Is Cook worth it?

[Big Turk]

9 minutes ago, klos63 said:

So the 10-11 million you're OK with paying, isn't that paying a premium based on last season,  certainly it can't be for his first 2 seasons. 

 

I mean he was 6th in Scrimmage yards the season before last year so I'd say it's probably fair value based on 2 straight 1K rushing seasons while also acknowledging he is not among the elite of the elite.

Edited Thursday at 04:02 AM by Big Turk

[billsfan714]

Cook and Knox should flip salaries, I mean why are we paying 14 million for a guy with back to back 22 catch seasons.

Edited Thursday at 02:53 PM by billsfan714

[Mat68]

In a vacuum his production could be close to replicated.  I think his explosive plays and his athletic ability is underrated.  With his style of running its so smooth he looks slow.  The explosive run getting 30-40-50+ instead of 20-25 is what you are giving up.  They both count as explosives runs but one limits the defense in ways the other does not.  That is what in my opinion warrants a Rb getting paid.  You can rinse and repeat 4 yards a carry 1,000 yards.  Having a guy who can take it 50 plus at any time is a different animal.  I think that element Cook brings is the hardest to find and replicate consistently. 

[ganesh]

On 6/8/2025 at 9:18 PM, pennstate10 said:

Is that correct about vesting?

I seem to remember another player (not Bills) holding out until game 8 or so, because that was the latest he could wait and still get pension credit. 

I believe it is the “vesting” and the fines.  He could get fined up to $11M. And he will make 5.6M. 

[Mister Defense]

Not sure if this has been posted on this long thread, but great news for Cook supporters and Bills' fans last week from the mouth of Josh Allen.

 

In response to a question on Cook's contract he said, "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

When I heard him say that last week it renewed my confidence that this nonsense is settled well before the season begins.

 

When the best player on the team, and in the league, says that in public it is inevitable and "soon".  Before training camp? 

 

Josh is smart, and he knows it was Kelly and Thomas leading the way, and Aikman and Smith, and Montana and Craig, and Bradshaw and Harris etcetera.  And that the success of one fed the success of the other. And that inserting just a good back would have meant different outcomes.

 

 

[The Frankish Reich]

You are almost always going to overpay for the anticipated decline years in order to afford the anticipated 2-3 productive years. At this point with the Bills, you gotta do it.

Edited Saturday at 06:01 PM by The Frankish Reich

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

3 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

In response to a question on Cook's contract he said, "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

Let's not be penny wise and pound foolish.

 

Josh has authorized it.

 

Pay the man Beane !!

[RochesterLifer]

18 hours ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

Let's not be penny wise and pound foolish.

 

Josh has authorized it.

 

Pay the man Beane !!

I seriously doubt Beane is refusing to pay the man. However, very few players (Allen and Mahomes aside) get to simply demand their salary. It appears Cook has attempted to do this on social media. He must be willing to negotiate. We have no idea what is happening behind closed doors. He may be privately engaged in earnest negotiations.

 

I have no doubt the Bills are making serious offers. We'll see where it lands. 

[Artful Dodger]

22 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

Not sure if this has been posted on this long thread, but great news for Cook supporters and Bills' fans last week from the mouth of Josh Allen.

 

In response to a question on Cook's contract he said, "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

When I heard him say that last week it renewed my confidence that this nonsense is settled well before the season begins.

 

When the best player on the team, and in the league, says that in public it is inevitable and "soon".  Before training camp? 

 

Josh is smart, and he knows it was Kelly and Thomas leading the way, and Aikman and Smith, and Montana and Craig, and Bradshaw and Harris etcetera.  And that the success of one fed the success of the other. And that inserting just a good back would have meant different outcomes.

 

 

Allen is doing what he can to keep Cook happy.  Is he going to say that he doesn't think Cook deserves the money?  

 

[Mister Defense]

7 hours ago, Artful Dodger said:

Allen is doing what he can to keep Cook happy.  Is he going to say that he doesn't think Cook deserves the money?  

 

 

Nope, as almost assuredly Allen's words are not just perfunctory. He is good at beating around the bush when he wants to.  See his comments on Diggs' departure, for example.

