Not one RB drafted or undrafted FA signed

[Jalan81]

On 4/29/2025 at 7:56 PM, Redblood said:

Lots of good udfa rbs out there. I feel we will do something 

Agreed

Gore may be the cook replacement plan

Yeah that’s a big no, they will draft a back next year if Cook is gone. 

[ColoradoBills]

On 4/29/2025 at 6:56 PM, Redblood said:

Gore may be the cook replacement plan

 

Dude.  FG Jr. is 5;8" 185lbs and run a 4.7 40.  He's never going to be a RB1.

[Mister Defense]

The daft should never be about getting a hodge podge of players at almost every position.

 

I cannot imagine a successful team ever doing that, just making sure they get one of these, one of those, and that position--even when it is not a need, and does not address a weak area related to starting position or needed depth. If Beane did that he would need to look in the mirror when he used the word "dumb".

 

The draft should be about sharply improving those areas, as needed. 

 

And when you have clear and obvious needs, go at it hard and well--and consistently.

 

Just like the Bills did with cornerbacks and the defensive line.

 

The Bills already have one of the best running back groups in the entire league, with a super fast,  young dynamic superstar with great vision, toughness and receiving ability, an MJD clone bowling ball backup who looked fantastic last year when given the opportunity, and "the best third down back in the league" ++

 

They got the best players they can get to turn the weak areas into strong areas, and using all extra draft capital to make it happen.  That is exactly what they did, and it just happens to be exactly what I wanted, called for.  So, Beane is a genius!

 

4 of their draft picks were mocked to different teams--in the first round.  I have never seen anything even close to that in all my years as a Bills fan.

 

Looks like a master class in drafting.  Soon we will  start to see if it's also one in scouting.

 

I am thinking it will be.

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 11:26 PM by Mister Defense

[Mister Defense]

On 4/27/2025 at 8:11 PM, DJB said:

If we don’t sign him to a reasonable extension, Beane is going to tag him 

 

Of course, or Beane is as dumb as those he is accurately calling out as such.

 

But it will likely not come to that. it seems to violate their culture, of treating their players as men, as people. That is likely why Beane and McD have never done it.

 

And the Bills in general almost never use the franchise tag.  Just five times ever, never under Beane, and  the last time was in 2016 for Cordy Glenn.

 

Cook will get his just reward--Josh Allen will see to it. It will now all be done behind the scenes though. No way does he let Cook get away, his Thurman Thomas, and a vital piece of the puzzle that he has never had before.  No Way.

 

As you never get rid of an elite player you have been searching for for years--for a few million dollars.

 

And now even more likely this happens--as the Bills are about to save tens of millions with their impressive group of  young, skilled, (and inexpensive) defensive  talent.

 

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 11:55 PM by Mister Defense

[Mister Defense]

On 4/28/2025 at 2:36 AM, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Greatly doubt it.

 

The tag price even this year would be over $14M. I think if he won't sign they'll let him look for something better and come back if our offer starts to look good to him. That's his standard procedure.

 

 

We have a ton of weapons outside of Cook. They may not be up to your standard, but we were the #2 scoring offense in football last year, and Kincaid and Coleman were badly held back by injuries.

 

When you've got Josh Allen throwing the ball, everyone scares you. If you've instead got someone like Tua, you'd better bring in some weapons.

 

Every time the Bills have started to focus more on the running game they have become almost unbeatable.

 

A few years ago after they lost to Tampa, were at 7-6 when they did so, and then ran more than any other team becoming the best running team in the league. They did not lose again. 

 

And then, after the great firing of dismal dorsey, well, just see above--almost the same exact thing, but they lost one game, the overtime game in Phili.

 

And then last year, thankfully an entire year where the running game was sharply focused on from beginning to end. The result? Best offense in the NFL, the best offense in Bills' history, and the best year ever for our superstar QB, and his first MVP.

 

Those are not coincidences.

 

No way should--or will--the Bills let Cook go, the elite back they have searched for for years and someone just getting started.  Beane is not dumb.

 

 

[H2o]

5 hours ago, VW82 said:

 

Dalvin every chance he gets

[Thurman#1]

9 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Every time the Bills have started to focus more on the running game they have become almost unbeatable.

 

A few years ago after they lost to Tampa, were at 7-6 when they did so, and then ran more than any other team becoming the best running team in the league. They did not lose again. 

 

And then, after the great firing of dismal dorsey, well, just see above--almost the same exact thing, but they lost one game, the overtime game in Phili.

 

And then last year, thankfully an entire year where the running game was sharply focused on from beginning to end. The result? Best offense in the NFL, the best offense in Bills' history, and the best year ever for our superstar QB, and his first MVP.

 

Those are not coincidences.

