Has Cook talked himself OFF the Bills for 2025

[strive_for_five_guy]

  On 3/22/2025 at 10:05 AM, Doc Brown said:

A RB on a rookie deal shouldn't give a crap about a Super Bowl until he gets that big second contract imo.  The combination of the rookie wage scale and the integration of analytics depressed that position way more than others.  You only have a small window to make life altering money.  I don't think complaining on social media is helpful but I can't blame the guy to cash in when his stock is at an all time high.

 

FTR, I'm vehemently against giving Cook $12m per year.  I'd rather use that money to keep the o-line together as long as possible.

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Totally agree on the first part of what you said.  RBs have the shortest shelf life of all positions, the 2nd contract is their biggest chance to cash in and make enough money to be set for the rest of their lives.  Whether it’s Dalvin or whomever giving James advice, it’s still wise advice in my opinion.  Management would love it if players just accepted what they wanted to do.

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

  On 3/22/2025 at 4:27 AM, Mike in Horseheads said:

Spiller just needed to get out in space! lol

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And Greg Bell needed to get off his lounge chair by the Transit Valley Country Club pool.  Just sayin'

[Einstein's Dog]

  On 3/22/2025 at 4:30 AM, 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.

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A 3rd?  The Bills used a 2nd to get Cook.  And the Bills have dealt with the growing pains to get to where he is now, an excellent, but not complete RB.  The Bills could probably get something close to a 3rd in a comp pick when he leaves if he gets close to $15M on the open market.

 

Secondly, Cook is one of the offenses most exciting weapons, he has the ability to take it to the house on almost any play.  The Bills did not acquire anyone else who is near that level (didn't want DK at his price apparently).  Moving on from Cook weakens the team in 2025. 

 

So, no, I don't want the FO to trade Cook for a third.  Yes, have Cook play out his contract if a reasonable extension isn't able to be done.

 

As to the OP, slight modification, it's not that Cook is talking, it is about the substance of what we see as a negotiating problem.  Cook put out a $15M figure clueing in most of Bills nation that there will be a problem (and the problem stems from Cook's end).  We don't know if Benford is doing an outrageously high figure because he hasn't posted it.  Seems like it was a bizarre miscalculation from Cook's camp that floating that figure would somehow help them.

[Maine-iac]

I don't completely remember but wasn't the beginning of the end for Dalvin not taking a pay cut and getting cut from the Vikings?  A trip to NJ and bam lights out.  You can self advocate all you want and I agree RB's are undervalued but know how far you can push things because the reason RB's are undervalued is because they are very replaceable.  I'd love to have Cook back but it's not unthinkable that Ty (hypothetically) could start 17 games behind this line and put up 900 to 1,000 yards.  

[Ga boy]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:03 PM, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

And Greg Bell needed to get off his lounge chair by the Transit Valley Country Club pool.  Just sayin'

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Where is Tinker Bell lounging now?

[FireChans]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:03 PM, Einstein's Dog said:

A 3rd?  The Bills used a 2nd to get Cook.  And the Bills have dealt with the growing pains to get to where he is now, an excellent, but not complete RB.  The Bills could probably get something close to a 3rd in a comp pick when he leaves if he gets close to $15M on the open market.

 

Secondly, Cook is one of the offenses most exciting weapons, he has the ability to take it to the house on almost any play.  The Bills did not acquire anyone else who is near that level (didn't want DK at his price apparently).  Moving on from Cook weakens the team in 2025. 

 

So, no, I don't want the FO to trade Cook for a third.  Yes, have Cook play out his contract if a reasonable extension isn't able to be done.

 

As to the OP, slight modification, it's not that Cook is talking, it is about the substance of what we see as a negotiating problem.  Cook put out a $15M figure clueing in most of Bills nation that there will be a problem (and the problem stems from Cook's end).  We don't know if Benford is doing an outrageously high figure because he hasn't posted it.  Seems like it was a bizarre miscalculation from Cook's camp that floating that figure would somehow help them.

