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

[DrDawkinstein]

4 minutes ago, Bockeye said:

Ty Johnson.  

Weighs 20lbs more than Cook.  

Ran a 4.45/Cook ran a 4.42.  

Is a better pass catcher than Cook

Is better in pass pro

Averaged 5.2ypc this past season

 

Easily accumulate 1,300 total yards if he was #1 back.  He’d be on the field way more than Cook.

 

Bills Fans seemingly have issues wrapping their heads around "We can have more than 1 nice thing" since the old Fred Jackson/Marshawn Lynch debate.

 

We should be able to keep Cook AND Johnson. And have Ray Davis in the wings in case of injury.

[BADOLBILZ]

3 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

This is what I’m struggling with. Why does it get much more difficult?  Using this framework I don’t see this as a problem:

 

 

Will he be a little overpaid? Probably. Why should I care is what I can’t wrap my head around. I care about the cap situation not actual dollars. That’s a Terry issue. Why does anyone care if he makes $12M vs. $15M? Those cap challenges will be years from now. When the window is open throw caution to the wind and be thankful that you’ve had an owner willing to pay up. 

 

 

The problem is that you are automatically presuming that Cook will then keep performing well.

 

That's the mistake everyone makes when extending non-HoF bound RB's.

 

They usually don't perform well at all after they've been paid.

 

Hell Christian McCaffrey has had 2 good seasons in the last 7(and a bunch of terrible ones in between) and then totally fleeced his team TWICE now!

 

It doesn't just have to be for lack of effort.....RB's get injured, it's a high use position....but sometimes it is because of becoming disincentivized too.

 

Just draft another RB in this great RB draft.

 

That puts the pressure on Cook to show up to camp and show out this season rather than giving him leverage.   And then let him move on.  

 

Care because that's $15M-$30M in guaranteed money they can't spend on things like WR talent.

[Kirby Jackson]

29 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

 

Yet the Bills are still without a ring and, for the biggest offensive down of the year, he was off the field because he cannot pass block. I don't want him to go but every player has a price. For what Cook brings to the team, he should be below Barkley. And if they can't reach that agreement then it's a case of moving on, building up the defense and seeing who is available in the run game.

If we are saying “be done with him” that’s one thing. The part that I’m struggling with is the people that are okay at $12M but not $15M. That’s not much different at all in what it allows the Bills to do. If you’re advocating “trade him for a 3rd and draft Judkins” there, that’s a different conversation.

25 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

The problem is that you are automatically presuming that Cook will then keep performing well.

 

That's the mistake everyone makes when extending non-HoF bound RB's.

 

They usually don't perform well at all after they've been paid.

 

Hell Christian McCaffrey has had 2 good seasons in the last 7(and a bunch of terrible ones in between) and then totally fleeced his team TWICE now!

 

It doesn't just have to be for lack of effort.....RB's get injured, it's a high use position....but sometimes it is because of becoming disincentivized too.

 

Just draft another RB in this great RB draft.

 

That puts the pressure on Cook to show up to camp and show out this season rather than giving him leverage.   And then let him move on.  

 

Care because that's $15M-$30M in guaranteed money they can't spend on things like WR talent.

He’s a low mileage RB that appears to be improving. He split the backfield in college and in the NFL. That’s different than drafting a guy with a lot of miles. I haven’t looked at it but I wonder what it would look like if you took all of Davis’ touches in college and the pros and compared it to Cook’s touches in college and the pros what it would look like? I suspect it would be close. I don’t have the energy to look it up.

 

Update: Cook has 1,047 touches in college & the pros including playoffs. Ray Davis has 977 touches. These are just scrimmage touches. They are 6 weeks apart in age. So Cook is 6 weeks older and has 70 more touches. The perception is “one is a rising rookie” and the other “primed for a decline.” They’re basically the same in terms of experience. 

Edited February 13 by Kirby Jackson

[Yobogoya!]

10 minutes ago, Bockeye said:

Ty Johnson.  

