James Cook absent from OTA's

[Einstein's Dog]

1 hour ago, Kaenon said:

He's going to Dallas.

Could be.   Would be nice if Jeanty goes in the top 10.

 

Cook and a 6th for the Cowboys 2nd.  Cowboys could get a top WR at 12, Cook with their 2nd - that should help Jerry with headlines and offensive potential.

[CheshireCT]

55 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I am hoping it doesnt go off the rails... there has got to be a fair deal to be had by all...  but like you said.. plenty have gone wrong that started like this...  

 

Me too. I love the player and I think his brother his pushing him to do all this. I don't think he would get his BIGGEST possible deal in Buffalo, but I do think they would give him an extension. Now it's looking doubtful, given Beane's consistency in dealing with his own players.

[babulator]

7 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

I believe Zach Martin held out a few years ago then signed the week of the season and had a great year.  Same with Nick bosa.  

That wasn't exactly the question though. Having a good or great year is not the same as showing improvement or elevating your game. I cant imagine anyone holding out and returning as a better or improved player. I'm not sure I've ever seen it. Constant improvement should be the goal imho.

[Warriorspikes51]

agent alert

[MikePJ76]

5 minutes ago, babulator said:

That wasn't exactly the question though. Having a good or great year is not the same as showing improvement or elevating your game. I cant imagine anyone holding out and returning as a better or improved player. I'm not sure I've ever seen it. Constant improvement should be the goal imho.

Yea well Martin was an all pro I belive that year and is a first ballot hall of famer.  I believe Emmitt smith and Michael Irvin way back when held out until week 1 both In championship years.

 

as long as the players are focused when they are away they should be fine.  Note I am talking about missing OTA’s and lifting sessions not training camp practices when it comes to cook.

[Captain Hindsight]

I hope they can work something out. Cook is a very good back, and it would be a bigger loss than fans want to admit if he leaves

[Warriorspikes51]

Explore his trade market and draft Blue or Henderson

[Einstein]

10 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Explore his trade market and draft Blue or Henderson

Yikes. 

Well that confirms why he's not at OTAs.

[Bullfrog]

Dalvin 20m per year? Really? Is Dalvin his agent? They are still using social media trying to get a new deal? 

Then Bean said he hasn't been told by cook's group that he is not happy. 

What is going on here?

Just trade him away. Everything about this so far is unprofessional.

 

[HamptonBillsfan]

4 hours ago, Jauronimo said:

Over the top of what?  He has yet to put us over the top of anything and he plays with a top 2 QB and a great Oline.  

He might’ve done it last year when Brady mindlessly left him off the field for the last two series. Watch the TD on 4th down by Cook in the fourth quarter and then watch the play calling on the last two series, then you’ll know who to blame for not getting over the hump. Throw the ball to Cooper on a bubble screen and then let a free rusher overwhelm Josh on 4th down so he has to just throw it up for grabs. Cook was fine the whole postseason. 

[Malazan]

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

Yikes. 

Well that confirms why he's not at OTAs.

 

You needed that to confirm it? Ok then..

[3rdand12]

On 4/22/2025 at 3:20 PM, Big Turk said:

 

Voluntary means voluntary.  I don't understand why it's expected players attend.

It does . But , this is different from the company picnic  ha ha

Team building events matter to team mates. Building trust and re bonding honestly after a few months away.

Sure you can make that decision to be aloof and above the Team.  But there is no positive effect to come from doing so.

 Cook should at least go hang out and watch tape and work out unless he is protesting something ( or so it does appear )

But you are correct as what the CBA agreed to

 

[Billsfed1]

The more I think about it, the more i’m thinking good riddance.  It’s painful tho

 

I’d love to have him, he’s a nice player…but not a good look when virtually every other guy took a pay cut to play in Buffalo and he didn’t.

 

Love his effort, solid guy on the field and again, would love to have him.

 

Maybe he’ll wake up and realize what every other guy knows once 2025 is in the books.

[3rdand12]

On 4/22/2025 at 3:21 PM, Gregg said:

I can't say I am surprised by this as he is unhappy and wants a new deal. It's only April but if this carries over into TC then we may have a problem. I also wonder if Beane looks to move him on draft night. 

They have a problem now. He just made it one officially  lol

3 hours ago, Einstein's Dog said:

Could be.   Would be nice if Jeanty goes in the top 10.

 

Cook and a 6th for the Cowboys 2nd.  Cowboys could get a top WR at 12, Cook with their 2nd - that should help Jerry with headlines and offensive potential.

And we get Blue 

[WideNine]

18 hours ago, Mango said:

 

I hope this whole thing works out. But the last 10 years RB's have been paid peanuts compared to other skill positions. 

 

The stuff with Cook bothers me waaaay less than a WR holding out over $25 v $28M. Cook likely only gets one big contract.

 

That said, unless he becomes a 3 down back I wouldn't get near $15M.

Yeah, that 3-down back argument is a key sticking point in regards to where Cook wants to get paid - being able to understand protections and block on passing downs and not just whiff or be an insignificant speed bump. 

To be fair, the early critiques of Cook (too much dancing behind the line, not lowering his pads to run through contact when needed) he banished pretty well last year and really was fantastic with the ball in his hands and not afraid to pop the pads. But he has a slighter build so not sure how much he can anchor and improve in pass protection.

If he does take a big step forward in that area and is trusted to stay on the field on more obvious passing downs, he would be a very complete back and probably deserving of more money - not sure if we would have enough cap to retain him though. I would not be upset if he felt compelled to test the market, as some folks pointed out running backs in the NFL (in general) are not getting big long-term deals and most do not have a long shelf life before they start to decline. A player has to make hay when he can.

 

I do think we have an excellent offensive line that is very capable of creating holes for our running backs to exploit - would be interesting to see the metrics of how many yards our running backs got before contact last season. Regardless, Cook has given us that breakaway speed that has been missing from our backfield for such a long time. We have had good running backs, but we always knew they were not going to break the long one and score. I can still easily recall last season when Cook broke free of the attempted "hair tackle" and just sped away from pursuit.

If we have to lose him, Beane just has to ensure we get something in return - trade or some form of compensatory picks.

 

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

Yikes. 

Well that confirms why he's not at OTAs.

Screw both Cook brothers.  Sick of them both already. 

17 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

They have a problem now. He just made it one officially  lol

And we get Blue 

Say it with me... you get Blue! 😁

[26TrapDraw]

4 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

The price has apparently gone up for the Cowboys.  My cousin's husband works on the Bills video crew for PSA and says that James Cook is maybe  the  most quiet and reserved person he's ever met to the point  of socially awkward.   This is 100%  coming from his agent and  brother.

 

 

Yeah listen to your brother. He is 100 legit and realistic about your worth James.

[PauleeeWalnuts]

2 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Explore his trade market and draft Blue or Henderson

Yeah he doesn’t deserve Barkley or McCaffrey money, and we don’t need any divas bringing drama to this team. He should put a muzzle on his brother before they trade him to a non-contender with cap money to waste 

[Beast]

4 hours ago, Einstein's Dog said:

Could be.   Would be nice if Jeanty goes in the top 10.

 

Cook and a 6th for the Cowboys 2nd.  Cowboys could get a top WR at 12, Cook with their 2nd - that should help Jerry with headlines and offensive potential.

Cook would bring the Bills a 4th at best. Deep draft for RB’s, all of who are not looking to sign their second lucrative contract like Cook is.

Edited 14 hours ago by Beast

[rusty shackleford]

So going back to draft day 2022, maybe his body language on live TV really was telling of how he felt going to Buffalo.