James Cook absent from OTA's

[DJB]

I’ve been beating the “draft a RB early” drum for a few months now. 
 

More reason to do so with this nonsense from Cook

[BuffaloMatt]

Torch meet pitchfork . . . .

[TBBills Fan]

10 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

For about a week or so everything has clearly been Tre White's fault.  Try to keep up.

***** I'm sorry. 

 

Dammit Tre you ruined OTAs!

[Matt_In_NH]

In response for this I would trade Cordy Glenn to the Bengals.

[oldmanfan]

Not shocking in any way.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Draconator said:

Two-time Pro Bowl running back James Cook did not join the rest of his teammates when the Buffalo Bills gathered for their first voluntary workouts, general manager Brandon Beane confirmed in a news conference Tuesday.

 

Cook, in the final year of his rookie contract, is seeking a contract extension. But Beane stated three weeks ago at the NFL owners’ meetings that the sides are significantly far apart and that an extension wasn’t likely before the upcoming season.

 

“I just try to focus on what I can control and making sure that the guys that are here are getting the work done,” quarterback Josh Allen said of Cook’s absence. “I know that James is working out and getting the work done there, too. I’m hoping that gets figured out, but it’ll get figured out when it gets figured out. We understand the business side of it.”

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6299460/2025/04/22/bills-james-cook-ota-contract-extension/

Trade him

[Pete]

1 hour ago, gjv said:

 

 

 

1 hour ago, gjv said:

 

 

 

1 hour ago, gjv said:

Is Cook the only Bill not attending voluntary work-outs?

 I believe so.  Josh is there, so everyone should be there.  WGR said One Bills Drive had hyper activity, players everywhere. Tasker said phase 1 of training is more about returning players and new players.  That there will tug of wars, dodge ball, obstacle courses, all building bonds, meetings, setting 2025 mindset. 

 

Not very becoming for a Buffalo Bill.  Beane doesnt play.  I predict a James Cook trade the next 48 hours

Edited 15 hours ago by Pete

[Returntoglory]

Based on my 64 years on this earth, James Cook is making a HUGE mistake here. He's sending all the worng signals to Beane and his teammates.

There are multiple trade partners out there, you can be certain of that.

[Einstein's Dog]

39 minutes ago, WideNine said:

 

I believe it is the final year of his deal.

 

The Bills would love to pay everyone, but that is not realistic. I also think they frown a bit when players try to negotiate deals in the domain of social media.

 

Either way, I agree that he is elite with the ball in his hands and should have a great year if he is a Bill and is playing for the market next year.

 

Could have a great year as a Bill playing for the market as you say.  Beane and Bills fans alike would love that.

 

But Cook might do the "hold-in" to week 11 believing that his 2024 stats did enough for some team to pay him the coveted $15M.  

 

That's a big risk Beane is dealing with and the basis for my belief that there is a great chance Cook is moved during the draft.  Trading Cook now eliminates the potential problem of Cook's not playing and allows the Bills to use a 3 to 4th round pick on reloading the RB room. 

[Freak-O]

Has Cook got Stephonitis during the off-season?

[BillMafia716ix]

Would you go to a work meeting if it was voluntary and you were underpaid? 

[Returntoglory]

Just now, BillMafia716ix said:

Would you go to a work meeting if it was voluntary and you were underpaid? 

Yes I would. Especially if I had agreed on my present pay.

[Mr. WEO]

No need to be concerned until McD first says he is "very concerned", but then backtracks to "we are in a good spot" with Cook...

[Dafan]

What bugs me is that over half of his TDs could have easily been scored by Ray, Ty or Josh.  I like Cook, but don't think he stood out way above the others.

[BuffaloBillyG]

It's the voluntary portion so it's not the big deal some make it out to be. Now if he does the "hold out/hold in" thing once it's mandatory...that's another issue.

 

My only concern is that it seems to me (without hard stats to back me up, just from what I observed over the years) that guys that miss early off season workouts seem to be more suspectable to soft tissue injury that plagues them during the season. Hamstrings, groin, that sort of thing. Time will tell...

[Tulsabillsfanz]

I ran a business for 36 years.  We went from 10 up to 30+ employees during that time. I learned many times over that difficult to please employees were almost always negative for the company. It was amazing how much there was a collective sigh of relief & an improvement in office morale after they left. Most times remaining employees shared their happiness after a change was made.

 

We fortunately did very well over the years, & I always believed keeping a good team attitude in the workplace was a key part of our success. We had many long term employees. My biggest regrets over the years was not making the needed changes soon enough.
 

I think the Bills had that sigh of relief after Diggs was traded last offseason.  I think the Diggs experience will make Buffalo less likely to put up with much drama from Cook.  I would recommend a trade sooner rather than later if they see things heading south.  

[34-78-83]

42 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

Could have a great year as a Bill playing for the market as you say.  Beane and Bills fans alike would love that.

 

But Cook might do the "hold-in" to week 11 believing that his 2024 stats did enough for some team to pay him the coveted $15M.  

 

That's a big risk Beane is dealing with and the basis for my belief that there is a great chance Cook is moved during the draft.  Trading Cook now eliminates the potential problem of Cook's not playing and allows the Bills to use a 3 to 4th round pick on reloading the RB room. 

Na, not cost effective enough any longer to do the in-season holdout for that long.

[ndirish1978]

It's just a dumb negotiating tactic to see if he gets moved before the draft to a team that wants to pay him. Unfortunately for him there are a number of B+ running backs out there. If I had to put money on it, he grumbles and complains and plays out his last year hear and then leaves to some bad franchise who he can trick into giving him a bag who don't have a decent line and he goes the way of Gabe Davis. We will pick a RB in the 3-4th rd next year and roll with that the rookie and our other 2 guys and not drop off all that much. There are a lot of B+ RBs out there, they don't usually get 15M like Cook wants... He's a top 10 rb, not top 5. Top 3-4 guys get paid. Unfortunate for him but expected. I suspect McGovern leaves after this season as well, but without the theatrics that make people turn on Cook. It's clear that Beane is tired of the distraction Cook is causing already.

Edited 14 hours ago by ndirish1978

[RangerDave]

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Trade him

Who would trade for a RB of Cook's abilities who wants $15mm/yr and has made his demands public?  What could we reasonably expect to get in return?  If Beane can't, or won't, sign him to a new contract, what other GMs would spend draft capital on getting into the same position as Beane?

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 minute ago, RangerDave said:

Who would trade for a RB of Cook's abilities who wants $15mm/yr and has made his demands public?  What could we reasonably expect to get in return?  If Beane can't, or won't, sign him to a new contract, what other GMs would spend draft capital on getting into the same position as Beane?

It is my opinion, he just doesn't want to be in Buffalo. Based on how he is acting, and his face when they forst drafted him. 

 

We have been told it's not good behind the scenes.  If I am Beane I am fielding calls,and sitting back to see how the Draft unfolds.  If the situation is right, I can see him used for a trade up, or picks.