 

No way should--or will--the Bills let Cook go, the elite back they have searched for for years and someone just getting started.  Beane is not dumb.

 

 

 

 

First, your logic in no way follows from evidence to conclusion.

 

Saying we should keep Cook no matter what he costs because the Bills have done well when they run a lot is like saying that eating oranges is really good and healthy for you and therefore you need to buy this particular orange right now despite the $500 price tag and the fact it’s got a huge black spot on it. Doesn’t follow.

 

You’re right, Beane’s not stupid. Not at all. That’s why he refuses to get over-focused on something he wants and greatly overpay for it.

 

Beane has a consistent habit of drawing the line and not going over it. It’s how he does business, and it’s smart.

 

More, you’re very clearly showing how little you let your evidence affect your conclusions. Your prejudices are clearly visible.

 

You say that in 2021 that when they lost to Tampa and then, according to you, they “ran more than any other team becoming the best running team in the league. They did not lose again.”

 

That’s an extremely clear case of letting a pre-judgment deeply twist your conclusions in ways the evidence just doesn’t support. Not even close.

 

(Just as a sidebar, pretending the evidence really does support that turning to the run caused these results, was Cook on the team then? Wait, we got these great run results with Singletary, Moss, Breida and Taiwan Jones? Well then what do we need Cook for?)

 

Anyway, what the facts show is that when they were going according to game plans early, they passed far more often than they ran with the exception of the final game against the hapless Jets.. That’s why they had (reasonably) high run attempts.

 

CAROLINA   in the first half, 25 pass attempts, including two sacks along with 9 runs.  They started off mostly passing and got way ahead and then started running more. In the first half, Up 17-8 at halftime and 25-8 by the end of the 3rd

 

NEW ENGLAND  Don’t need to spend time separating the halves. We threw 47 passes and ran 28 times in this game.

 

ATLANTA  In the first half the Bills ran 23 pass attempts including two scrambles and 12 runs (also including the scrambles). Then the second half was mostly runs.

 

NJ JETS  In this game, the Bills ran 46 passes and 33 runs. In the first half, 26 pass attempts and 14 runs, but that’s deceptive. We got the ball with 1:39 left in the half at our own 16 and ran 10 pass attempts in a row. Take out that drive and it was 16 passes and 14 runs. But again, overall 46 passes and 33 runs.

 

Pretending that they did really well down the stretch of that season because they ran a lot? Flat-out ridiculous.

[Mister Defense]

3 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

First, your logic in no way follows from evidence to conclusion.

 

Saying we should keep Cook no matter what he costs because the Bills have done well when they run a lot is like saying that eating oranges is really good and healthy for you and therefore you need to buy this particular orange right now despite the $500 price tag and the fact it’s got a huge black spot on it. Doesn’t follow.

 

You’re right, Beane’s not stupid. Not at all. That’s why he refuses to get over-focused on something he wants and greatly overpay for it.

 

Beane has a consistent habit of drawing the line and not going over it. It’s how he does business, and it’s smart.

 

More, you’re very clearly showing how little you let your evidence affect your conclusions. Your prejudices are clearly visible.

 

You say that in 2021 that when they lost to Tampa and then, according to you, they “ran more than any other team becoming the best running team in the league. They did not lose again.”

 

That’s an extremely clear case of letting a pre-judgment deeply twist your conclusions in ways the evidence just doesn’t support. Not even close.

 

(Just as a sidebar, pretending the evidence really does support that turning to the run caused these results, was Cook on the team then? Wait, we got these great run results with Singletary, Moss, Breida and Taiwan Jones? Well then what do we need Cook for?)

 

Anyway, what the facts show is that when they were going according to game plans early, they passed far more often than they ran with the exception of the final game against the hapless Jets.. That’s why they had (reasonably) high run attempts.

 

CAROLINA   in the first half, 25 pass attempts, including two sacks along with 9 runs.  They started off mostly passing and got way ahead and then started running more. In the first half, Up 17-8 at halftime and 25-8 by the end of the 3rd

 

NEW ENGLAND  Don’t need to spend time separating the halves. We threw 47 passes and ran 28 times in this game.

 

ATLANTA  In the first half the Bills ran 23 pass attempts including two scrambles and 12 runs (also including the scrambles). Then the second half was mostly runs.

 

NJ JETS  In this game, the Bills ran 46 passes and 33 runs. In the first half, 26 pass attempts and 14 runs, but that’s deceptive. We got the ball with 1:39 left in the half at our own 16 and ran 10 pass attempts in a row. Take out that drive and it was 16 passes and 14 runs. But again, overall 46 passes and 33 runs.

 

Pretending that they did really well down the stretch of that season because they ran a lot? Flat-out ridiculous.

