Mini-Camp: A James Cook Barometer

[Aussie Joe]

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

He knows the only way to get a big contract is to show up and ball out

 

300+ carries is what I would give  him.

So he is a three down back now ?  

[SoonerBillsFan]

3 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

So he is a three down back now ?  

Bye

[MJS]

2 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

He knows the only way to get a big contract is to show up and ball out

 

300+ carries is what I would give  him.

He hasn't ever gotten near that many carries in college or the pros, so I think the chance of that happening is slim. Plus, the Bills like Ty Johnson better than him as a 3rd down back.

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

I never stopped believing in that place called hope.

 

I knew Cook would show

[Richard Noggin]

12 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

Always read the fine print.  In the case of Spotrac, always read the "Contract Notes" in fine print at the bottom of the page.  They're essential for understanding what's going on.

 

 

On Cook's page, the fine print says "2025 Proven Performance Escalator Available (3rd Tier)."

I'm sure Spotrac explains what that means somewhere, but a quick Google indicates that a 2025 Proven Performace Escalator is equivalent to a 2nd round tender, which is ~$5M

 

That's why the 4 year deal is accurately reported to be the  4 year, $5,832,057 2nd round rookoie deal he signed with the Bills, where his original salary would have been ~$1.5M (total cap hit $1.8M).

 

AND it's also accurately reported that his earnings will now be just under $10M - because the performance escalator jumped his 2025 salary up by about $5.3M

 

Hope this helps.

 

Genuinely appreciate when things are spelled out for me. Sometimes we don't know what we don't know. 

 

Also, when Cook's deal is reported as a 4 year, $5.8M deal, that ramps up the compassion for a guy. The fact that he's realistically expected to make significantly more than that figure, works against the purposes of including that total in these offseason reports. (Not that $5.8M over 4 years of employment should elicit a ton of sympathy from working stiffs like many of us.)

[Beck Water]

2 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

Genuinely appreciate when things are spelled out for me. Sometimes we don't know what we don't know. 

 

Also, when Cook's deal is reported as a 4 year, $5.8M deal, that ramps up the compassion for a guy. The fact that he's realistically expected to make significantly more than that figure, works against the purposes of including that total in these offseason reports. (Not that $5.8M over 4 years of employment should elicit a ton of sympathy from working stiffs like many of us.)

 

Right, it hits a little differently if you say "for 2025, Cook will be compensated as the 15th highest paid RB in the league" or something like that

A person can look and say "OK, 16th highest rush yards in the league, 20th for attempts - that means he's very efficient in Y/A (8th in the league) 

 

He's underpaid, sure, that happens on a rookie contract.  Josh Jacobs kind of deal, maybe, bit higher because contracts inflate?

 

Anyway.  OMG the drama I saw in headlines when I went looking for some of this info.  "James Cook begins to get frustrated with Josh Allen, and this is starting to become a problem for the Buffalo Bills" (the article didn't say a thing to support that - total clickbait I fed, me bad); "

 "ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Cook is "unhappy" with his situation and "disconnected" himself from the team and the city of Buffalo ahead of the 2025 season.  In fact, Cook has even put his home on the market."  etc etc etc etc

 

 

 

9 hours ago, The Wiz said:

You should hear WGR right now.  They are complaining that he's not holding out because they don't have anything to talk about now.

 

I can totally believe this.

 

I do hope he and the Bills work something out fair to both sides.  "Bridge" contract with some injury guarantees and escalators or something.

Edited yesterday at 04:28 AM by Beck Water

[ROCBillsBeliever]

15 hours ago, The Wiz said:

You should hear WGR right now.  They are complaining that he's not holding out because they don't have anything to talk about now.

 

Classic WGR squawking Dodos: "Wahh.. Wahh... They saw our manufactured crisis:  The Emperor's clothes... Now what do we have to talk about, aside from our 87 fantasy hockey teams?"

[Gigs]

On 6/3/2025 at 4:19 PM, Ya Digg? said:

His contract is to play games. How come teams can cut a guy early, ask them to restructure (meaning take less money) and fans are good with that? He gets one real shot at making major money, and this is a negotiation tactic. He’s not going to sit out the season, he will be there when the games start, but people should already be prepared that he might not be seen u til much before that. Doesn’t mean he’s a villain, doesn’t mean people should turn on him (although they will), but the narrative will be painted that he’s a “bad teammate” even though there’s not a single guy in that locker room who will feel that way 

Easy: fans feel they can become a billionaire at any time and could buy a team, but lack the talent to ever play a kids game for millions.

[DrDawkinstein]

5 hours ago, MJS said:

He hasn't ever gotten near that many carries in college or the pros, so I think the chance of that happening is slim. Plus, the Bills like Ty Johnson better than him as a 3rd down back.

 

Reality and accuracy isnt what Sooner is going for there. He is saying he would punish our own star player by feeding him so many reps he will likely get injured or wear himself down, therefore tanking his chances at a payday next year. Some real sick stuff.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

18 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

Dude what? of course it's a negotiation,  that's part of the game.

I'm saying Cook is under contract for the season,  honor it.

As far as Tre, he got paid here and whatever guarantees were warranted were given.

I don't see the point you're trying to make

My point is Tre was under contract and was cut. The Bills didn't "honor his contract" as he had several more years on his deal. When the teams can get out of the contracts but the players can't its an unfair system. The player's only recourse is to try and renegotiate and get as much up front signing money as possible.  

Almost no one holds out anymore with the cash penalties. If he does not get a new deal, he will play under his current deal.  And he will play if they tag him next year.  Beane has had success getting guys to stay even when they hit free agency most notably Matt Milano.

 

[JerseyBills]

2 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

My point is Tre was under contract and was cut. The Bills didn't "honor his contract" as he had several more years on his deal. When the teams can get out of the contracts but the players can't its an unfair system. The player's only recourse is to try and renegotiate and get as much up front signing money as possible.  

Almost no one holds out anymore with the cash penalties. If he does not get a new deal, he will play under his current deal.  And he will play if they tag him next year.  Beane has had success getting guys to stay even when they hit free agency most notably Matt Milano.

 

Ya i agree it's unfair but that's what agents are for, to get maximum guaranteed $ . That's not a Bills issue , it's a league issue and it is what it is, same thing with our jobs

 

Tre's back in Buf and loving it so clearly there's no ill will, he understands it was just business and not personal.  

[Warriorspikes51]

okay fine.  He's shown up to practice like a professional.

 

Offer him  3 for 12 per or  4 for 10.5 per 

 

with incentives that balloon what he can make. 
 

12 is more than fair IMO and not interested in going above that 

[BillsFanForever19]

4 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

okay fine.  He's shown up to practice like a professional.

 

Don't sound so excited 😆 

 

It cracks me up how enraged people were over a completely theoretical holdout. Like you were screaming to trade and replace him during the Draft over something that was only so much as a non-verbalized possibility and now that it didn't happen - the same people sound disappointed that he didn't do it and is in the building.

Edited 12 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[Doc]

Of course he was going to show up to mandatory events and practice.  If he doesn't he gets fined and loses money.  And since he has to show up he might as well practice in order to play well this year and entice a new team to pony up big bucks.