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

[SoonerBillsFan]

23 hours ago, JohnNord said:

I completely trust Brandon Beane to navigate this situation either way.  He has done a nice job of re-signing players early before they hit the market (Spencer Brown) and also passing on players who would command a bigger contract than their value (Tremaine Edmunds).   He also been very good at managing the cap.

These are the highest paid NFL running backs:

 

Christian McCaffrey, $16 million 

Alvin Kamara, $15 million 

Jonathan Taylor, $14 million 

Saquon Barkley, $12.6 million 

Josh Jacobs, $12 million 

Joe Mixon, $9.9 million 

Derrick Henry, $8 million 

D'Andre Swift, $8 million 

Tony Pollard, $7.3 million 

James Conner, $7 million

 

Cook isn’t getting $15 million from any NFL team, including Buffalo.   I think $11M-$12M is most likely and I wouldn’t be surprised if he signs for that amount in Buffalo. 

 

I wouldn't give him 11.  His pass blocking is bad and he is off the field on 3rd downs.

 

And this chicken crap of scrubbing all Bills related stuff off social media has pissed off many fans.  The FO put up with diva crap from Diggs because of his contract. 

 

I say package Cook and trade.  

 

BTW, remember when he was drafted and some of us thought he wasn't excited about being drafted by Buffalo?  Hummm...

[stuvian]

The running back position is important again. If we are really a run first team we need to pay him.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, stuvian said:

The running back position is important again. If we are really a run first team we need to pay him.

Or,go with Davis,re-sign Johmson and draft a back.  Right now we need Defense.

[ColoradoBills]

James Cook will play for the Bills in 2025.  He will not "hold out" all season.

He is still on his rookie contract.  It's nothing like what happened with LeVeon Bell.

 

Beane will offer a contract to Cook and his agent.  If they don't like it, they will move on as a UFA in 2026.

A few social media tweets are blowing this thing way out of proportion.

 

[BillsFanForever19]

17 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

And this chicken crap of scrubbing all Bills related stuff off social media has pissed off many fans.  The FO put up with diva crap from Diggs because of his contract. 

 

I'll never understand fans that get so upset by this they go from loving a player to insulting them personally.

 

It's just business. It isn't personal. Fans need to stop being so sensitive.

[DrDawkinstein]

7 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Or,go with Davis,re-sign Johmson and draft a back. Right now we need Defense.

 

First, the idea that Davis and/or Johnson can fill Cook's shoes is laughable. Jimbo had multiple runs of over 50yards that he takes to the house. The Bills havent had a RB who can do that in years (decades?). And no one else on the roster can make those type of big plays on the ground.

 

To the bold... Cool, because a new, big deal for Cook would just be an extension onto his already existing deal with big numbers not even kicking in for another year or even 2. His number this year will still be his number and we can still sign the same Defensive players.

 

So best to re-sign him now, get him some signing bonus and guaranteed money to make him feel good, and by the time the extension starts the market and cap will have gone up enough that his deal will look like a steal.

 

The same exact way Beane does it with everyone else. This isnt new. This isnt difficult. We aint need to be rocket surgeons.

[Warriorspikes51]

if we can improve by removing Diggs

 

we can improve by removing Cook

 

if he keeps escalating this situation and won’t come to a reasonable deal

 

I’d rather not deal him….but it may be wise if this continues

Edited yesterday at 12:52 AM by Warriorspikes51

[Ya Digg?]

34 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

if we can improve by removing Diggs

 

we can improve by removing Cook

 

if he keeps escalating this situation and won’t come to a reasonable deal

 

I’d rather not deal him….but it may be wise if this continues

It hasn’t really continued though. He made a post, ended up deleting it, then went on a podcast and talked about it. I think there are far too many people who are stuck in the old ways, pre-social media days. This is a negotiation strategy. Many players have used it in the last couple of years. 
 

I bet most in here couldn’t even tell you what Cook’s voice sounds like. Guy has been quiet since he’s been here. Took the game day inactives his rookie year like a pro. Has played hard the last 2 years. Has even come out and said he doesn’t want to be a cancer (but way too many people are choosing to ignore that part of what he said, hmmmmm interesting). Nothing over his first 3 seasons has shown anything of a diva attitude. Where was all this anger during the season when he was scoring all those touchdowns? Oh that’s right, there wasn’t any. Now he’s enemy #1? Seems pretty weak to me 

[stuvian]

The question to be answered is whether we are run first going forward or if this was a temporary measure until our receivers got in sync. This helped our team on both sides of the ball. The drop in turnovers and length of drives was worth at least one playoff win IMO. I think Cook is as good as Alvin Kamara and worth an 8 digit pay package. The running back position is returning to prominence. If we score the next Thurman Thomas in the draft that gives us a decision to make. 

[UKBillFan]

9 hours ago, Ya Digg? said:

It hasn’t really continued though. He made a post, ended up deleting it, then went on a podcast and talked about it. I think there are far too many people who are stuck in the old ways, pre-social media days. This is a negotiation strategy. Many players have used it in the last couple of years. 
 

