Doc Brown

I wouldn't but I understand why some would. I believe the last first round RB who led their team in rushing yards to win a Super Bowl with their original team was Adaii in the '06 season. I know correlation doesn't equal causation but you just lose the value of having a guy on a rookie contract at a premium position if you draft a RB in the first round.

Good information. Thanks. The Bengals have more of a cash issue that creates the cap issue. Restructuring contracts to push the cap hit down the road means be more willing to have cash in hand to pay now. Mike Brown is cheap and this idea that Joe Burrow has changed the way the Bengals do business is a myth.

You're shifting the goal posts. You talked about roster construction and salary allocation in general and are now trying to apply it only to the Bengals as I pointed out the Eagles constructed their roster that way.

Yeah. Their drafts have sucked. You making the argument that a team has "zero chance" of making the Super Bowl if they pay two elite WR's near top of the market contracts doesn't hold water though. I think the score was 40-22? That's the Bengals biggest problem. Ask Carson Palmer.

All their chips? The Eagles just literally won the Super Bowl paying their two WR's and QB near top of the market money. Don't tell me it can't be done.

I don't know if Beane sees it that way though. A surprising amount of GM's around the league don't. I keep hearing he never gives RB's second contracts but the only two pieces of evidence are Singletary or Moss who are just JAG's. He was in on trading for McCaffrey (who also happened to be the 1st round pick the last year he was with the Panthers) and has even said that he'd consider drafting a RB in the 1st round. If he thinks that way why even have an analytic staff? I'd rather draft a RB that at minimum gives me 85% of what Cook gives me for a fifth of the price.

No it wasn't. Most teams should at least be able to pay two guys at premium positions near top of the market money even with your QB getting elite money. I think the Eagles just did. Outside WR is a premium position. It's on the Bengals now to nail the draft and find value free agents.

He'd lose $5m if he doesn't play. It might be worth it if he played at a premium position with a longer shelf life. I don't think he'd ever make that $5m back in a second contract. I'd be very hesitant as a GM to sign an almost 27 year old RB who played less than half the snaps two seasons ago to a top of the market deal.

No doubt the most expensive way of acquiring a player is trading draft assets and then having to play that player top of the market value. The fact that the Bills didn't draft his replacement in this year's draft made me think Beane would either give him a new contract extension or let him play out his fourth year. Maybe he was offered something for Cook before the draft but it wasn't anything higher than a day three pick. I really wouldn't know what to do if I was Cook. I think I'm playing this season no matter what. On one hand I know that if it's best case scenario in the 2025 season like you laid out then his contract would be even bigger if signed next year with the salary cap going up. However, you also face the risk of injury or declined production if our offensive line isn't magically healthy throughout the year like they were the last two. At his age I pry would bet on myself. As his agent I would advise him to get an extension with $25m or so in guaranteed money. You're set financially for life.

It's not that different than what Benford, Groot, Shakir, Oliver, Knox, T. Johnson, and Bernard had to weigh. Do you bet on yourself for a year or take the sure thing right now? He's not going to hold out Le'Veon Bell style because every GM in the league sees how that contract went for the Jets.

Chubb's done. Cleveland fans adore the guy and the Browns would've brought him back if he wasn't washed after those injuries.

Diggs was already paid and was just too high maintenance. Cook is an introvert looking to cash in on a season efficiency wise he'll likely never have again when you factor in his age and the randomness of TD's. Why would his role change with the Bills and is it more or less likely he puts up better stats than last year? I get he has more leverage as a free agent but he'll be a 27 year old RB free agent who historically have been bad investments for those that got the bag.

His build makes it very difficult for him to improve in pass blocking. I'm guessing he's worked on it going on at least seven years now going back to college. I don't think it's due to a lack of effort.

It doesn't work that way. LOL.

In RB that's pushing triple digits.

They've got to bring that number back. The 0 on a jersey is the worst number in the NFL.

I voted for Trump because it's like choosing a McDonald's burger over a frozen Wal Mart burger but a third party has been talked about all my lifetime and never comes to fruition. Let's also remember these same Republicans who are reveling every second of Trump exerting his right of the executive branch to deploy the National Guard have zilch to say when it comes to Congress not taking the power of the purse back with tariffs.

I know you hate Twitter posts on here but I think this one is relevant. This is something a child tweets with the stupid nickname and quotations. I don't ever remember there being a Federal emergency where the governor and the president at least pretend to be on the same page. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

My response was mostly sarcasm too. If you think deploying the National Guard is a political stunt than I have a bridge to sell you.

The National Guard. It's an interesting read but it's a left leaning author.

Interesting. The author seems to think this is a political stunt reading through the whole thing. That's at least my interpretation of it.

It's a possibility you're right but I think the president has more information than us though. I do know that most people don't have any sympathy for rioters and looters.

Appreciate that as I was just talking basic strategy at one particular moment of that game in a high leverage moment. That stuff always fascinates me. I didn't expect an "I must hate Allen" conclusion. We all know that Allen turned us into an NFL after thought into perennial Super Bowl contenders.

Wait. James Cook wants a contract extension?