever we can add a weapon I think we should do it.

 

Barkley certainly helped the Eagles in a profound way this year, did he not?

We can find someone better in the pass game.  Barkley has not been asked to catch the ball as much as of late, but dude had 90 catches as a rookie.  You pay a guy that is a true dual threat and can pass block.  Cook is not an elite route runner or pass catcher, his pass blocking hurt us in AFCCG. Drops too many balls.

 

Im never paying an elite 'running only' RB. Barkley and McCaffrey are exceptions to the RB rule because they are weapons in pass game.  Henry is the rare exception, and the only one in the last 15years that deserves to be paid based on running only... but he also is a pass blocker.

 

Go upgrade him as a weapon, get cheaper, lose a little carrying skill set dep't, gain some in pass catching dep't, and have him be a 3rd down back.  With this OL, it wont be hard to do.

[DrDawkinstein]

Oh, James Cook is the new whipping boy, interesting.

 

And its due to... checks notes... a social media comment, and cleaning up his social media profile.

 

 

Ooooooo k... gonna be a long offseason with yall...

[Mango]

22 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

We have a nasty OL, and Cook has stone hands. DO NOT GET ME WRONG, i love what dude brings to the table. but we have an absolutely filthy OL that will only get better with another year of continuity!!  I like what Davis brings as a compliment, and we can get a young back that is similar.

 

Package him with some picks for Crosby, Garret, or a WR maybe.  Or trade him for picks.  If he was the pass catcher he was advertised coming out as, id be on board.... but he is as high as he always looks if he thinks hes getting $$ better than Saquan. 

Bills: "Would you like $11.5M per year?"
Cook: "$20 mil or bust"
Bills: "Enjoy Cleveland"

Don't get me wrong. I prefer Cook stays. But if he is in some hold out stage for $15M+, it would be tough not use him in a trade for somebody like Myles Garret. Would you rather make $30M, play with Josh Allen, and maybe win a SB? Or would you rather make $39M and play for the Cleveland Browns. 

[Jrb1979]

11 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Too bad he had to publicly be a d-bag.  He couldve kept this internal and made a trade easier.  He didnt kill his trade value, but he hurt it.  We sure AF arent paying it,we woulda had more options that are realistic from the teams side of things.  Cant get paid if we dont have a fair trade partner.  Shoot him to the moon draft weekend.  His trade value wouldve been at his highest without this news.

This here is why I don't see the Bills getting over the hump. The fans and front office are so anti diva that any time a high end player does this you want him gone

[Dan]

I’m in the minority… but I say pay the man.  …assuming you look at the whole roster and can afford it.  
 

But I pay extra to keep a player like Cook over just about any of the average to below average defensive players that need new contracts.    Yes, we have 2 very good RBs behind him, but, Cook is the only one that seems to be able to take it to the house once he’s in the open.  That makes defenses play us differently. And that is what a playmaker is.  Right now this team has.. Josh and Cook.  That’s pretty much it when it comes to true playmakers.  
 

Outside of the Oline, I’d say it’s a pretty short list of players we have to keep. And Cook is on it, for me. 
 

my only caveat… I don’t know all the salaries and such that it will take to get better defensive players in here.    But don’t risk drafting a RB and hope he produces like Cook next year.  Replace the jags on the DLine with draft picks first. 

[HappyDays]

4 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

His trade value will never be higher than it is right now.  That’s the move.

 

Yeah I've come around to this idea. I respect what James Cook is doing, really I do, but a team paying a QB can't be dealing with a RB hold out. The position just isn't worth the headache. Get like a 3rd/4th for him if possible and go all in on adding downfield passing weapons to make up for it. Then draft his replacement in the middle rounds. This is exactly what KC would do.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said:

This here is why I don't see the Bills getting over the hump. The fans and front office are so anti diva that any time a high end player does this you want him gone

I don’t understand why fans get so emotional when it comes to contract disputes. I really don’t care about these things until training camp breaks.

[Coach Tuesday]

4 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Yeah I've come around to this idea. I respect what James Cook is doing, really I do, but a team paying a QB can't be dealing with a RB hold out. The position just isn't worth the headache. Get like a 3rd/4th for him if possible and go all in on adding downfield passing weapons to make up for it. Then draft his replacement in the middle rounds. This is exactly what KC would do.

 

You have an elite QB and offensive line - that should be a good enough environment for any good back to succeed in.

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, klos63 said:

Saquon had 1 , one thousand yard rushing season in his last 5 before signing the Eagles deal.  I think we'd both agree that he's a great RB, but did he deserve that contract based on his last 5 seasons,  also had an ACL in the past, only played 2 full seasons until this year...

Barkley also has 4 void years,  which allows for an overpay.

I doubt Cook will get 15mm anywhere,  just because he tweeted it.

But I still believe he's an elite back that we should make every attempt to sign. 

Arguing that Barkley didn’t deserve the contract he got only diminishes Cooks’ case.

 

The use of void years is not a reason to excuse overpaying a player. It is not the reason the Eagles structure so many contracts that way. It is a cap management tool that enables them to pay more players fair market value. That enables them to build a more talented team. Using it to overpay players destroys its usefulness.

 

Cash is what matters to players and agents and that should be the focus of what constitutes a fair deal. 

[DrDawkinstein]

6 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I don’t understand why fans get so emotional when it comes to contract disputes. I really don’t care about these things until training camp breaks.

 

And it isnt even a dispute yet.

 

[BillsShredder83]

On 2/12/2025 at 9:57 AM, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Cook is the most explosive player on our offense. I would like to see the Bills use him as a 3 down RB moving forward.

 

We don’t have any high priced WRs. We have a part time TE with cap hits in the $15 million range, but he’s off the books soon. Our OL is locked up.

 

I think a 3 year deal is doable. Probably closer to $12-$13 million with incentives to make more. 3 years around $40

million.

That aint gunna change much if we give Cook 12-15m.  Let dude walk, next man up.  This is 50% of the reason we invested so heavily in OL... let the boys work, get you a speed back to pair with Davis and let the boys eat.  Davis is an elite pass blocker already, and he catches a lot of balls.  Dont remember any drops either

[HappyDays]

4 hours ago, BeastMaster said:

This kid always struck me as a selfish player that would only be in it for the money and not for the team. His brother was a similar guy, as well.

 

Come on man, Cook has worked his ass off. A lot of players didn't show up in the AFCCG. He was one of a few that did and made an incredible individual play to steal a TD. He's earned the right to play hardball and make as much as he can. Teams don't show blind loyalty to their players and players shouldn't be expected to show blind loyalty to their teams. That's especially true for RBs who know they might have one good shot at a contract that sets them up for life.