 

 

Not fact based?  In every one of this three examples over the last three years once the Bills changed their philosophy, and focused much more on the run, they turned their seasons completely around in mid season two times--and then last season speaks for itself, an entire season where the run was not  just an afterthought, scared almost no one, like it was under dorsey.

 

You can have your opinion, but for most objective observers the Bills changing, committing to the run, was the catalyst each time.  In fact, that is one of the main reasons incompetent dorsey was fired---and Brady's most obvious change, clearly, was running more, adding more diversity to the running game, and almost never going away from that.  It is what our great coach wanted, what he got, and then in last year we saw the result of what happens doing that for an entire year.

 

One of the most balanced teams in NFL history, the first ever with both 30 rushing and 30 passing touchdowns ever,  leading to the most points scored in the entire league--and the most ever scored by the Bills, and Josh Allen finally won the MVP. Etcetera etcetera. The changes in the running game were an essential, vital element in those turn arounds and in last season's record breaking offensive success. 

 

Yup, Singletarry was  a good back then, and when they finally started using him more, after the Tampa loss, ending the committee approach that worked against his strengths, he really shined. 

 

Last year we saw what could now happen with that same approach, but now with a much more dynamic back, a much faster back, with elite vision--and making the run a much more important part of the offense for the entire season. See the bold above, please. That is the difference, and why he likely will be signed to an extension

 

You comically parse and use stats, in this half of these game... and ignore the important ones, that do not fit your (made up already) mindset. And, let me guess again, the concept of "complimentary football" once set you flying over the edge.

 

What you are saying, Thurman, is that without your contributions in the 1990s, the Bills would have been just as good, no problem, and that that the great running game, year after year, with one of the best backs in NFL history, thank you!, was not that vital. Bizarre that you can say this, after your running and receiving was the engine that seemed to make it all work so well..

 

 

Edited Friday at 01:14 PM by Mister Defense

[Thurman#1]

On 5/2/2025 at 9:59 PM, Mister Defense said:

 

 

Not fact based?  In every one of this three examples over the last three years once the Bills changed their philosophy, and focused much more on the run, they turned their seasons completely around in mid season two times--and then last season speaks for itself, an entire season where the run was not  just an afterthought, scared almost no one, like it was under dorsey.

 

You can have your opinion, but for most objective observers the Bills changing, committing to the run, was the catalyst each time.  In fact, that is one of the main reasons incompetent dorsey was fired---and Brady's most obvious change, clearly, was running more, adding more diversity to the running game, and almost never going away from that.  It is what our great coach wanted, what he got, and then in last year we saw the result of what happens doing that for an entire year.

 

One of the most balanced teams in NFL history, the first ever with both 30 rushing and 30 passing touchdowns ever,  leading to the most points scored in the entire league--and the most ever scored by the Bills, and Josh Allen finally won the MVP. Etcetera etcetera. The changes in the running game were an essential, vital element in those turn arounds and in last season's record breaking offensive success. 

 

Yup, Singletarry was  a good back then, and when they finally started using him more, after the Tampa loss, ending the committee approach that worked against his strengths, he really shined. 

 

Last year we saw what could now happen with that same approach, but now with a much more dynamic back, a much faster back, with elite vision--and making the run a much more important part of the offense for the entire season. See the bold above, please. That is the difference, and why he likely will be signed to an extension

 

You comically parse and use stats, in this half of these game... and ignore the important ones, that do not fit your (made up already) mindset. And, let me guess again, the concept of "complimentary football" once set you flying over the edge.

 

What you are saying, Thurman, is that without your contributions in the 1990s, the Bills would have been just as good, no problem, and that that the great running game, year after year, with one of the best backs in NFL history, thank you!, was not that vital. Bizarre that you can say this, after your running and receiving was the engine that seemed to make it all work so well..

 

 

 

 

Um, no, I'm not saying that or anything like it

 

Maybe you could actually read my post ... then answer it? That way you could respond to things I actually said? 

 

Also didn't say "not fact based." Or anything like it. Again, maybe read and respond to what I actually said.

 

I disagree with some of your facts. One thing you said was that the 2021 Bills changed things around by suddenly stressing the run game the last four games of the season. And as I pointed out, that wasn't true. In three out of those four games they started out stressing the pass much more than the run, got ahead that way and then ran the ball more later to run out the clock. 

 

The main problem with your post, though, is the logic. Not the facts, the logic.

 

You claimed that whenever the Bills really stress the run game they play very well. And that this shows that they should and will re-sign James Cook even if he's overpriced. This doesn't follow. The conditional and the conclusion aren't linked. Even if the conditional is 100% factual and true, it doesn't show they should re-sign Cook even if he costs too much.

 

Again, it’s like arguing that oranges are nutritious, healthy and good for you and that therefore you must eat THAT PARTICULAR ORANGE OVER THERE AND NO OTHER, despite the fact that that one particular orange is priced at $500 and has a black spot on it.

