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

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

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.

Ehh there were a few games other running backs got hot and cook’s carries got cut it felt like…I’m not sure any rb is worth what he’s asking for in the modern nfl 

 

heck even the eagles I don’t think had to grab saquon…their oline was so stupid good that I think a pretty good rb would’ve gone for like 1500 yards still

[Kirby Jackson]

6 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Efficiency does not matter more than production.   C'mon now, don't be ridiculous.   

 

You can't be more efficient than Mike Gillislee in 2016.   He literally lead the NFL in yards per carry AND(despite the contradictory nature of the 2 stats) 3rd down conversions of 2 or less in 2016.    AND he scored 9 TD's on 110 touches versus Cook's lesser % of 18 on 239.    MG also had 5.7 yards per touch that season versus 5.3 for Cook last year.

 

And he and Karlos had been just as efficient the year before.   Karlos had 9 TD's on like 104 touches and he averaged 5.6 versus MG's also absurd 5.7 in 2015.  

 

2 years in a row MG did that 5.7.   He was ascending too, right?

 

Didn't mean he or Karlos were worth top RB pay.   

 

I mean, what do you think Ty Johnson is worth if Cook is worth $15M?  

 

Ty Johnson averaged almost 16 yards per catch and 8.4 yards per touch and 5.2 yards per carry.   Those numbers are astronomical AND he rushes for 4.6 yards per carry for his career and can actually pass block.   And for his career he's almost 6 yards per touch.  More than Jim Brown averaged.  He's a human highlight reel on his 390 touches.  

 

If efficiency means more than production than I guess give him $15M too.

 

 

Gross stats don’t tell the story of effectiveness. They tell someone how often you did something. Tony Pollard had 260/1079/5? You’re saying that’s better? What about Connor at 236/1094/8? Mixon at 245/1016/11? Najee at 263/1043/6? This isn’t 1994 anymore (or even a decade ago). Advanced stats and efficiency stats are infinitely more important than gross stats. You know that. That’s how players are judged in 2025. That’s how you end up with Lamar’s 2023 MVP season (while receiving 49 of 50 votes). Teams care WAY more about EPA than they do about rushing yards. They care about “how did you do when you got the ball?” That’s why analytics departments and people are all over the league. They’re measuring the effectiveness of each player on each play.

 

You are making the effiency point with your Ty Johnson illustration. This was Johnson’s 6th year. It was his 4th fewest touches and he produced his 2nd most scrimmage yards on that. He made $1.3M this year. You can expect that number to double next year. It isn’t because of how many total yards or touches he had!! It’s because of how impactful those touches were, as you so eloquently laid out. 

[Billzgobowlin]

I personally would much rather ride with Ray Davis and resign Ty.  This power play is really annoying.  There are only about three RBs in the league worth this drama.  

9 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Age is not on Cooks side. 

 

RB's generally peak at age 26.....and this season is Cook's age 26 season.......which he is under contract for.

 

After that there tends to be a sudden decline for most.   Which is not directly correlated to usage or "wear and tear".    This is why teams typically want to draft a RB and use them up.

 

https://www.fantasypros.com/2021/07/at-what-age-do-running-backs-decline-2021-fantasy-football/

 

I thought it was particularly telling when the author said these guys are due for decline...........then listed Derrick Henry and then a half dozen guys......who would then subsequently fall off.  

 

Henry was very high use compared to most on the list.  

 

The odds are AGAINST Cook bucking this trend.  

 

If he does?  Good for him and the team he is with but that's not a risk I would take when RB's are so easy to replace and my team is perennially cap-strapped.

I'm not sure the data supports that age.  Maybe 28-30 but not 26

[nuklz2594]

never gonna see 15 million. 

trade him 

let the cam scattabo era begin

[UKBillFan]

8 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I get why agents have their clients use social media to negotiate but it just seems like a terrible idea.

 

It gets headlines. Puts some media pressure on the team. Typically all the players could do is hold out but that’s too late. I just feel like it turns fans against the players.
 

Fans always react poorly to this stuff. I don’t understand why. There is never anything personal about it. 

Like I said before, fans are quick to cut a player underperforming but if a player wants to get more money and uses the only power they have, we get mad.

 

I suppose it's only a power if are on the player's side. If it leaks that the Bills are offering Josh an extension below market value, the fans will round on Beane. In this case, with the amount requested seeming slightly excessive after one strong year - particularly considering how large RB contracts have hurt the Colts and the Niners due to injury - then instead it gives the Bills more flexibility in the fans eyes. If Beane trades then the majority, albeit, if understand even if they don't like it.

 

If the Bills look to move on, which teams will offer Cook $15m? I'm sure there will be some out there. Think someone mentioned Dallas earlier in the thread.

[Freak-O]

Had he been worth 15 million they would have given him the ball those times on fourth and short against KC and he would have won us the game. 

