Einstein's Dog

I'm thinking more along the lines of a 1st, a 2nd, J Cook and Elam for Garrett and Newsome. Cook's salary is just $5M this year but of course they inherit the whole problem that is brewing. We in turn get the problem that Newsome has salary wise.

I imagine the FO is working as you outline above on an extension for Shakir. And this is being done in the traditional Buffalo way, in private. In contrast to what I imagine is happening with Shakir, now compare that to J Cook. J Cook has taken to social media, and with an outrageous figure. It probably sends a cringing message to the FO of what they will be dealing with in the future. IMO, if I were in the FO I would be including J Cook in a package for either Garrett or Crosby.

Money talks. If Beane's number is higher than the others I'm sure D Adams would easily be able to change his story. It doesn't take Chatgpt to come up with a story line for him taking the money and going to the Bills. As for cost, I think it would be less than the cost of DK or Kupp, - and not involve any draft capital. The downside is, it's not a long term solution - like the DK dream is.

For a WR, I'm with you DK Metcalf is my top choice. However, I really think the defense needs a stud DE like Garrett or Crosby. And if they trade for one of the DE's I don't think the FO would do another big trade for DK. I would love to see it, but it really seems like a long shot. Of the FA WRs I like D Adams best. Adams looked better to me than A Cooper.

I think Von needs a restructure or out. Jones can go. Maybe Martin. Tradeable Edwards, AJE and J Cook

I think the path might be trade + pay a DE (Garrett/Crosby) and add D Adams. Then the Bills have put money in the traditional premium spots - QB/LT/WR1/DE and still have draft picks to draft/develop the rest of the team. I would keep Milano, Knox, and Jones. Von probably wouldn't make it. AJE and J Cook might be able to be used in trading for a Garrett/Crosby.

It seems like it has been something the FO has operated on - the don't pay RBs so they can allocate to other areas. Paying for an RB deviates from what many of us considered to be a smart philosophy. The allocation of funds could come down to something like which would you rather have - D Adams + (R Davis/T Johnson/Rookie) or J Cook and some mid-level WR like D Brown or D Slayton

Just saw a blurb on the Bills being the betting favorite to land D Adams (per Sportsbetting.ag) with 3/1 odds. I like it!

Teams can have a well salaried QB, WR, and DE. Many do. The Bills were going in that direction with Josh/Diggs and Von. Now they can try again with Josh/DK and a DE (Garrett/Crosby/Mack). It is a good way to run an organization because those are premium positions. And yes, you may have to sacrifice Cook to do it.

Disagree - pay a WR, draft the RB. WRs are harder to hit. And it's hard to totally miss on an RB, seems pretty easy to get a Singletary type.

I'd like a boundary WR - I think T Higgins will be too expensive at around $27M+. So I go with one of these Beane can get at a decent value: D Adams - not a FA yet, but will be. C Godwin - off an injury so there is some risk. DHop A Cooper K Allen Would love to see a trade for DK Metcalf, or C Kupp either.

I'm with you, it's how the money is allocated. Don't pay the RB big bucks - go with Ty, R Davis and Rookie. Instead get a good boundary WR - DK Metcalf may be too much but high on the list, then there is C Kupp, D Adams, K Allen, or maybe A Cooper or DHop. And of course on D get that top tier DLman- Garrett/Crosby/Hendrikson/Mack.

The article doesn't give him credit for Josh. And he pre-disses Beane's potential splash move of Garrett with "lazy GMing". And the poster you responded to seems completely convinced that McD wouldn't/couldn't have drafted Lamar and then added D Henry. Because anti-McBeaners only deal in the presumed failure.

I saw that too, but they conveniently left out the Josh Allen pick. So, if the scouts didn't want Josh but Beane did it on his own, I'd be reluctant to give it up if I were Beane. The one thing that bothered me in their analysis is calling trading for Myles Garrett "lazy GMing". Please that would be a masterful coup. A GM's job is not just drafting it's assembling a team. And Von Miller IMO, didn't backfire, it just didn't work. Von got injured, always a risk, but prior to the injury the Bills were the superbowl favorites. If we're favorites again with an addition of Garrett, "lazy GMing" or not, I'll take it.

