Is Cook worth it?

[BuffaloRebound]

Give him $12m on a 1 year deal and promise not to franchise tag him next year.  Find his replacement in the draft next year.  Beane isn’t dumb enough to give Cook $15m over multiple years.  

[Bruffalo]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

His agent would (should) laugh and hang up on you.

 

Why would he take that when he could get $15M base and up to $17-20M in incentives elsewhere?

 

You guys are expecting him to leave generational wealth on the table when this is likely his ONE shot to get paid, while the league and owners make plenty more for doing nothing.

 

4 years/$60M, $40M guaranteed. Throw a void year on the end and its instantly back down to $12M/yr ($8M/yr guaranteed) for the team. Make it an extension and now its essentially 5/$65M, with the void 6/$65... less than $11M average.

 

Cap is booming with streaming revenue. It's easy to get done where Cook wants to be and have both sides happy.

 

 

 

I think it's possible Cook could get 15 million on the open market, but it's contingent on how this season goes for him.

 

He has one season of elite production. Cook is probably a top 10 RB in the league, but he needs to show it can be consistent. If he desperately wants the contract before the season starts, he probably needs to make concessions.

 

I can't say what I'd do in that situation because 10-15 million dollars is just an unfathomable amount of money to me, but having 12-13 million guaranteed moving forward would sound pretty appealing being an undersized RB in the league. An injury this season could derail his chances of getting any high end contract.

[starrymessenger]

34 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Nobody sane is giving Cook $15M/year what are you talking about.

Agreed. Not a three down back imo. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 hour ago, JP51 said:

I think I read from another poster and I agree... to me this is a clear change in stance... why though... well sounds like they are talking and JC is putting a stake in the ground... so either they get this done soon... or it kinda blows up... but to me something is happening on this front that will cause a definitive direction.... deal or acrimony.... quite interested to see how this plays out... but at least he wont get hurt on the bike... take up the rubber mats though... LOL 

True. He won't get hurt on the bike. He also won't stay in football condition on the bike either. 

 

Maybe it is selective memory, but it seems year after year the guys that stage these "hold ins" end up not having great seasons that follow. Start the season slow. End up with lingering soft tissue injuries that derail their whole season. Things like that. 

[PrimeTime101]

7 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Even Joe Marino in his podcast today said that was what he was hearing while he was in WNY. And he's pretty anti-extension

its lots of he said.. she said...  I personally like watching Dan Mitchell. but yea. I hear ya

[LEBills]

15 minutes ago, NeverOutNick said:

I honestly don’t think he’s worth even that. He’s not a 3 down RB, drops way too many catchable balls in key moments. He’s a very good RB but I’m fine with Beane not bending over when Cook has only had one elite season. Let’s see how he and Ray Davis look this year and then make the calculated decision imo

I’d be down for this for sure

Cook has a lot of leverage. As much as we all hope Ray Davis, Keon, Palmer or Moore may step up, Cook and Shakir are the only proven quality skill position players on the Bills. That is partly Beane’s fault and so makes playing hardball a bit more tricky. With how good Cook has been over the past two years, despite a couple of drops and not being a good pass protector, I would pay him the $15 mil. Some team will. 2800 yards and 24 touchdowns over the last two years is a lot of production on good efficiency. Not to mention how well he performed this postseason. Maybe the Bills try to wait to see how the season goes, hopefully that works out this year and in the long run.

[Big Blitz]

1 hour ago, sunshynman said:

Fine have fun in Miami.

 

They have Achane.  
 

The low or no tax states have RBs locked up or will need to soon.  Or have a massive QB contract and little cap room.   
 

Vegas

Miami

Jax 

Atlanta 

Dallas has drafted - no way they pay RB

Houston - Mixon

Chargers drafted one 

Seattle - Walker and Charbonet

Cincy - Brown

Jets - Breece and Allen

Washington - Robinson 

Rams - Kyren (also looking for a deal) 

AZ - drafted Benson high 
 

Maybe Tennessee would be interested if he wanted to go there.  
 