Weighs 20lbs more than Cook.  

Ran a 4.45/Cook ran a 4.42.  

Is a better pass catcher than Cook

Is better in pass pro

Averaged 5.2ypc this past season

 

Easily accumulate 1,300 total yards if he was #1 back.  He’d be on the field way more than Cook.

 

Completely agree. Cook is an elite talent but Ty Johnson gives me low key Freddie Jackson vibes. 

 

The guy is solid at everything he does and has a tendency of punching way above his weight in the "big play" department. 

[H2o]

I know a RB who would look great in a Bills uni, and can likely be had in the 2nd (unless he completely obliterates the Combine, and that is possible). 

 

 

[BeastMaster]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

 

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.

That's all fine and dandy, but he just strikes me as a me first guy that wants his money and will always be causing trouble if he's not getting what he thinks he should be, and we know alot of these guys aren't always realistic with how much they should get.

 

I could also see him giving less effort once he gets his big deal so he can keep himself in position to strike another deal in a few more years after that. 

 

The fact that he's been alluding to getting paid previously, along with his brother, and now the 15 mil thing with him acting like a diva on social media all screams buyer beware at a position where you have to be incredibly valuable to get a big deal.

 

I was on board with paying him if he wanted a reasonable extension. Now with how he's been acting I am not even sure if I would make that offer. 

 

 

Edited February 13 by BeastMaster

[finn]

4 minutes ago, BeastMaster said:

I was on board with paying him if he wanted a reasonable extension. Now with how he's been acting I am not even sure if I would make that offer. 

 

Agree. That's a me-first, Diggs-type vibe. Definitely listen to trade offers, but if a third doesn't materialize, have play out his last year and let him go, no hard feelings either year. He'll be wanting to prove himself, so he should give the Bills a good year. 

[Yobogoya!]

10 minutes ago, BeastMaster said:

I was on board with paying him if he wanted a reasonable extension. Now with how he's been acting I am not even sure if I would make that offer. 

 

3 minutes ago, finn said:

Agree. That's a me-first, Diggs-type vibe. Definitely listen to trade offers, but if a third doesn't materialize, have play out his last year and let him go, no hard feelings either year. He'll be wanting to prove himself, so he should give the Bills a good year. 

 

Eh, young running backs in the NFL in the modern era have seemingly been more aggressive about holding out for top money while they can get it and for good reason: they take more punishment than anyone on the field and their value has plummeted in the era of high passing offenses. They have to be more assertive about getting while the gettin's good, and any halfway decent agent is going to push for this type of move. 

 

This feels a lot more "just business" than the me-first drama Diggs brought -- which wasn't even about money, really. That was just his ego and wanting the ball. 

 

If the Bills can get an above-value return for Cook and he can get his asinine contract? I'd consider that a win for both sides. 

[uticaclub]

Jerry Jones loves paying RBs and Micah Parsons wants out. Both in the last year of their rookie deals. Hopefully Jerry is senile enough to traded 1 for 1!

[JP51]

9 minutes ago, finn said:

Agree. That's a me-first, Diggs-type vibe. Definitely listen to trade offers, but if a third doesn't materialize, have play out his last year and let him go, no hard feelings either year. He'll be wanting to prove himself, so he should give the Bills a good year. 

I am not ready to bail.. but I am not gonna lie... my antenna went up when his brother started telling him to get the bag... reminicent of Trayvon and Stefon.. now this and I am starting to hear the beep beep beep... maybe nothing... but I am not gonna get shocked if he turns into an issue... and If I aint gonna let Diggs be an issue I sure as heck aint gonna let an RB unless his name is Henry or Barkley... and maybe not even then... 

[BADOLBILZ]

10 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

If we are saying “be done with him” that’s one thing. The part that I’m struggling with is the people that are okay at $12M but not $15M. That’s not much different at all in what it allows the Bills to do. If you’re advocating “trade him for a 3rd and draft Judkins” there, that’s a different conversation.

