Einstein's Dog

Yes, Cooper is a quiet guy but didn't you see him suit up for the KC game with the cast? He made that key catch one handed catch with the broken wrist - had to have felt that. It made KC change their coverage. It's possible that McD downplayed A Coopers arrival out of respect to the players already on the team. I imagine it doesn't go over well in the locker room when you say "thank god we got Cooper our WR room was one of the most pathetic in the league".

If Cook plays the full year as a 2 down back I don't think it helps him get the big money. He would end up with a similar year that he had in '24, which is excellent for the Bills but not for getting $15m/yr. If Cook waits until week 11 to come back, the emphasis to other teams would remain on his breakout '24 season stats, and he would still be able to sell his extrapolation/ascension model.

I don't see many saying it's good news. And even if Cook isn't an every down back, he is an exciting two down back. But D Henry the best 2 down back in the league is at $8Myr. While you state you're confident that Beane has a plan to play this out, I don't think you're going to like it. Weren't you saying "just give him the $13M", don't think that will happen. If there was any good news to be taken from this situation I think it comes more from the "don't pay an RB big money" crowd. And Beane may appreciate that the majority of the Bills fanbase looks at Cook as the culprit in the negotiation standstill.

No, Cook does not have to play the full year. Part of the problem is Cook (and his team) feel he is worth big money now. They want to be paid for the anticipated continued rise in his play - not on the basis of the stats he has put up. They want to use the Dr model above where they are paid on an extrapolated basis of what could be if he were a 3 down back. If he plays next year and puts up similar stats, he would be viewed as plateaued and paid as a two down back - a D Henry rate, maybe adjusted upward a little for inflation- not near the $15M he has been posting. This could be the underlying motive to post what he did on social media. The Cook team see his value at his peak right now - there can be a team with a DrDawkinstein view of Cooks extrapolated worth and the Cook team realizes another year of the same stats will tarnish that.

That's what I thought, which would mean back around week 11 (in this terrible scenario). Previously, I thought they could wait until 2026 for a round 3/4 RB - they have R Davis and Ty for 2 more years. But now I think the FO will take one in what many consider to be a good RB year.

One of the potential problems though is Cook playing out his contract does not mean starting the season playing the first few games. If Cook goes nuclear I don't think he has to come back until after the halfway point of the season for it to count (isn't it week 11?). That's a painful hit to a team that has aspirations of snagging the #1 seed - every game matters. We'll get an indicator of how ugly the negotiations are with the draft. If the Bills pick up an RB in the 4th it will not be a good sign.

I originally was hoping for an upgrade to A Cooper. Now I don't see it (DK is out, C Kupp is a long shot, Diontae Johnson is a head case). Bringing back A Cooper would make '25 WR room > '24 WR room. A Coop '25 > A Coop '24 ( both time with team and his wrist was hurt in '24), J Palmer > Hollins, Coleman '25 > Coleman '24. It could be that Beane has a figure given to A Coop and is letting him test the waters to beat it. If A Coop beats his offer, the Bills get a comp pick, if no one beats it the Bills get A Coop back at the reasonable figure Beane had in mind.

It looks like I'm going to be disappointed too. I wouldn't mind letting him go if they upgraded the position. I would consider J Palmer an upgrade but we also don't have A Cooper - if they bring back A Cooper I'm fine with it (or C Kupp or maybe D Johnson?). I'm less enthused by a rookie, they are unpredictable and take time to develop - and I was hoping they would gear up for 2025 and take a run at the #1 seed.

C Kupp or A Cooper > rookie

It's up to you to care or not, but you did jump in with the "OMG, not the buffering picture!!!!' comment. So maybe you should be aware of the entire context. I do not think J Cook and his team are simpletons, that is what makes this worrisome. The guy we barely heard two words from is now posting on social media very ominous messages straight out of the Diggs handbook. It's disappointing to a lot of us that when we finally get an exciting, ascending RB, he is posturing for an outrageous payday.

I remember people downplaying each of Diggs posts, unable to see the forest from the trees. That poor, unfortunate simpleton, J Cook, made his third straight social media gaffe - how unlucky can you get. As a known Cook sympathizer you can try and position this as $1-2M away. First, I don't buy your "most agree" figure, if that figure is over $10M. Secondly, it's not our valuation that is important, but the FO, and I don't think they buy into your, or Cooks, evaluations. I don't expect an extension anytime soon, if at all. My hope (only because I think the figures are so far apart) is that Cook will honor and play out his current contract.

According to earlier in the thread, Yes. From what people have posted here, Cook has done the outrageous $15M request, gone through the pouting phase of erasing Bills related materials, and is now onto the buffering picture (the Diggs equivalent of "Well...."). Reading the tea leaves this is the stage where Cook and his agent have given the Bills a ridiculous figure for an extension and claiming it's up to the Bills (which they of course will not do). Whether Cook will play out his last year of the contract or hold out is now the question.

I think you need to get a grip. There were a variety of problems leading up to Diggs departure but there were clues on social media. J Cook's social media post indicates to many of us that negotiations with Cook are going to be a problem. Unlike you and Cook, most people do not feel he is worth $15M.

"Innocuous social media posts", did you not see the $15M dollar part? Kind of a red flag to a lot of us that the negotiations were going to be difficult. You've never responded to why anyone who wants to remain a Bill would do that. For many of us the "kids will be kids" rational doesn't fly - he had a brother in the league and has an agent. What do you think they were expecting with the $15M post, that they were going to win over the fanbase? Now we get the buffering from Cook, remember when Diggs put out his "Well??" comment.....oh, that's right you don't allow any comparisons to Diggs.

