Has Cook talked himself OFF the Bills for 2025

[BarleyNY]

3 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I just didn't know if they could be modified by adding extra incentives to the final year of the deal.  Thanks.  I assume they could give him $3 to $4m in likely to be earned incentives.  Correct?  I could see Beane doing something like that to avoid the awkward hold in type situation.

 

It's interesting to me that his brother was in the same situation where he ended up "sitting in" during training camp and the Vikings finally caved right before the start of the 2020 season giving him a five year $63m dollar extension with about $27m in guarantees.  He was a bell cow back though with more tread on the tires.  They knew he was spent only two years into his new deal and took a small dead cap hit because of it.  I'm wondering if James plays the same game his brother did.

Yes, they can do whatever they want with his contract now. Coming to terms with added incentives could be a workable solution for this season. It’s a good idea IMO. 

Edited Saturday at 11:10 AM by BarleyNY

[Snappysnackcakes]

Cook doesn’t seem like a “process” guy. I’d love to see what Johnson and Davis could do with those carries and targets. 

[Coach Tuesday]

Maybe he should focus on learning how to pass block.

[Shortchaz]

8 hours ago, Albany,n.y. said:

Considering we just gave $12 million/year to an average at best WR, they better be willing to pay him.  

This is also where I’m at with it. 
 

Bills should make an honest effort to get him for $12-15 for the next 3-4, if it can’t be done look to trade. 

[BlueRed]

Can someone break down all the things James Cook has said this offseason?

 

I’m not on all the social media sites but I think the hysteria around this seems to be more in bills fans minds than anything else. 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

2 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I feel Davis can replace him.

I like Davis a lot and I’m guessing guy that says never pay RBs…but Cook is very important to this offense. The original question was about 2025. Maybe he will prove himself out (I think we find a happy medium) but he will be back in 25

[BuffaloBillyG]

33 minutes ago, Snappysnackcakes said:

Cook doesn’t seem like a “process” guy. I’d love to see what Johnson and Davis could do with those carries and targets. 

Just in the past few seasons they had Von Miller suspended for DV and then signed not one but TWO DL about to be popped for PED suspension with knowledge of each before the ink was dry.

 

Can we let the "not a 'process' guy" nonsense die already? Its about the most overused nonsense line used. 

[CNYfan]

8 hours ago, That's No Moon said:

I don't think anyone is calling with an offer good enough to make this happen.

I have been thinking, a dangerous concept, that if the Cowboys don't come out of the 1st round with Jeanty or Hampton, that something could happen during the draft.

I don't conceive that Coach and GM want a "hold in" distraction.   

8 hours ago, The Cincinnati Kid said:

James Cook has Dalvin whispering in his ear and that’s probably a problem. Dalvin wasted his best years in the Arctic and doesn’t want his kid brother spending his whole career just below the treeline. My bet, Cook is a Falcon, Jaguar, Buccaneer, Dolphin, Texan, Ram or Charger within 2 full seasons.

Or Cowboys

[bmur66]

I just hope they can keep him and keep him hungry for one more year. 

[Big Blitz]

2 hours ago, Bills!Win! said:

My goodness, now we are talking about 26 year olds being old. Why does everyone think age is so important? All of the best nfl players are usually good into their 30’s 

Not really but for RBs at age 27, 28 there begins a drop off.  
 

This deal won’t be more than 3 years.  
 

I think I’d give him the 15 million per.  

[SoCal Deek]

9 hours ago, The Cincinnati Kid said:

James Cook has Dalvin whispering in his ear and that’s probably a problem. Dalvin wasted his best years in the Arctic and doesn’t want his kid brother spending his whole career just below the treeline. My bet, Cook is a Falcon, Jaguar, Buccaneer, Dolphin, Texan, Ram or Charger within 2 full seasons.

THIS! I don’t think it can be overstated how much Dalvin is influencing his brother’s approach. 

[wppete]

No. But think I 2025 could be his last year as a Bill. He should’ve learned from how his brother handled his MINN contract dealings.  

[BillsFan130]

8 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

It's not an unpopular take at all.  I prefer we keep him but if we can get a 3rd round pick for him I wouldn't hesitate.  His stock is at an all time high now because of the disproportionate TD's last year compared to the year before.  Plus, he was one of the few players who had a great game the last time we saw him.  Either trade him now and draft a RB if you can get a desperate GM gives up a 3rd round pick or better.  If not, let him play out his final year of his contract and if he produces the same numbers as he did the previous season then you pry have to let him walk.  If his numbers regress then you can pry sign him at $6m to $8m a year next off-season.  If some team offers more then so be it.

