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

[Warriorspikes51]

15 minutes ago, extrahammer said:

Is there a reason he didn't get more than 23 carries in a game last season? Is he checking himself out or is that the Bills monitoring his reps?

it’s “everybody eats”

 

problem is when Cook is COOKING, not giving him the ball more than 13 times likely cost us the AFC Chamiponship…unless he did have a back injury (supposedly)

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

Strongly disagree. 

 

James Cook is a proven commodity.  He'll get paid here or elsewhere, but he's getting paid.  

Did you actually read my post? And can you be more specific about what you’re disagreeing about? I never said he wouldn’t get a contract from the Bills or another team this season or next. (Though in previous posts I disagreed with some about his value.) I just pointed out that the timing of his public demands allows the Bills to cover their rear ends on RBs. You think that’s wrong?

Edited 18 hours ago by BarleyNY

[wppete]

Is he a free agent next year? $15 million? Let him play next year and then let him walk. We have 2 solid players behind him who are far more cheaper. I like Cook but that is a ridiculous number. 

[jahnyc]

I think I understand from Mr. Cook that he wants a new contract at a certain number.  I totally get it, but I am not sure he needs to keep telling us or posting it on social media (or having others do it).  Will be most interesting to hear what Beane has to say about this when he gets asked about it.

[Kelly to Allen]

2 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

it’s “everybody eats”

 

problem is when Cook is COOKING, not giving him the ball more than 13 times likely cost us the AFC Chamiponship…unless he did have a back injury (supposedly)

We lost the AFC championship because the defense is a joke in the playoffs over and over again, and again...

 

If the defense was just slightly above avg we would've beat kc by a couple tds. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Kelly to Allen

[wppete]

I just checked. Cook has another year left on his contract, whats he talking about? if he wants to hold out let him and fine him like crazy. I think Ray Davis will fill in just OK. Honour your contract!    
 

https://overthecap.com/free-agency/buffalo-bills#google_vignette

[Warriorspikes51]

9 minutes ago, wppete said:

I just checked. Cook has another year left on his contract, whats he talking about? if he wants to hold out let him and fine him like crazy. I think Ray Davis will fill in just OK. Honour your contract!    
 

https://overthecap.com/free-agency/buffalo-bills#google_vignette

his brother and friends are ruining him.  His agent must be a clown too 

IMO I’d consider dealing him for a high 2nd 

 

or of course in a package for ________ 

 

his most recent public comments make it much more likely Beane thinks of moving him. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Warriorspikes51

[Ya Digg?]

9 minutes ago, wppete said:

I just checked. Cook has another year left on his contract, whats he talking about? if he wants to hold out let him and fine him like crazy. I think Ray Davis will fill in just OK. Honour your contract!    
 

https://overthecap.com/free-agency/buffalo-bills#google_vignette

I was fine with what you were saying until that last sentence. Contracts get changed and not honored by teams all the time, can’t hold players to a different standard. He’s allowed to start re-negotiating after his third year, that’s all he’s doing 

[Rock-A-Bye Beasley]

On 2/20/2025 at 7:58 AM, Dablitzkrieg said:

Franchise tag is 13 million.  Why would you franchise a guy on a Rookie deal?

Aren’t we talking about his best contract? Am I missing sonething?

On 2/20/2025 at 2:54 PM, Beck Water said:

 

What do you feel this means, practically speaking?

 

 

Bills don't need to franchise tag Cook at this point.  He just finished his 3rd year.  He's under contract for 2025.

I know 

[Beck Water]

8 hours ago, finn said:

Long thread, so maybe someone else made this point already, but why would Beane extend Cook if he doesn't have to, given the other priorities and tight cap space? Especially with this bogus, pouting stunt? I hope Beane will do the smart thing: say nothing, let him play out his contract, and either extend him then or say goodbye, sending the message that you don't negotiate with the Bills via social media. Meanwhile, Cook will have all the incentive to turn in a stellar year since he's auditioning for a big contract from someone. 

 

Me, I hate this kind of posturing so much, I would deliberately try to extend everyone but Cook: Rousseau, Bernard, Shakir, Benford. Reward performance and a team-first attitude these players have displayed, and signal to Cook that he needs a new agent (and brother). 

 

I don't think the Bills much care for it either.  They've previously made clear they don't want to negotiate contracts in public.

 

Beane would extend Cook for the same reason he's extended other players with a year remaining on their contracts:

-players really don't like to play on a 1 year contract because nothing is guaranteed if they get hurt, so the team has a bit more leverage

-the team can talk up getting new money up front/guarantees while the player has the choice "play for us on a 1 year, or take a new contract that might be less than the open market would give you IF you don't get hurt and IF you have another great year

 

Beane will definitely prioritize negotiating with any of the team's FA he wants to re-up, then negotiating with FA, then the draft, before he tries to extend guys who are currently under contract.

 

As far as how he prioritizes extensions, arguably Cook is the one with the most notable stats across the league.  Of the RBs who are top-20 for attempts, he is 16th for yards (reflecting his lower number of attempts, but 5th for Y/A and tied for 1st in TDs. 