 

It doesn’t follow. Even if oranges generally are good, that doesn’t show you need to eat the one orange no matter what. It just doesn’t.

Same with your argument. Even if your conditional is 100% true, it doesn’t show we need to re-sign Cook no matter what. There are a ton of different ways to stress the run game. Many of them make economic sense. Such as keeping the OL together which they’ve done such a terrific job with. Or maybe drafting another 3rd round RB next year if Cook keeps insisting on $15M and running him, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson and maybe one more guy fight it out to see who gets to run behind that terrific OL.

 

Oh, and the way you wrote made it seem like you thought I might be the real Thurman Thomas. I’m not. Just a huge Thurman fan. Thurman, by the way, was a terrific pass blocker when called on and played a ton more snaps than Cook ever has. Terrific in short yardage power situations too.

 

I'd love to see them re-sign Cook. At a reasonable price. What he's asking for is not reasonable.

 

 

[nosejob]

On 4/27/2025 at 7:19 PM, Yobogoya! said:

I honestly think the Bills would be willing to give Ty Johnson a heavy workload with Ray Davis as the #2 if Cook legitimately held out into the regular season. Fact is 17 makes the offense go, Cook is a weapon but we’d score points without him. 
 

If all else fails we can always give big Reggie G a few carries 😤

Gonna see a lot of Gore this summer.

[Thurman#1]

Oh, and yeah Singletary was a very good back, in 2021 and always, really.

 

But your contention that he got really good in the last four games of 2021 because they stopped platooning him? Also doesn't make sense.

 

He averaged 4.6 YPC for the season. And considerably less over the last four games. He was still good. But not better, platooned or not. Yes, he got more yards. But not because he was running better. He was just running more, so even though he was getting less per carry he totaled more yards.

 

And again, the Bills got ahead in each game by mostly passing and then turned up the runs later in games to burn clock. 

[ROCBillsBeliever]

On 4/28/2025 at 11:33 AM, gonzo1105 said:

I did want to take one in this draft just because the value is there. Taking one in the 7th you might have been able to sneak a guy on the PS. Two of my favorites Brashard Smith and LeQuint Allen both went round 7 but I get why they didn’t do it 

 

Well, Beane had to do SOMEthing to feed the wide receiver train, right? I mean, God knows what would happen if we hadn't taken a wide receiver...

 

/s

[SoMAn]

On 4/27/2025 at 6:53 PM, ElMarko said:

Any theories or Cook comments?

The whole Cook fiasco is beyond stupid. He's under contract!

He has few options.

 

Sure, he can sit out. That way he can lose a decent paycheck and at the same time compromise any negotiating leverage with other teams. Ideally, he'd want to play his balls off in 2025 off to increase his value in FA.

 

As far as drafting or signing another RB  - there were greater needs. Also, there may not have been a back the Bills thought fit their culture or talent level. Should they just sign any warm body to fill the position?

 

Ray Davis may be to James Cook what Thurman was to then starter Ronnie Harmon. Davis looks very capable. The Bills still have Frank Gore Jr., who looked serviceable. There's also someone called Darrynton Evans and FB Reggie Gilliam in the backfield.

 

The Bills are in the driver's seat. Cook will play in 2025 after which the Bills can slap the franchise tag on him, trade him, sign another FA, or draft another back in 2026.  The Bills have options - not Cook.

 

How much of James Cook's posturing is attributed to bad advice from big brother Dalvin whispering in his ear? He's on his 4th team since 2022.  I doubt he's making top dollar as a journeyman. Maybe he should let little bro and his agent handle the business end of it.

 

If James is smart, he'll shut up and let his play on the field speak for itself, and then he can get the money thing sorted out after the Bills win the Super Bowl next February. 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by SoMAn

[zow2]

1 hour ago, SoMAn said:

The whole Cook fiasco is beyond stupid. He's under contract!

He has few options.

 

If James is smart, he'll shut up and let his play on the field speak for itself, and then he can get the money thing sorted out after the Bills win the Super Bowl next February. 

 

 

 

I heard Beane on one of his many interviews recently.  I forget which media this was with but the interviewer was really pressing him on James Cook.  Beane just calmly shut it down and said..."Look, James Cook is our running back.  He's under contract and he will be playing for the Buffalo Bills this season.  There's nothing else to talk about".  

 

It does not sound like Beane is entertaining all the off the field nonsense that Cook and his team are putting out there.

 

[GolfandBills]

On 4/27/2025 at 6:53 PM, ElMarko said:

Any theories or Cook comments?

It’s pretty simple… the top 3 is set.  Nobody drafted or brought in now will take their spot.  Maybe bring in one more for camp that’s about it