James Cook absent from OTA's

[frostbitmic]

I don't think he'll be traded this weekend or anytime this season.

 

I do think it would be in his best interest to come into camp ready to put in the work for his contract season, win the starters job and have a helluva year and watch the offers come in next March.

 

Sitting out, dragging his contract demands thru social media and or whining will not be beneficial for him in the long run.

[SoCal Deek]

Cook clearly trusts the process! 🙄

[DrDawkinstein]

14 minutes ago, frostbitmic said:

I don't think he'll be traded this weekend or anytime this season.

 

I do think it would be in his best interest to come into camp ready to put in the work for his contract season, win the starters job and have a helluva year and watch the offers come in next March.

 

Sitting out, dragging his contract demands thru social media and or whining will not be beneficial for him in the long run.

 

Did someone say "long run"?

 

 

[Rocky Landing]

A few thoughts on Cook:

• Missing OTAs is not a big deal. But, I suspect it's not just about missing OTAs that might stick in Beane's craw, but the public means in which Cook has dealt with his contract frustration. Beane has said as much. Missing OTAs is just icing on the ***** cake.
• A lot of posters have brought up what a great season Cook just had, but It strikes me that Cook finished last season exceptionally strong. IMO (and some might argue this), if you look at the tape from Cook midseason, and compare it to Cook in the playoffs, he really came on strong towards the end of the season. And it makes me wonder-- did he (or the O-line?) get better as the season progressed, or did he play harder? Which begs the question: if it's the latter, how will he play after he gets paid?
• Ty Johnson is every bit as fast as James Cook, but I believe Cook has better acceleration, and better yards after contact. But Ty Johnson is the better receiver by a mile.

I've never really understood the contract strategy of holding out, or backing off from the team when a player is unhappy with their contract, or is seeking an extension. But, it happens so often that there's obviously something to it. Personally, in my career, I've been freelance for 34 years, and so there have been many jobs in which I felt I was being underpaid. But, I never worked down to the value I felt they were placing on me. My strategy was always to show the company I was worth more, and that's worked out well for me over the years.

[BigAl2526]

I think there is a technical difference between off season conditioning workouts (what the Bills are doing now) and OTAs, which will come in May and include the draftees.

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, frostbitmic said:

I don't think he'll be traded this weekend or anytime this season.

 

I do think it would be in his best interest to come into camp ready to put in the work for his contract season, win the starters job and have a helluva year and watch the offers come in next March.

 

Sitting out, dragging his contract demands thru social media and or whining will not be beneficial for him in the long run.

 

16 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I've never really understood the contract strategy of holding out, or backing off from the team when a player is unhappy with their contract, or is seeking an extension. But, it happens so often that there's obviously something to it. Personally, in my career, I've been freelance for 34 years, and so there have been many jobs in which I felt I was being underpaid. But, I never worked down to the value I felt they were placing on me. My strategy was always to show the company I was worth more, and that's worked out well for me over the years.

Squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Myles Garrett posted a thank you letter to Browns fans to convince the Browns to sign him for $40m/year.  Cook doesn't have 34 years left on his playing career so the appropriate time for him to exert maximum pressure is right now.  His next contract will likely be the only bite of the apple he can setting himself up financially the rest of his life.  I

 

t's likely the best season he'll ever have as a pro given his age, the quality of our o-line, and his efficiency numbers last year (especially his total TD's which will regress to the mean).  You also now have fans who fell in love with him last year on Cook's side.  It could force a trade to a team willing to pay him a massive RB extension if the Bills aren't going too.  I don't like the strategy but I've seen a number of players get a contract extension done successfully using this strategy.  At the very least it makes it more likely that you can add incentives to his contract this year like the Giants did with Barkley when they franchise tagged him.

[Returntoglory]

2 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

A few thoughts on Cook:

• Missing OTAs is not a big deal. But, I suspect it's not just about missing OTAs that might stick in Beane's craw, but the public means in which Cook has dealt with his contract frustration. Beane has said as much. Missing OTAs is just icing on the ***** cake.
• A lot of posters have brought up what a great season Cook just had, but It strikes me that Cook finished last season exceptionally strong. IMO (and some might argue this), if you look at the tape from Cook midseason, and compare it to Cook in the playoffs, he really came on strong towards the end of the season. And it makes me wonder-- did he (or the O-line?) get better as the season progressed, or did he play harder? Which begs the question: if it's the latter, how will he play after he gets paid?
• Ty Johnson is every bit as fast as James Cook, but I believe Cook has better acceleration, and better yards after contact. But Ty Johnson is the better receiver by a mile.

I've never really understood the contract strategy of holding out, or backing off from the team when a player is unhappy with their contract, or is seeking an extension. But, it happens so often that there's obviously something to it. Personally, in my career, I've been freelance for 34 years, and so there have been many jobs in which I felt I was being underpaid. But, I never worked down to the value I felt they were placing on me. My strategy was always to show the company I was worth more, and that's worked out well for me over the years.

Something to it?

 

Yeah, like in this case forcing your way off of the team!

2 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

 

Squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Myles Garrett posted a thank you letter to Browns fans to convince the Browns to sign him for $40m/year.  Cook doesn't have 34 years left on his playing career so the appropriate time for him to exert maximum pressure is right now.  His next contract will likely be the only bite of the apple he can setting himself up financially the rest of his life.  I

 

t's likely the best season he'll ever have as a pro given his age, the quality of our o-line, and his efficiency numbers last year (especially his total TD's which will regress to the mean).  You also now have fans who fell in love with him last year on Cook's side.  It could force a trade to a team willing to pay him a massive RB extension if the Bills aren't going too.  I don't like the strategy but I've seen a number of players get a contract extension done successfully using this strategy.  At the very least it makes it more likely that you can add incentives to his contract this year like the Giants did with Barkley when they franchise tagged him.

