Einstein's Dog

The fans don't need to have any patience, it was Cook (and his team) that have gone down the social media path. And there could be a reason to trade him at this time and that is if Cook intends to not play for the first 11 games. Fans aren't making this call. Beane needs to evaluate the situation and determine the odds of a "hold-in". If Cook isn't going to play the first 11 games then moving Cook prior/during the draft is the preferred option. If you're missing Cook for over half the season I would like to see a decent rookie brought in as the third RB.

A backfield of just Ray Davis/Ty Johnson seems pretty thin. It's why I think the FO may want to get ahead of this problem and see if they can make something happen during/prior to the draft so that a rookie could be worked in.

How about 30 and J Cook to get J Barron? Like if J Barron slides into the 20s. Have this prearranged with Pitt (jump ahead of GB). Pitt could still get Dart at 30.

The Cook hate is getting ridiculous (and I'm as disappointed as anyone with Cook). Scoring inside the 10 is what most RB TD leaders do. Is D Henry's TD total also misleading? IMO if you wanted to call Cook's TD count misleading would be to say he had a lot that weren't inside the 10, meaning he is not as much of a short yardage specialist as the total would indicate. But then the recency bias of Cook's fourth down, will not be denied, effort against KC would erase a lot of those thoughts.

Yes, Cooper and Douglas' situations were different. Cook's situation is also unique. I don't think it is almost a guarantee that Cook would hold out on a new team. Part of the problem Cook could see with the Bills is his usage will remain the same. If a new team says they will use him as a 3 down, bellcow type RB both parties could be happy. Even without a new contract if Cook can come off another improved season - this time showing 3 down bellcow work - he would have positioned himself into the $12M - $15M big money contract range as he goes to FA. Another year doing what he does with the Bills doesn't move him out of the $9M range.

It's posts like these where I think the FO might consider Cook's social media $15M declaration as a blessing in disguise. I suspect the FO is nowhere near $12M (Barclay money) and was more in the $8M (D Henry money) range. Cook's post has made him the scapegoat in the negotiations.

Cook may prefer an extension but it doesn't have to be part of the deal. A Cooper didn't have an extension nor did R Douglas. True, it doesn't happen often. But the particulars of Cook's situation don't occur often. They have two plus weeks to shop him. The physical is a mere formality in this case.

I agree that if possible the best solution would be to extend Cook to a reasonable contract. But that looks unlikely at this point IMO. And I agree that the second best option would be to use Cook in 2025 at the bargain price of $5M and then let him leave. But if the FO has received threats of a "hold-in" of the first 11 games, along with a disgruntled player, then actively looking for a trading partner now makes sense.

I suggest that the acquiring team would want him as a bellcow because that would be a team where Cook would have the greatest perceived value. A team planning on using Cook in that manner would be willing to give up more to acquire him. Also, I believe that would please and motivate Cook, you wouldn't be trading a disgruntled player. Cook has improved each year - from a fumbler to great ball security, to getting tough yards. For an ascending RB it is not a stretch to think that he could improve his pass blocking, especially since pass blocking is dependent a lot upon desire. True, he is on the small size but he does appear to have gotten stronger each year. $5M is an excellent deal for Cook for a year as it is, but it is a great deal for a team that wants a bellcow RB (which doesn't seem to be Buff).

But Cook may not be disgruntled on another team. Cook would love getting paid of course, but secondarily he might want to go to a team that will use him as a 3 down bellcow RB. At $5M for the year Cook would be great value for the acquiring team (ie Dallas). A motivated upper tier RB that wants the big 3 down workload costing only $5M for the year. And the acquiring team would have first crack at doing a long term deal, and if not done might be able to get a comp pick.

Some possible trade scenarios could be contingency related and not done spontaneously. For instance Beane may be in discussions with Dallas. This would be in case a team before Dallas picks A Jeanty. The framework of a deal would be laid out prior to the draft.

Wasn't AJ Brown traded to Philly on draft day

That has been my fear. Going one step further it could mean that Cook's team (agent and brother) advised these actions as a plan to get him out of Buffalo. Unfortunately there could be logic behind that - one is Buffalo has a history of not paying RBs. Two, Buffalo looks to use Cook as a two down back which would limit his payday. And third, Cook's 2024 season seems like it might be hard to beat so 2025 may not be viewed as adding to Cook's value.

It's disappointing to see problems getting Cook a contract. Cook took a step forward as an exciting RB. The Bills in 2025, and beyond, would be a better team with Cook on it. But we know this won't be easy. I hope you're right and we at least get 2025 with him.

Yeah, could be, I remember being told this about my interpretation of Digg's tweets. Except Cook posted $15M, he's wrong.

It's my hope the Bills can come up with some formation of the CB room that does not bring back Douglas, something better.

Don said "to some degree" and you said it was "NOTHING". Putting $15M on social media is not nothing. And now what, Cook putting his house up for sale is just another coincidence, didn't mean for any attention at all - sure. The newbie agent is probably feeling all giddy about the coverage of Cook listing his house (he may have leaked it himself). Just seems like something out of the Diggs handbook of getting yourself out. The unfortunate thing is it didn't work out poorly for Diggs financially. I would prefer, if this is the route Cook is taking, that things don't work well for him. I hope you can understand how Bills fans don't want multiple malcontents to prosper financially by trying to force their way out.

Actually, J Cook (and team) posted on social media $15M. Posting $15M is not nothing. Paying $15M is something most people do not believe Buffalo will be doing - especially in his role as a 2 down back, which it appears is his role in Buffalo. So, I agree with Don above because there is a big desire to get a bag no matter where that is, and since it likely isn't in Buffalo, you do the math.

The problem with not drafting an RB is that it increases the impact of a Cook threat to "hold in" until week 11.

For me, it's not the social media post as much as it is the substance of the post, the $15M. It gave a clue into difficult negotiations and not surprisingly Cook is the last to be extended. You can keep claiming it means nothing (just as many dismissed Diggs social media as "kids will be kids").

Putting out a high number on social media is not a common tactic. Why do that? What do you think of that? While the negotiation is between Cook and Beane the public has received some information - and so far, IMO, Beane is the clear leader.

No, if the 6th rounder (Benford type) outplays the 1st rounder (Elam type) it doesn't matter.

No, Cook's team (with the amateur agent and devious Dalvin) have not done a good job. The idea of starting with a high number on social media may backfire big time. If that figure was never released there would be much more support for Cook. This may be a blessing for the FO. What if the FO never wanted to pay an RB big money? Cook's team has given the FO an out -the fanbase is clearly on the side of Beane. The trick now is for Beane to get Cook to play on his current contract this season. As for Cook knowing he has to play - I'm not so sure about that. Seems like most think Cook could get $12M if he were on the open market now. Playing as a 2 down back again in 2025 doesn't change that figure, so Cook may not want to risk it. As for the "given RB is an easier position to replace if need be", it's the "need be" part of the equation that is tricky. The RB room is kind of full for 2025 right now if you include Cook. But if Cook is going to sit out 11 games you may want to draft another RB in the upcoming draft.

And help McDermott's decision to go for it on 4th down.

They didn't care about that. What they did care about was when the one team had a strategy to defend the tush-push by guessing the count and sending a defender flying over the center -they got all bent out of shape about that. After the defense did it a couple of times the refs threatened to award Philly a TD - what? That annoyed me.