I bet most in here couldn’t even tell you what Cook’s voice sounds like. Guy has been quiet since he’s been here. Took the game day inactives his rookie year like a pro. Has played hard the last 2 years. Has even come out and said he doesn’t want to be a cancer (but way too many people are choosing to ignore that part of what he said, hmmmmm interesting). Nothing over his first 3 seasons has shown anything of a diva attitude. Where was all this anger during the season when he was scoring all those touchdowns? Oh that’s right, there wasn’t any. Now he’s enemy #1? Seems pretty weak to me 

 

Actions speak louder than words. I'm sure no one wants to be a cancer, but by putting in the public domain he's increased the risk of being called one.

 

Why would fans be angry at Cook for scoring touchdowns? That's false equivalence.

 

I think everyone can understand him wanting more money, and the majority agree he deserves an increase on his current contract. The way he's made it public is the issue.

[Sestak4ever]

I agree that making this so public is poor judgement on his part, or it might be a greedy agent. I think some fans are short-changing the impact he had on our team this year, and how his play helped Josh progress even more. I’m not so sure that would be easily replaced. I would like to see him extended for a reasonable contract and not jettison him off so quickly. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Go Bills! 🏈

[SCBills]

15 minutes ago, Sestak4ever said:

I agree that making this so public is poor judgement on his part, or it might be a greedy agent. I think some fans are short-changing the impact he had on our team this year, and how his play helped Josh progress even more. I’m not so sure that would be easily replaced. I would like to see him extended for a reasonable contract and not jettison him off so quickly. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Go Bills! 🏈

 

I agree that Cook is very good and, as good as our OL is, many times Cook just made things happen that were special.

 

That said... I'd point blank trade him at this point.  I say that believing we could get a 3rd round pick for him.  

 

Even if we could lock him down at, say, 11M.. I'd rather use that 11M towards an outside WR or Defensive Line.. or even a potential difference maker at another undervalued position in Safety for say.. Jevon Holland.

 

I just think the engine of our run game is Josh Allen, our OL and Aaron Kromer.  As long as we have those three things, a highly paid RB is a complete luxury... especially one who can maybe do more than we ask of him, but has primarily been a rotation back leading a group with a well defined role for a 3rd down back.. and with a rookie who, in his one game to shine, absolutely shined. 

[billsfan_34]

On 2/12/2025 at 12:20 AM, Warriorspikes51 said:

I’ll do 12 mil per 

8 and a bag of chips - no more 🤣

[BillsFanForever19]

McDermott doesn't seemed bothered by what Cook has done so I don't know why fans are

 

 

[AkwiredTste]

1 minute ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

McDermott doesn't seemed bothered by what Cook has done so I don't know why fans are

 

 

Said exactly what he was supposed to....nothing more, nothing less

[SoonerBillsFan]

On 2/23/2025 at 2:44 PM, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I'll never understand fans that get so upset by this they go from loving a player to insulting them personally.

 

It's just business. It isn't personal. Fans need to stop being so sensitive.

It got personal when he scrubbed his social media of all Bills related things.  That is a FU to Buffalo and it's fans.

[BillsFanForever19]

5 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

It got personal when he scrubbed his social media of all Bills related things.  That is a FU to Buffalo and it's fans.

 

No, it isn't. It's what a large number of players do in negotiations every single year. Just as often as the  player doing that moving on - the negotiations get gets worked out, the player stays, and the social media is restored.

 

Taking offense to it and viewing it as a personal FU to you is cringe, imo. 

 

12 minutes ago, AkwiredTste said:

Said exactly what he was supposed to....nothing more, nothing less

 

If he was truly offended, he wouldn't gush about his growth. It's just be "James is a very good player and we'll see what happens on the business side.

Edited 18 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[AkwiredTste]

28 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

No, it isn't. It's what a large number of players do in negotiations every single year. Just as often as the  player doing that moving on - the negotiations get gets worked out, the player stays, and the social media is restored.

 

Taking offense to it and viewing it as a personal FU to you is cringe, imo. 

 

 

If he was truly offended, he wouldn't gush about his growth. It's just be "James is a very good player and we'll see what happens on the business side.

He didn't reveal anything that was eye opening...not sure what you're looking for here. Did you expect him to call him out for his social media negotiating at a Combine presser?

Edited 18 hours ago by AkwiredTste

[MasterStrategist]

38 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

It got personal when he scrubbed his social media of all Bills related things.  That is a FU to Buffalo and it's fans.

Get a grip man....

 

Scrubbed his social media, lol.

 

You might have a problem if you think that's intended as an insult to Buffalo/fans.

 

Take a deep breathe, and realize we have a borderline great RB.  If anyone is still clinging to the thought that Ray Davis is taking significant snaps from Cook or anywhere near his skill level, just delusional.

 

Cook is our best playmaker, not named Josh Allen...facts.  You don't easily replace his explosiveness/elite vision and quickness.  18 TDs was no accident, and he's shown improvement every season.

[Cheektowaga Chad]

43 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

It got personal when he scrubbed his social media of all Bills related things.  That is a FU to Buffalo and it's fans.

A lot of players take down their NFL stuff in the off season, tre white used to do it every season as well

 

These players have a ton of followers on their social media and when you have a lot of followers on social media a picture is worth a lot of money, having pictures of their NFL and NFL team is marketing they aren't getting paid for during the off season