Cook is NO Myles Garrett!

[Rocky Landing]

5 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

 

Squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Myles Garrett posted a thank you letter to Browns fans to convince the Browns to sign him for $40m/year.  Cook doesn't have 34 years left on his playing career so the appropriate time for him to exert maximum pressure is right now.  His next contract will likely be the only bite of the apple he can setting himself up financially the rest of his life.  I

 

t's likely the best season he'll ever have as a pro given his age, the quality of our o-line, and his efficiency numbers last year (especially his total TD's which will regress to the mean).  You also now have fans who fell in love with him last year on Cook's side.  It could force a trade to a team willing to pay him a massive RB extension if the Bills aren't going too.  I don't like the strategy but I've seen a number of players get a contract extension done successfully using this strategy.  At the very least it makes it more likely that you can add incentives to his contract this year like the Giants did with Barkley when they franchise tagged him.

Sometimes, though... if the squeaky wheel squeaks too loud, it gets replaced...

[Doc Brown]

10 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

Sometimes, though... if the squeaky wheel squeaks too loud, it gets replaced...

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

7 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Did someone say "long run"?

 

 

Look at that speed !!

 

He turned on the afterburners and beat the best defense in the league to the outside leaving them in the dust or in this case the snow

 

You can't coach speed !!

 

 

Edited yesterday at 10:34 PM by JakeFrommStateFarm

[BananaB]

After watching Embedded, I’d say Cook is on his way out. Weird they featured Ray Davis without suspecting his roll on the team to increase. How often have they featured a backup in the first episode of the offseason. 
 

I like Ray, I thought he would take snaps away from Cook as the season went on last year. That didn’t happen, but I think they seen enough of him to not be worried if they had to lean on him more. 

[Luka]

I love Cook. I would also love if Beane was able to trade him for draft capital. Josh Allen is the guy that gets paid on offense. Everybody eats but that also means everybody gets paid accordingly. With the best QB in the league, the skill positions can be replaced, that's just the fact of the situation. His touchdowns were a product of not wanting to send our franchise into the middle trying to reach and score and risk injury. I think Ray or Ty could also fill that role or if the draft a Skateboo in the 4th to pound the rock. 

[Warriorspikes51]

1 hour ago, Luka said:

I love Cook. I would also love if Beane was able to trade him for draft capital. Josh Allen is the guy that gets paid on offense. Everybody eats but that also means everybody gets paid accordingly. With the best QB in the league, the skill positions can be replaced, that's just the fact of the situation. His touchdowns were a product of not wanting to send our franchise into the middle trying to reach and score and risk injury. I think Ray or Ty could also fill that role or if the draft a Skateboo in the 4th to pound the rock. 

Blue.

 

[fergie's ire]

On 4/22/2025 at 3:23 PM, TBBills Fan said:

Are we mad at Beane or Cook?

 

Just need to know who I'm sending the angry letter to

I would say neither.  Running backs have such a short career, generally, that I don't blame anyone to try and get the maximum they can RIGHT NOW.  However, that's the reason you don't pay running backs a ton of money.  There are some running backs that last (like Travis Henry) but they are rare and the back that, to my eyes, seemed the most likely to be sustainably great was Ezekial Elliot and you saw how that contract extension worked out.  I think Cook will go elsewhere to maximize his payday and the Bills will let him....and that's okay.

[Royale with Cheese]

I think missing OTA's is a given.  He would be risking injury in a contract year and sounds like no where near in negotiations.  I know it's probably 1 and 1,000 of like tearing a knee but it's not completely impossible.

Edited 5 hours ago by Royale with Cheese

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

Trade him to the Bears for a 2nd and a 4th in 2026

[MikePJ76]

51 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I think missing OTA's is a given.  He would be risking injury in a contract year and sounds like no where near in negotiations.  I know it's probably 1 and 1,000 of like tearing a knee but it's not completely impossible.

I’m on cook’s side but technically he has a contract currently and he doesn’t make enough money to sit out and pay the fines.

 

im hoping they work it out before ota’s

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

Trade him to the Bears for a 2nd and a 4th in 2026

Fans are definitely overvaluing his trade market on here.  He's not a bellcow back.  You'd be giving up compensation and know you're going to have to pay a good RB elite money.  There's a lot of RB's in the draft that have similar attributes this year.  You'd be lucky to get a 4th rounder for him.

[Einstein's Dog]

36 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

I’m on cook’s side but technically he has a contract currently and he doesn’t make enough money to sit out and pay the fines.

 

im hoping they work it out before ota’s

Wow, on Cook's side, that's different from me.  I'm firmly in the trade Cook now camp.  It was Cook that put out the ridiculous $15M.  It has been Cook (meaning Cook's team - his bitter brother and newbie agent) doing the social media escapades - $15M, scrubbing account, putting house on sale, etc.

 

Now doing a modification to Cook's contract to include incentives lessens Beane future negotiating.  It also would make the players who Beane did previous deals with question if they did the right thing.  Giving the squeaky media hound a break starts turning the Bills into Dallas North.  The Bills just paid a big price with removing Diggs, stay the course and flush out Cook for the future of the team.  The Bills have a bright future.

 

Yes, you lose a talented top 10 RB by trading Cook.  But you also cut loose a distraction early (before a Diggs level problem).  You lessen a risk - Cook doing a "hold-in" for over half the season.  You get something for 2025 by doing it now, and you get to replenish the RB room with another RB.

 

And it would be exciting to get another 2nd round draft pick.

[Returntoglory]

1 hour ago, MikePJ76 said:

I’m on cook’s side but technically he has a contract currently and he doesn’t make enough money to sit out and pay the fines.

 

im hoping they work it out before ota’s

"Technically"