He’s a low mileage RB that appears to be improving. He split the backfield in college and in the NFL. That’s different than drafting a guy with a lot of miles. I haven’t looked at it but I wonder what it would look like if you took all of Davis’ touches in college and the pros and compared it to Cook’s touches in college and the pros what it would look like? I suspect it would be close. I don’t have the energy to look it up.

 

 

Regarding Ray Davis........he and Ty Johnson aren't as good as Cook.  But both are plenty good enough to win a SB with, IMO.  Johnson might be as talented as Cook but he just can't take the punishment, IMO.  You gotta' limit his snaps.  Davis could easily get 200 carries next season and be a much better player than Devin Singletary, IMO because he is a really natural receiver.   Not too worried about his mileage on his rookie deal.  Neither Davis or Johnson are a long term solution.......but what RB is?  So even if you retain Johnson I still draft one this spring.

 

One of the reasons that Cook is low mileage is that he isn't a complete RB.   He has to come off the field on 3rd downs to avoid Allen getting killed by bad pass pro and to put a better receiving RB on the field.  Yeah he's improved but he isn't all-around yet.  You don't give an "improving" RB the bag.  It's generally wrong to give the finished one's the bag let alone one at Cook's stage.

 

An easy solution is to give Cook more incentives this season.   The ability to make an extra $2M-$3M with a great year.  You've then doubled his motivation to have a great year.  Still might not be enough to get him to camp but drafting another RB would let him know he has no other option.

[SectionC3]

30 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I think that’s fair if we are talking about plugging in a rookie in his place. The Bills scored a lot of points with a great running game. I’m not sure that they want to take a step back there to take a step forward elsewhere. I think that it’s reasonable to do both if you structure contracts aggressively.

All fair points.  I’ll add only that the great running game was committee-based, with two other guys under contract and one a relatively low priced FA.  I’m reluctant to give 11m to a guy who plays less than half of the snaps at his position.  And, I’ll superfluously add this: maybe those monies go to McGovern or (less likely) Torrence in a year.  Food for thought I suppose. 

Edited February 13 by SectionC3

[jahnyc]

I don't think we would get a great return in a trade for Cook.  Salary demands and the undervaluing of running backs will depress what we can get for him.  Possible solution may be that he plays out his fourth year and we agree to not tag him (but leave the window open to negotiate a new deal).  Franchise tag for Cook for one year would be too high and detrimental to our cap situation in 2026, so I don't think we would lose much.

[Bockeye]

11 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Regarding Ray Davis........he and Ty Johnson aren't as good as Cook.  But both are plenty good enough to win a SB with, IMO.  Johnson might be as talented as Cook but he just can't take the punishment, IMO.  You gotta' limit his snaps.  Davis could easily get 200 carries next season and be a much better player than Devin Singletary, IMO because he is a really natural receiver.   Not too worried about his mileage on his rookie deal.  Neither Davis or Johnson are a long term solution.......but what RB is?  So even if you retain Johnson I still draft one this spring.

 

One of the reasons that Cook is low mileage is that he isn't a complete RB.   He has to come off the field on 3rd downs to avoid Allen getting killed by bad pass pro and to put a better receiving RB on the field.  Yeah he's improved but he isn't all-around yet.  You don't give an "improving" RB the bag.  It's generally wrong to give the finished one's the bag let alone one at Cook's stage.

 

An easy solution is to give Cook more incentives this season.   The ability to make an extra $2M-$3M with a great year.  You've then doubled his motivation to have a great year.  Still might not be enough to get him to camp but drafting another RB would let him know he has no other option.

Just curious as to why you think Ty Johnson can’t take the punishment, esp being 20lbs heavier than Cook?

 

https://www.draftsharks.com/fantasy/injury-history/james-cook/12585

 

https://www.draftsharks.com/fantasy/injury-history/ty-johnson/10342

[The 9 Isles]

If I were Beane I would extend Ty Johnson today to send a message. 
 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited February 13 by The 9 Isles

[Mango]

5 minutes ago, jahnyc said:

I don't think we would get a great return in a trade for Cook.  Salary demands and the undervaluing of running backs will depress what we can get for him.  Possible solution may be that he plays out his fourth year and we agree to not tag him (but leave the window open to negotiate a new deal).  Franchise tag for Cook for one year would be too high and detrimental to our cap situation in 2026, so I don't think we would lose much.