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The Bills used a second to get Cook, and got 3 cheap years out of him.

 

are you under the impression that trading him for a third would be bad value?

[CA OC Bills Fan]

  On 3/22/2025 at 12:45 PM, Big Blitz said:

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.  

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Cook has much less wear on his body than typical 26 year old backs. He wasn't high volume in college or as a rookie. The last 2 years were much higher but still not bell cow level.

[Maine-iac]

I think (for me) a large thing Cook doesn't understand is that from what most people have seen if you put him out there 3 downs and he's missing blocks and Allen gets hit several times because Cook can't pass block he's going to embarrass himself.  The way we take him off the field because of his pass blocking is almost a tell about whether we are running or not.

[DrDawkinstein]

  On 3/22/2025 at 3:59 AM, BillsFan130 said:

But... RB is such an easy position to fill,

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3rd rd pick on Singletary, wasnt the guy.

3rd rd pick on Moss, wasnt the guy.

FA money on Chris Ivory, Frank Gore Sr, TJ Yeldon, Latavius Murray...

Trade and re-sign Nyheim Hines...

 

None of them, NONE of them, are anything close to the playmaker Cook has proven to be. Not even current board favorite, Ray Davis (the backups are always the most popular guys).

 

Getting a true playmaker at RB who can be a gamechanger and take it to the house on any given play is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

Finding a guy who has that special ability and who can therefore take those dangerous carries out of Josh's hands and prolong his health is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

We finally have that and everyone is ready to let him walk because of a few meaningless posts on social media.

 

Absolutely insane.

[FireChans]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:15 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

 

3rd rd pick on Singletary, wasnt the guy.

3rd rd pick on Moss, wasnt the guy.

FA money on Chris Ivory, Frank Gore Sr, TJ Yeldon, Latavius Murray...

Trade and re-sign Nyheim Hines...

 

None of them, NONE of them, are anything close to the playmaker Cook has proven to be. Not even current board favorite, Ray Davis (the backups are always the most popular guys).

 

Getting a true playmaker at RB who can be a gamechanger and take it to the house on any given play is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

Finding a guy who has that special ability and who can therefore take those dangerous carries out of Josh's hands and prolong his health is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

We finally have that and everyone is ready to let him walk because of a few meaningless posts on social media.

 

Absolutely insane.

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I’m ready to let him walk because I think he’s gonna hold out until he gets $15M AAV and I wouldn’t pay him that.

[DrDawkinstein]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:16 PM, FireChans said:

I’m ready to let him walk because I think he’s gonna hold out until he gets $15M AAV and I wouldn’t pay him that.

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Ok, but it wont be easy to fill his shoes. We'll spend more high picks and hope for the best.

[boyst]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:15 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

 

3rd rd pick on Singletary, wasnt the guy.

3rd rd pick on Moss, wasnt the guy.

FA money on Chris Ivory, Frank Gore Sr, TJ Yeldon, Latavius Murray...

Trade and re-sign Nyheim Hines...

 

None of them, NONE of them, are anything close to the playmaker Cook has proven to be. Not even current board favorite, Ray Davis (the backups are always the most popular guys).

 

Getting a true playmaker at RB who can be a gamechanger and take it to the house on any given play is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

Finding a guy who has that special ability and who can therefore take those dangerous carries out of Josh's hands and prolong his health is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

We finally have that and everyone is ready to let him walk because of a few meaningless posts on social media.

 

Absolutely insane.

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Not ready to let him walk because he ran his mouth but not going to pay him what he is asking. 

 

It's counter intuitive, in my humblest of humble opinions, to talk openly about money and want to be a part of a team. 

 

However, I'm not in the NFL (yet... There's hope)... And I'm not looking to negotiate a million dollar deal (yet... There's hope).

 

Either way, offer him the right contract, make him well paid, avoid void years, make it trade  friendly on the back end.

[DrDawkinstein]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:23 PM, boyst said:

However, I'm not in the NFL (yet... There's hope)... And I'm not looking to negotiate a million dollar deal (yet... There's hope).