Ya I 100 percent agree with all of this. And this is exactly where I'm at with cook as well

[Matt_In_NH]

Cook posted something on instagram so we think he has "talked himself off the team".....lets jump to conclusions.

[Gugny]

10 hours ago, DeepPass said:

He's a very good running back,  He's a very good receiver.  He stated he should be on the field for all 3 downs.  Obviously, this goes against "everyone eats" philosophy. He wants somewhere between $8 to $15 mil per season.  That's Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry type money.

 

Does he hold out?  Does he sign a lower contract to stay with the Bills?  Will he be traded with a draft pick allowing the Bills to move up substantially in the 2025 draft?

 

The Bills have a long history of very good running backs (Simpson & Thomas were GREAT RB's) even in the dark ages with Terry Miller, Greg Bell, Joe Cribbs and CJ Spiller.all playing a significant role for the Bills in rushing and receiving.  Do we really need to have one of the highest paid backs in the League?

 

Comments Please!   Go Bills!

 

I’ve always been in the “don’t pay a RB” camp. 
 

I actually reversed course with Cook and hoped that they would pay him, as I think he’s better than average and a very important piece of our high powered offense. 
 

But $15mm per year is a lot. 
 

And his immediate move to play the social media games have me rethinking it. 

[Ya Digg?]

2 hours ago, Snappysnackcakes said:

Cook doesn’t seem like a “process” guy. I’d love to see what Johnson and Davis could do with those carries and targets. 

The guy hasn’t made a peep in 3 years, took his benching as a rookie incredibly well, has played his ass off the last 2 years, had worked incredibly hard on his catching and being able to run through contact…what has he done that makes him not a process guy? 
 

at no point has anyone said this before what was said on Instagram. He was loved by everyone. Sorry, but this “not a process guy” thing is a weak, terrible take 

[H2o]

I don't think he has talked himself off of the team per say, but I also don't believe his approach has helped him in the slightest. I talked about this in the other James Cook thread. I believe, and this is just my 2, that this is part of the reason why you see all of the other guys receiving contract extensions and he has not. Beane and Co. have a number in mind, and I expect that nothing will make them go beyond that. If that number was $15M then the deal would already be done. It's obviously not and no amount of reposts, 👀's, or social media scrubbing will help his cause. 

 

I think if Cook is to get traded, it will happen Day 1 or 2 of the draft. I think teams will want to see how it shakes out with Jeanty, Hampton, Henderson, and Judkins. If they are all gone by mid 2nd Round, I think the phone will start ringing. The most likely teams I think would be in are the Cardinals, the Raiders, the Giants, and maybe the Titans. The Cardinals would have a good foundation on O (if they still believe in Murray) with Murray, Cook, MHJ, and McBride. If LV goes OL then WR, or WR then OL, they could look to trade for someone like Cook. Daboll and the G-Men could look to trade for a proven RB and use their first couple of picks elsewhere. The Titans need help everywhere on O. If they end up drafting Ward, Cook would be a nice get to pair with the young QB. 

[Kirby Jackson]

Please hurry up and get here draft

[Pecker]

10 hours ago, DeepPass said:

He's a very good running back,  He's a very good receiver.  He stated he should be on the field for all 3 downs.  Obviously, this goes against "everyone eats" philosophy. He wants somewhere between $8 to $15 mil per season.  That's Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry type money.

 

Does he hold out?  Does he sign a lower contract to stay with the Bills?  Will he be traded with a draft pick allowing the Bills to move up substantially in the 2025 draft?

 

The Bills have a long history of very good running backs (Simpson & Thomas were GREAT RB's) even in the dark ages with Terry Miller, Greg Bell, Joe Cribbs and CJ Spiller.all playing a significant role for the Bills in rushing and receiving.  Do we really need to have one of the highest paid backs in the League?

 

Comments Please!   Go Bills!

 

I wouldn’t say Cook is a great receiver,  he has dropped many a touchdown pass 

[DC Grid]

Cook has shown enough that the Bills should not trade him going into this year, especially as none of the other RBs the Bills have ever shown enough.  But I don’t think he warrants a big contract unless he takes it to another level this year.  I think there are very few RBs that ever warrant a second contract and so far I don’t see enough to think Cook is one of those.  Negotiating in the press is also a bad sign of where his head is at.