 

Franchise tag for an RB is $12M right now. It has gone up, but a couple of big contracts have skewed that recently. Outside of Cook himself, I am not sure who would reset the market in a major way to jump that number to 15, 16, or 17M. 

I have zero issue with Cook playing out his contract and one year with a tag. That is very much in the Bills favor. (Which is why RB's have gotten so aggressive about extensions)

[BADOLBILZ]

9 minutes ago, Bockeye said:

Just curious as to why you think Ty Johnson can’t take the punishment, esp being 20lbs heavier than Cook?

 

https://www.draftsharks.com/fantasy/injury-history/james-cook/12585

 

https://www.draftsharks.com/fantasy/injury-history/ty-johnson/10342

 

Just my observation in his very limited amount of usage.  I think the red flag went up for me when I saw him get concussed on that collision after the catch at the goal line(near halftime) in the finale against Miami in 2023.   Didn't look that bad for a RB collision.  I was very surprised that he couldn't return to the field in that close game.  Contrast that with the horrible impact Ray Davis took with his concussion this year and he was back and running strong the next week.  RB's gotta' be tough as hell to carry the load.  But admittedly, Johnson has had so little use in his career it's hard to say definitively whether he is durable or not.

11 minutes ago, The 9 Isles said:

If I were Beane I would extend Ty today Johnson to send a message. 
 

 

 

 

 

.

 

If the price is right you extend him either way.   In the $2M-$3M range.   I don't think it sends a message unless the price is wrong.

[DrDawkinstein]

12 minutes ago, Mango said:

 

Franchise tag for an RB is $12M right now. It has gone up, but a couple of big contracts have skewed that recently. Outside of Cook himself, I am not sure who would reset the market in a major way to jump that number to 15, 16, or 17M. 

I have zero issue with Cook playing out his contract and one year with a tag. That is very much in the Bills favor. (Which is why RB's have gotten so aggressive about extensions)

 

I'd imagine it's a big goal and priority for McDermott and Beane to never have a player stuck with the Franchise Tag. Those are usually situations that lead to unhappy players, and issues in the locker room.

 

Either pay your guys (like White, Oliver, Josh, Knox, Taron, etc) or dont (like Edmunds).

[Mat68]

Rb was a strength.  Why weaken it when you don't have to?  Because rbs are undervalued?  By who? Allen doesn't need a number 1 wr.  Allen doesn't need a top back.     He is asking for 15 a year. Saquan is at 12.5.  Somewhere around 11 a year I think you’re a fool not to do it.   Heck even Saquans deal is what Gabe Davis got in FA last season.  In the overall scale it’s nothing for a NFL team.  He is a top 5 back.  Keep him for his prime and make a run.  I don't understand the hate he is getting. 

[K D]

It's clear that he only cares about money. I don't see him posting tweets about how the Bills should be working hard in the off-season to win the Superbowl. In fact he scrubbed his accounts of all things Bills. We don't need guys like that who only care about money. 99.9999% of us will never make $15 mil total in our lives and we are doing fine and he wants that PER SEASON.

 

It's honestly very selfish. People saying "get paid while you can, this has to last you the rest of your life" are out of touch with how much it costs to have a nice life. He already has more than enough to have a great life. I'd be more concerned with how I'm remembered and not the things I'm able to buy. You win the Superbowl and you are now in a position to be considered for the HOF, TV analyst jobs, autograph signings etc. It's short sighted to say give me the money now. Enjoy playing for the Titans or Browns and being completely irrelevant. Tremaine Edmunds only cared about the money too and how quickly we forgot about and moved on from him. RB is a much easier position to replace. Trade him now while he's still worth something imo.