[Chicken Boo]

Meet him in the middle.  $11M-$13M AAV with a decent signing bonus.  

 

The Bills cannot afford to lose a talent like Cook.  

Edited February 15 by Chicken Boo

[Just in Atlanta]

Screw him.

 

Huge year for him but these antics —removing all pictures of him and Bill’s gear, etc.—are not what this team needs to get over the hump.

 

Such a disappointment 

[Kirby Jackson]

9 minutes ago, Just in Atlanta said:

Screw him.

 

Huge year for him but these antics —removing all pictures of him and Bill’s gear, etc.—are not what this team needs to get over the hump.

 

Such a disappointment 

Did you have this same energy about AJ Brown with the Eagles this year? Were his “antics” (which were way worse by the way) not what they needed to get over the hump?

[mike22nc]

I like Cook. I like how he's played the last two years. 

 

I also think the best use of him as a resource right now is to trade him at the top of his value. It's a win to use a late 2nd on him, get 3 very good years of production and then recoup that pick and use it to get better where we have bigger needs. I am comfortable with a Davis/Johnson/rookie backfield and continuing that cycle.

 

The main reason not to pay a RB is the likelihood of injury at the position. The more carries they get throughout their career, the less likely they are to stay healthy. Additionally, they are more susceptible to getting a lower body injury that they never fully come back from. I am not comfortable ever giving a RB a 2nd contract and tying money up in the position on a long-term, high guarantee contract.

 

 

[Just in Atlanta]

29 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Did you have this same energy about AJ Brown with the Eagles this year? Were his “antics” (which were way worse by the way) not what they needed to get over the hump?

I don’t have an opinion on Brown. All I know is his antics and tactics to me at least are tacky. Not professional. And it will be a distraction for this team.

 

 

[LabattBlue]

You don’t pay Cook anywhere near 15 when your QB is Allen.  Take that money and upgrade the WR room.  Let Cook play out his 4th year and then….see ya. 

Edited February 15 by LabattBlue

[Chicken Boo]

6 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

You don’t pay Cook anywhere near 15 when your QB is Allen.  Take that money and upgrade the WR room.  Let Cook play out his 4th year and then….see ya. 

 

And you have confidence in what you've seen thus far that this regime values or has a good eye for talent at the WR position?  

[LabattBlue]

1 minute ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

And you have confidence in what you've seen thus far that this regime values or has a good eye for talent at the WR position?  

Not really, but that doesn’t mean I hope they throw crazy money at Cook. 

[Chicken Boo]

54 minutes ago, Just in Atlanta said:

Screw him.

 

Huge year for him but these antics —removing all pictures of him and Bill’s gear, etc.—are not what this team needs to get over the hump.

 

Such a disappointment 

 

These antics are negotiating tactics commonly used around the league.

 

This is about millions of dollars that James stands to make in his limited window to earn money in his career.  

 

Mr. Nice Guy will only get you rolled in this business, particularly at the RB position.  

[PromoTheRobot]

7 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

 It’s no different than the Jason Peters debacle in 2009. 

 

That dude who signed a contract then wanted more money?

[Chicken Boo]

3 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Not really, but that doesn’t mean I hope they throw crazy money at Cook. 

 

What's crazy money?  

 

He deserves and is worth a considerable amount more than Dawson Knox.

3 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

That dude who signed a contract then wanted more money?

 

Yup.  That same dude who won a Super Bowl and enjoyed a lengthy Hall of Fame career away from Buffalo.    

[LabattBlue]

Just now, Chicken Boo said:

 

What's crazy money?  

 

He deserves and is worth a considerable amount more than Dawson Knox.

Comparing players who play different positions? 😂

 

BTW…no way do I pay him more than 10 per. 

[Chicken Boo]

Just now, LabattBlue said:

Comparing players who play different positions? 😂

 

BTW…no way do I pay him more than 10 per. 

 

That's right.  Laugh away the pain of that awful contract Beane signed Knox to.  

 

I'm talking value.

 

$10M is a good starting point, but very unlikely to get it done.  

 

I'm confused.  Do you guys want to win or penny pinch?

[billsfan714]

58 minutes ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

That's right.  Laugh away the pain of that awful contract Beane signed Knox to.  

 

I'm talking value.

 

$10M is a good starting point, but very unlikely to get it done.  

 

I'm confused.  Do you guys want to win or penny pinch?

Amen, Dawson Knox last year 22 catches 311 yards 1 TD.  In 2023 22 catches 186 yards 2 tds.  Next years cap hit 14.6 million.   Anyone want to compare where he stands in TE production vs where he stands in TE pay?   Yet another example where Beane crapped the bed with a signing.  I would trade him for a pick and get that base at least off the books and use that on Cook.

Edited February 15 by billsfan714