Yes, and that's the advantage of being able to draft and extend. But if Beane doesn't want to do a new contract and just wanted Cook for his $5M year, there looks like there could be some trouble. Yes, the team could hold his feet to the fire but it looks like they would have a malcontent on their hands. If they don't want to pay an RB big bucks I can see trying to move him now.

He's an RB. That is the proper comparison group, not skill players. $12.5M is Barkley money and Cook is not in the same tier. Plus the Bills FO has traditionally not paid RBs and this would give them an excuse to not do so. As for the players perspective they tried to "send a message" already with one of their best players, Diggs. For the most part it worked IMO, seems like an excellent culture. Now the FO is presented with their first subsequent difficulty. It's unfortunate because if they could play Cook at the $5M he was scheduled for this season that would have been good value. If I were Beane I would be looking to trade Cook in the package for one of Garrett/Crosby, the Cook situation is just too risky for my taste.

What Cook has done may be enough to move him out. From the FO perspective it helps send a message to not negotiate in the media. And it would be great cover for the never pay an RB big money underlying philosophy while simultaneously trying to preserve a draft/retain/pay market for your team culture. Cook's insane pricing has already started working in here. People are quoting a $12.5M salary like that is reasonable. Beane didn't go $9M for D Henry.

The counterpoint to this is many people said the Diggs social media meant nothing. That we should not try to read into it. J Cook is publicly negotiating before he meets with the team? He's either incredibly self-absorbed or an idiot. Maybe both.

Off a "retooling" year and after the team crushed expectations for the regular season. Seemed like McD was a real candidate for Coach of the Year. Then after beating an extremely dangerous opponent in Baltimore lose a close one to the #1 seed at their place in the playoffs.

Beane's number might not be influenced but his resolve to keep Cook may be changing/affected. Beane now has a clearer idea of what he is dealing with. For instance Beane may have thought he would offer an extension to Cook of an additional two years (to add onto his contracted $5M yr) and he would have given Cook a signing bonus/guarantee of $15M with the additional two years at $11M each. Beane now would realize he has to be careful that if the last year of an extended contract is in the Bills favor there is the distinct possibility that Cook would hold out.

1. It's not the way the Bills have done it. So no, Beane does not have to accept it, he has options. The top move for Beane would be to trade Cook out of here at the height of Cook's value. Move a top 10 RB as part of a package for a top tier DL. 2. While it's not about staying on top for you, for many of us we are enjoying this ride. Keep trying with contenders, don't sell out for a one year wonder. And mortgaging the future to keep Cook is no guarantee of a Superbowl win.

True, no press conference or demand through an agent. But more than most other Bills players. Kind of like the early Diggs tweets. Has to make Beane a little nervous. Beane did safeguard against this possibility some with the drafting of Davis last year - kudos to him. If Cook can be a factor in getting Garrett or Crosby, you do it.

Actually, Bills fans can find fault with him. I don't recall any Bills players going out in public discussing their salary wishes. By doing this, and at an outrageously high level, it seems like J Cook is trying to go somewhere/anywhere where he can get paid. In a way, it's a pay me, trade me, or this could get messy threat.

Beane's model has not been to pay RBs - quite the opposite. Not only has Beane not paid RBs, Beane also doesn't like malcontents in the locker room. There haven't been many public negotiations of salaries. While it may be difficult to trade for a Garrett/Crosby it is Beane's job. It's not the amount of resources teams have available, it's what the teams will spend. And how many teams have an RB of the level of J Cook that they are putting into the trade? Not many, I'd imagine. I think most fans want a change/upgrade on Defense. An elite Defensive lineman is much more desirable than a J Cook extension.

These "sentient leaders" at One Bills Drive have never paid big money to an RB. And now people want the FO to pay Cook nearly double what D Henry is getting? And I agree, G Davis is not a good comparable to Cook. G Davis played out his contract with no problem, J Cook is showing signs of being a malcontent right now. The FO would be wise to send him packing before he becomes an even bigger problem. Plus J Cook has more value in a trade than G Davis had. The priority add for the FO this year is an elite DL player. And J Cook has just put himself front and center to be a part of swinging for that piece.