I personally feel that Shakir is the least replaceable player simply because of how reliable his hands are and how little else the Bills have at WR, but as a receiver his stats aren't that remarkable.
 

3 hours ago, extrahammer said:

Is there a reason he didn't get more than 23 carries in a game last season? Is he checking himself out or is that the Bills monitoring his reps?

 

I'm not sure, but I think if the Bills want the best pass-protecting RB or the best route-running, receiving RB, Cook is neither - so it's bench time.

Edited 15 hours ago by Beck Water

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

57 minutes ago, wppete said:

I just checked. Cook has another year left on his contract, whats he talking about? if he wants to hold out let him and fine him like crazy. I think Ray Davis will fill in just OK. Honour your contract!    
 

https://overthecap.com/free-agency/buffalo-bills#google_vignette

 

He's outplayed it is what he's saying. He definitely deserves a raise (not 15M), give the man 10M (add incentives) and let's move on with the Cookster. 

[finn]

1 hour ago, Kelly to Allen said:

We lost the AFC championship because the defense is a joke in the playoffs over and over again, and again...

 

If the defense was just slightly above avg we would've beat kc by a couple tds. 

I thought Beane and McDermott put all their efforts into building a defense specifically to beat KC. Ironically, they managed to build one that KC found much, much easier to beat than either Houston or Philly. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Those quiet ones you have to watch out for.

 

I still say sign him and slap a few void years on it. So what. This is a 5 year sprint to a Super Bowl now. All chips in. 2030 will suck, but hopefully we party on the way.

[Beck Water]

10 hours ago, BarleyNY said:

@Beck Water

One additional thought: Cook has already made a big mistake IMO. I do not know if his agent had a role in Cook going public when he did and with what he said, but the timing was not wise. We are still weeks away from free agency and have the draft after that. Any competent GM is going to cover his rear end - and that is going to severely damage Cook’s leverage. If James and his brother had waited until mid-May to do this, then the Bills might’ve been in a tougher spot. If Leist is smart, he’ll get something done quickly. 

 

It's an interesting thought.

 

On the one hand, Cook and his agent may know Beane puts extensions 4th in priority, so they're throwing down "this is what we expect as a portion, better leave that room under the cap for us when you start cooking up extensions"

 

On the other hand, you're right - this does give Beane the chance to maybe put a higher priority on Ty Johnson, maybe make different FA and draft moves

You just might be right that if he'd waited until after the draft, Beane might be thinking "k, got RB locked down" and wind up with fewer options

 

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Beck Water

[Norcalbillsfan]

2 hours ago, jahnyc said:

I think I understand from Mr. Cook that he wants a new contract at a certain number.  I totally get it, but I am not sure he needs to keep telling us or posting it on social media (or having others do it).  Will be most interesting to hear what Beane has to say about this when he gets asked about it.

Agreed, I dont blame an nfl RB for trying to capitalize on a good season when nfl rbs rarely last more than a few years in the league. But he's being aggressive with his social media and talking like he's needs to be paid like now. Like chill out just a little, you might catch more flies with some honey with the FO and bills mafia if you talk a little more about team and wanting a bowl mixed in with wanting a new contract. Not just all out standing on business, I dont want to be a cancer but I want 15 mill.

[Beck Water]

On 2/20/2025 at 10:01 AM, BarleyNY said:

I never said I was mad at Cook for asking for more than he’s worth. That’s not a problem unless he escalates it to a problem. I simply pointed out that he’s not worth what he’s asking for. His size and limitations as a RB limit his role and snap count. That limits his value. 

 

Exactly this.  He can flex as he pleases about wanting to be the 2nd highest paid RB in the league.  Beane will put cold hard football facts on the table, and then we'll see.

 

[AkwiredTste]

Dude wants his bag, don't blame him. Offer him between 10-12, if Dalvin doesn't like it, package him up and move on. Defenses win championships, not 45% snap rb's. Don't need the distraction Dalvin!!!

We have bigger needs to fill 

[DaVinci]

He is  not signing for 10 mill.  I say 10 or trade him to Cleveland or Tennessee.

[Chicken Boo]

5 hours ago, BarleyNY said:

Did you actually read my post? And can you be more specific about what you’re disagreeing about? I never said he wouldn’t get a contract from the Bills or another team this season or next. (Though in previous posts I disagreed with some about his value.) I just pointed out that the timing of his public demands allows the Bills to cover their rear ends on RBs. You think that’s wrong?

 

I don't think anything Cook is doing sways Beane one way or the other.  They have him under contract for another season.  I doubt they're going to burn any picks on a RB this go around.  

 

I expect Ty back, along with Davis and we'll see what happens with James.

 

Edit: I strongly disagree that he's made a big mistake.  This is his 1 shot to get as much money as he can before he reaches 30.

 

He's going for it and he absolutely should.  

Edited 13 hours ago by Chicken Boo

[Low Positive]

Running backs don't get paid anymore. Even the best ones can't break 10 million while average WRs make over 20 million. They are all working together to raise the pay of the position as a whole, especially for those who are exceptional talents. Cook's statements are just a part of that broader process.