Are you oblivious to the $15M reference? For most of us, it's not posting, it's what was posted - $15 freakin million, and the intent behind it. At the time this was greater than Barkley money, greater than D Henry money. Why would he do that? Why? Who would think that was a good idea if you wanted to remain a Bill? Here's a clue - No One. Doc - it seems to me your little "kids will be kids" nonsense is what is misguided. I remember so many continually coming to Diggs defense and excusing and interpreting his posts in a similar manner to what you are doing. J Cook under the guidance of his brother and agent made a statement that warrents concern among Bills fans. And it is no coincidence that J Cook remains one of the unextended players.

I agree, and a downside of this Hamlin news is it severely reduces the odds of the FO picking up a veteran S now. Sure the Bills could/should draft someone but that usually takes a while to get to start. It kind of reminds me of when they had Levi Wallace hanging around, you knew he wasn't good and dreaded when he was part of the starting lineup - kind of a weak link.

May not be plan A but it is filling a vicious need for the Bills. I like it! Plan A - Garrett (re-signed with a surprise contending team in the Browns). Plan B - Crosby (re-signed by Raiders before FA) Plan C - Hendrickson (Cincy hung up the phone once they realized it was Beane/Buff on the line) Plan D- Bosa - had to outbid Miami and San Fran - Done!

Pretty much down to a CB now. Beane went a little strong (dollar-wise IMO) on needed pieces of Bosa and Palmer. I think a strong push may be needed for the CB. Otherwise I think Beane will only do value adds. In particular i would like to see a vet WR added. With DHop only going for $6M I think there might be some pressure on C Kupp and A Cooper to take a value rate. Kupp becomes available at noon. If no vet WR is added I will consider losing Hollins as an error. As for Cook, I love the excitement and big play possibilities he brings. But we know he is going to be a difficult contract - I don't think he should get $15M. And this is something that can be waited on.

DHop for $6M? Seems like that would have been a decent fit for the Bills. Balt/Lamar now have Flowers/Bateman and DHop which is a lot better than the Bills at the moment. On the positive side if DHop only went for $6M maybe C Kupp and/or A Cooper will consider a Bills offer under $10M.

I think you need to give up the draft a WR early hope. The FO drafted Kincaid and Coleman with their first picks in the last two drafts. Don't you want a better WR room in '25 than '24? Another rookie doesn't do it, while a vet WR could. Such as wouldn't you rather have A Cooper than any rookie for 2025? A Cooper '25 > A Cooper '24 - he won't be acquired part way in, and more importantly will have healed wrist (vs being one year older). That right there would make for an improved WR room A Coop '25 > A Coop '24, Palmer> Hollins, Coleman '25 > Coleman '24, Shakir '25 = Shakir '24, C Samuel '25 > C Samuel '24. I'm with you in being disappointed in not getting DK, but it's not DK or nothing (rookie) for me. And if the FO can get Kupp or Coop for <$20M, the numbers start to make sense because there is a lot of work to be done on the defense. Who do you like better, C Kupp or A Cooper?

To me, you're advocating doing the equivalent of what would have been adding T Franklin last year instead of A Cooper. A mistake for that year. And for 2025 we need to field as good of a team as possible right from the start because the #1 seed is there for the taking. Receivers routinely play past 30, C Kupp played injured last year. Kupp is more than solid- great attitude, great culture fit and great backup insurance to Shakir. There are other veterans that are also better than rookies - DHop/A Cooper, but I'm hoping the FO takes a shot at Kupp. Lets not forgo "good" because we didn't get "great". Right now the WR room for 2025 is worse than 2024, and adding a rookie doesn't change that. We have the cap space - I know the defense needs work but lets try to continue taking steps forward with the offense. This shouldn't be another "retool" year.

I disagree. The point of adding a C Kupp is having a top tier WR in the room. Kupp would provide insurance at the slot and the boundary- I'm in the minority that feels our Shakir backup position is extremely weak. The Bills would be able to have Kupp do less snaps, decreasing his injury concerns. The idea of drafting someone for a significant role is foolhardy IMO. Seems like you couldn't expect anything more than Coleman level production out of the rookie, and that simply is not good enough. 2025 is a year when the #1 seed is within the grasp. You're thinking some Coleman-like rookie over C Kupp? C'mon. So a veteran it is. I prefer C Kupp over DHop or A Cooper. The overall 2025 WR room will be better on paper if they add a veteran WR (who is the equal of the 2024 A Cooper addition) to go along with the addition of Palmer. This would have fully onboarded vet WR > A Cooper, and Palmer > Hollins. The FO needs to get the veteran WR before the season this time. Should not wait until 5-6 weeks into the season, there is no Diggs debacle and the FO should know the Bills are fighting for the #1 seed right from the start. Get Kupp and I'll forgive them for the DK miss.

Maybe not. The Bills could have been looking all along to upgrade the WR room. Yes, Hollins exceeded expectations, but lets face it expectations were low. Shakir/Samuel/Coleman were already locked in. The addition of Palmer looks preplanned and helps with the role of boundary WR that can stretch the field. My hope is the remaining integral part of this group is significantly better than Hollins. This could be a veteran at a reasonable value - like C Kupp/DHop (Diggs?) or even A Coop back again. Then the overall WR room looks better on paper than the 2024 rendition.

I seem to go a little against the grain here and am a little excited to see him go. Not that Hollins was bad for us, but because it signals to me that the FO is not done with the WR room and they anticipate getting someone better than Hollins. This could be C Kupp or a draft pick.

Around $40M for the entire WR room and you think that's a lot? I would guess that's towards the bottom of the league. Some of the top WRs approach that figure by themselves. I think they could and should add C Kupp for a $15-20M deal. Provide needed depth for both the boundary and Shakir.