 

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As much as I hate Tom Brady, I appreciated him continuing to play as long as he did. Since he's 2 years older than me, as long as he was playing, I still had hope my pro career would take off...

[BuffaloMatt]

Can't believe I'm invoking the memory of Nathaniel Hackett but . . . . "We're going to give him the ball until throws up. So he's either got to tap out or throw up on the field. Let's just put it that way." So, that may not be the best game plan, however,  the Bills must use him and use him often while he is under contract.

[FireChans]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:18 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Ok, but it wont be easy to fill his shoes. We'll spend more high picks and hope for the best.

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I wouldn’t do that either but you’re right they might. 
 

It’s hard to decide these things in a vacuum because we don’t operate in a vacuum.

 

If they are gonna trade Cook for a 3rd and then use 2 2nds on running backs to replace him, well I hate that plan lol. 
 

But on its face, I don’t pay Cook $15M and I am a Cook fan. I realize he is the only guy other than Josh with pop on offense. I value him, I just can’t value him there.

[ColoradoBills]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:53 AM, DeepPass said:

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?

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He is under a rookie contract.  It's suicide for a rookie to hold out the entire year.

 

I don't see a trade either.  He plays for the Bills and if Beane and Cook can't work out an extension by next spring he will be a FA.

[BillsFan130]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:15 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

 

3rd rd pick on Singletary, wasnt the guy.

3rd rd pick on Moss, wasnt the guy.

FA money on Chris Ivory, Frank Gore Sr, TJ Yeldon, Latavius Murray...

Trade and re-sign Nyheim Hines...

 

None of them, NONE of them, are anything close to the playmaker Cook has proven to be. Not even current board favorite, Ray Davis (the backups are always the most popular guys).

 

Getting a true playmaker at RB who can be a gamechanger and take it to the house on any given play is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

Finding a guy who has that special ability and who can therefore take those dangerous carries out of Josh's hands and prolong his health is NOT an easy position to fill.

 

We finally have that and everyone is ready to let him walk because of a few meaningless posts on social media.

 

Absolutely insane.

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What's the common denominator behind let's say moss and singletary not succeeding a ton in Buffalo ? (Cause I don't see how those washed up vets you listed is a good comparison)

Bills o line, and especially the run blocking was awful.

 

Moss was a beast in Indi- Singletary had a very good year for Houston when he left Buffalo.

 

And the one game James cook did miss this year, Ray Davis had 150 scrimmage yards

 

Is James cook the best RB out of the guys you listed? For sure- But if this O

line stays in tack, and as long as Josh Allen is the Qb- The run game will be good

Edited Saturday at 03:02 PM by BillsFan130

[Rocky Landing]

  On 3/22/2025 at 3:59 AM, BillsFan130 said:

Unpopular take, but not that concerned.

 

I hope he's the RB for 2025, as yes, he is a good player.

But... RB is such an easy position to fill, and the bills o line is borderline elite. I feel like most backs would have good success behind this o line

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This raises valid questions: How much of Cook’s success can be attributed to working behind a stellar O-line? And how does that consideration affect the value McD/Beane place on the position?

[Mr. WEO]

  On 3/22/2025 at 2:53 AM, 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!

 

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when did he "talk" himself off the team?

 

 

[BillsFan130]

  On 3/22/2025 at 3:14 PM, Rocky Landing said:

This raises valid questions: How much of Cook’s success can be attributed to working behind a stellar O-line? And how does that consideration affect the value McD/Beane place on the position?

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Exactly- The Bills O line is elite- Cook had massive holes to run through all year.

 

I am not trying to say Cook isn't a good player, because he is. But at what cost?

 

I would rather a mid round pick who would make 2-3 mil per season, combined with Ray Davis and Ty Johnson- At let's say 80-90 % of the production. Compared to paying Cook 12-15 mil

Edited Saturday at 03:29 PM by BillsFan130