Possibilities with no cap issues 

 

Patriots 

Washington

Titans 

 

I mean there isn’t really a better situation for him than here.   

 

 

 

 

 

[BananaB]

41 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Give him $12m on a 1 year deal and promise not to franchise tag him next year.  Find his replacement in the draft next year.  Beane isn’t dumb enough to give Cook $15m over multiple years.  

If he let him walk next year Beane would be pretty dumb. Get what you can get for him now, Ray Davis ain’t no slouch. 

[Doc Brown]

45 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Give him $12m on a 1 year deal and promise not to franchise tag him next year.  Find his replacement in the draft next year.  Beane isn’t dumb enough to give Cook $15m over multiple years.  

Why?

[BarleyNY]

3 minutes ago, LEBills said:

Cook has a lot of leverage. As much as we all hope Ray Davis, Keon, Palmer or Moore may step up, Cook and Shakir are the only proven quality skill position players on the Bills. That is partly Beane’s fault and so makes playing hardball a bit more tricky. With how good Cook has been over the past two years, despite a couple of drops and not being a good pass protector, I would pay him the $15 mil. Some team will. 2800 yards and 24 touchdowns over the last two years is a lot of production on good efficiency. Not to mention how well he performed this postseason. Maybe the Bills try to wait to see how the season goes, hopefully that works out this year and in the long run.

 

I don’t think Cook has much leverage at all. “Holding in” or faking injury are his only plays right now. The former only lasts thru the preseason and the latter is very risky. It could result in suspension, fines or even parting ways. At some point it would rub the team the wrong way and Beane would have to trade or release him. Players understand that business is business, but this locker room wants to win a championship and need people who are on board with that. 

[LEBills]

1 minute ago, BarleyNY said:

 

I don’t think Cook has much leverage at all. “Holding in” or faking injury are his only plays right now. The former only lasts thru the preseason and the latter is very risky. It could result in suspension, fines or even parting ways. At some point it would rub the team the wrong way and Beane would have to trade or release him. Players understand that business is business, but this locker room wants to win a championship and need people who are on board with that. 

Players are always at a disadvantage in these negotiations but if this is a hold in, he does have leverage at this point. Shakir is the only other dependable skill player and he is hurt. In fact most of our WR room is nursing some injuries right now. 
 

I doubt the other players will hold it against Cook for saving his body for the regular season to maximize his pay day. It may bother Beane and the coaches who want the team to be as ready as possible for the regular season. Beane will not release him lol maybe he tries to trade him. Finding a trade that will keep the Bills as good as they are with Cook is going to be hard to do at this stage of the offseason.

 

I still think it is more likely that the contract is close and so Cook doesn’t want to get injured before it is finalized. 

[RoscoeParrish]

2 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

His agent would (should) laugh and hang up on you.

 

Why would he take that when he could get $15M base and up to $17-20M in incentives elsewhere?

 

You guys are expecting him to leave generational wealth on the table when this is likely his ONE shot to get paid, while the league and owners make plenty more for doing nothing.

 

4 years/$60M, $40M guaranteed. Throw a void year on the end and its instantly back down to $12M/yr ($8M/yr guaranteed) for the team. Make it an extension and now its essentially 5/$65M, with the void 6/$65... less than $11M average.

 

Cap is booming with streaming revenue. It's easy to get done where Cook wants to be and have both sides happy.

 

 

 

Melvin Gordon wishes he took the Chargers lowball offer.

[BarleyNY]

10 minutes ago, LEBills said:

Players are always at a disadvantage in these negotiations but if this is a hold in, he does have leverage at this point. Shakir is the only other dependable skill player and he is hurt. In fact most of our WR room is nursing some injuries right now. 
 

I doubt the other players will hold it against Cook for saving his body for the regular season to maximize his pay day. It may bother Beane and the coaches who want the team to be as ready as possible for the regular season. Beane will not release him lol maybe he tries to trade him. Finding a trade that will keep the Bills as good as they are with Cook is going to be hard to do at this stage of the offseason.