 

Here, they are specific and clear-- Allen considers Cook underpaid and wants him to get his bag-- and "soon": "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

He sent the same kind of clear message the day after Dorsey was fired, "it had to be done". Clear and blunt, just like his words last week on James Cook.

 

Take him at his specific word in both instances. He has become a more vocal leader and this is yet another example--and not just empty words you claim.

 

You are probably just worried that if that is true, he definitely also has McDermott and Beane's ears behind the scenes and a deal may be imminent.

 

 

 

 

[Thurman#1]

On 6/19/2025 at 10:46 AM, klos63 said:

With that logic we really have no RB's on the roster worth much of a contract. 

Can't expect much more than 3 rushing TDs from Davis or 1 from Ty.

 

Yeah, not many players put up neck to back 18td seasons,  but this is no ordinary offense, we were the highest scoring team in the league.  This is becoming a run first offense and Cook excels in that.  We sign him to an extension,  might even lower this years cap number. 

Honestly,  never seen a high drafted player coming off such a tremendous season with so many wanting him gone.  

This is what the Sabres do,  not the Bills.

 

 

Where are all these people "wanting him gone"? I suppose there are probably a few, but very few.

 

Most of us don't want him gone, we don't want to overpay for him. And we think that $15M would absolutely be overpaying, and strongly suspect that Cook isn't going to sign for what we want to pay. He'll get more from someone, is my suspicion.

 

On 6/19/2025 at 10:46 AM, klos63 said:

With that logic we really have no RB's on the roster worth much of a contract. 

Can't expect much more than 3 rushing TDs from Davis or 1 from Ty.

 

Yeah, not many players put up neck to back 18td seasons,  but this is no ordinary offense, we were the highest scoring team in the league.  This is becoming a run first offense and Cook excels in that.  We sign him to an extension,  might even lower this years cap number. 

Honestly,  never seen a high drafted player coming off such a tremendous season with so many wanting him gone.  

This is what the Sabres do,  not the Bills.

 

 

No way. Davis and Ty are worth their contracts. Maybe a bit of an uptick at the end.

 

And this isn't a run-first offense. It just isn't. It's maybe a pass-1A and run-1B offense. It's a you don't know what we'll do on any particular play because we can do what we want offense. Makes us unpredictable.

 

And while it's nice to lower this year's cap number, that's not the only year that matters. They all matter. And overpaying is not a good idea, it just isn't.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Thurman#1

[Thurman#1]

6 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Nope, as almost assuredly Allen's words are not just perfunctory. He is good at beating around the bush when he wants to.  See his comments on Diggs' departure, for example.

 

Here, they are specific and clear-- Allen considers Cook underpaid and wants him to get his bag-- and "soon": "He's one of the best backs in the league and hopefully that gets reflected soon." 

 

He sent the same kind of clear message the day after Dorsey was fired, "it had to be done". Clear and blunt, just like his words last week on James Cook.

 

Take him at his specific word in both instances. He has become a more vocal leader and this is yet another example--and not just empty words you claim.

 

You are probably just worried that if that is true, he definitely also has McDermott and Beane's ears behind the scenes and a deal may be imminent.

 

 

 

Josh says this sort of thing about everyone. As he should.

 

Example? On Mack Hollins:  "'Super sad to see Mack go. I know he was kind of a fan favorite as well as a favorite in the locker room. I'm very happy for him and what he got. Hate that he's a division rival now but it's the game that we play.'"

 

We could very easily see Josh making the same kind of statement about Cook when he goes after next season.

 

Is Devin Singletary as good as Cook? Or is he just a good back?

 

Because this offense was extremely successful with Singletary as our #1 also.

 

And did Josh actually say, "It had to be done," about getting rid of Dorsey? I don't remember that, so I googled it and your post is the #1 thing at google with those elements. I think you might be misremembering. But if I'm wrong, I'd certainly respect it if you could link it.

 

Anytime Josh is asked about a salary dispute about a guy still on the team, he's going to say much the same thing. Not that I have any doubt Josh would like him back. I'm sure he would (along with most of the roster). But he understands salary cap issues.