 

I still think it is more likely that the contract is close and so Cook doesn’t want to get injured before it is finalized. 

The big question is whether Cook will be willing to play week one. Nothing really matters until that point. My bet is that he holds in until sometime just before the first game - unless the deal gets done before then.

 

The only way Cook gets moved off of the roster is if he causes an issue in the locker room. We are a ways off of that being a possibility, but it could happen. Obviously they’d want to trade him if it came to that, but no team is going to trade for him if his demands remain unreasonable. Or it would be very low or conditional compensation. 

 

Here’s hoping Beane sticks to his guns. I’d like to see him state that he will not negotiate during the season. Either a deal gets done before it starts or negotiations get tabled until after the season is over. I don’t want to see this be a distraction to the team. 

Edited Monday at 03:53 PM by BarleyNY

[The Firebaugh Kid]

56 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

its lots of he said.. she said...  I personally like watching Dan Mitchell. but yea. I hear ya

Dan Mitchells voice is SO annoying, and his content reeks of "influencer". Can't stand him. 

And I love Joe. 

Sorry, triggered LOL.

[PoundingDog]

For situation like this, you have to put yourself on both sides first before jump into a conclusion.

 

Cook is going to be 26 in Sept. The clock is ticking for a running back - I'm sure his agent reminds him emphatically the general trend of RBs getting paid (prime year 24-28). 

 

For Beane, I think the offensive strategy is clear for the Bills and Beane has said it many times: pay your star QB and protect him. That means limited dollars for weapons, unless you are a HoF kind of guy. Is Cook a Darrick Henry, Saquon Barkley in the making? Probably not. Is he a Alvin Kamara? we need to see it at least one more year the trajectory. 

 

So here is the problem on hand. Cook does not want to wait while the Bills want to see more. Is there a middle ground without jeopardizing the cap that the Bills have put themselves into with all those void years contract of those no longer on the roster?

[GoBills808]

1 hour ago, Bruffalo said:

I think it's possible Cook could get 15 million on the open market, but it's contingent on how this season goes for him.

 

He has one season of elite production. Cook is probably a top 10 RB in the league, but he needs to show it can be consistent. If he desperately wants the contract before the season starts, he probably needs to make concessions.

 

I can't say what I'd do in that situation because 10-15 million dollars is just an unfathomable amount of money to me, but having 12-13 million guaranteed moving forward would sound pretty appealing being an undersized RB in the league. An injury this season could derail his chances of getting any high end contract.

he does? When was that?

[DaVinci]

Negotiations are over. Play youre one more year and good luck .

[JerseyBills]

1 hour ago, BarleyNY said:

 

I don’t think Cook has much leverage at all. “Holding in” or faking injury are his only plays right now. The former only lasts thru the preseason and the latter is very risky. It could result in suspension, fines or even parting ways. At some point it would rub the team the wrong way and Beane would have to trade or release him. Players understand that business is business, but this locker room wants to win a championship and need people who are on board with that. 

Would also rub potential teams the wrong way , just a terrible career decision but then again these terribly run franchises are always in play , think leveon bell w the Jests

[Bruffalo]

21 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

he does? When was that?

 

16 TDs without playing 3rd downs and 1000 yards is pretty high up there. Maybe you don't want to call it Elite but a Devin Singletary-type player isn't putting up those numbers with the same amount of snaps.

[GoBills808]

Just now, Bruffalo said:

 

16 TDs without playing 3rd downs and 1000 yards is pretty high up there. Maybe you don't want to call it Elite but a Devin Singletary-type player isn't putting up those numbers with the same amount of snaps.

TD totals dont impress me in this offense. if you are a skill player w Allen you are going to have outsize TD numbers. Call it the Dawson Knox effect...we are still regretting that contract they handed him after his 9TD season

 

doubt theyll make the same mistake