Mini-Camp: A James Cook Barometer

[YoloinOhio]

“Disconnected himself from the team”

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

“Disconnected himself from the team”

 

 More dramatic than my daughter and her friends.

[NoSaint]

6 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I think Kenneth Davis was a more complete RB than Ray Davis is. Ray is a good change of pace back with more power than Cook. But I find it ridiculous to want Davis to start over Cook. Or that we'd be find without Cook bc we have Davis.

 

He's a completely different RB. He's a 4.55, 3.9 yard average guy - who's got average vision and runs kind of tight. Ray Davis was not brought in to be James Cook's heir apparent. He was brought in to replace Nyheim Hines' roster spot and the role that Zack Moss had before him.

 

If/when James Cook leaves Buffalo, his true replacement will come in the 2026 Draft and will be a similar style RB with speed and elusiveness.

the thing is we would be fine without cook because we have Josh…. 
 

But whether that means we are optimized for a Super Bowl run… maybe?

4 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Not surprised. It's in his best interests to show up and show out this year. Plus, nothing he's done has indicated being as unhappy as even Hendrickson or Watt.

im honestly surprised. Thought it would be a day one of training camp arrival 

[DrDawkinstein]

5 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

the thing is we would be fine without cook because we have Josh…. 
 

But whether that means we are optimized for a Super Bowl run… maybe?

im honestly surprised. Thought it would be a day one of training camp arrival 

 

Sure. We'll be fine without anyone as long as we have Josh. But Cook has been the biggest help to Josh since we got Diggs. Gives us a real threat in the running game that teams must respect, and last year, took the short yardage burden off Josh (when the coaches were smart enough to use him). And when most of the fanbase is screaming at the FO to get Josh more help, I never understood why we'd also want to let Cook go (or trade him away).

 

We're definitely more optimized for a SB with him than without him. Agreed.

 

As for camp, I assumed he'd be at anything mandatory.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

Good. Now let’s get back to the table and get a deal that makes everybody happy. 

[Rubes]

1 hour ago, eball said:

Good article in the Buff News this morning about Cook, and what the Bills should do.  A compromise would be to give Cook a bridge deal for the next two seasons that pays him in the low 20s with most of it guaranteed.  Doesn't break the bank and Cook gets one more shot at a big payday afterwards.  Hope it gets done.

 

 

I agree, I thought it was an interesting option for Cook. I've always felt the sweet spot for Cook contract-wise was about $12-$12.5 per year, but what I haven't been able to figure out is (a) if the Bills really want to spend that much on the RB position, or (b) what kind of impact that would have on the cap going forward.

 

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Good. Now let’s get back to the table and get a deal that makes everybody happy. 

 

As much as I'd love to have Cook around for a few more year, I think this ship has sailed. I think it's as simple as Cook's market number is much higher than what Beane is willing to pay. And that's a fair take on both sides.

 

I dont think Beane will come up to $15M/yr now or this season. So Cook will hit the market and get his money there. Unless we tag him as a makeshift "5th year option".

1 minute ago, Rubes said:

 

I agree, I thought it was an interesting option for Cook. I've always felt the sweet spot for Cook contract-wise was about $12-$12.5 per year, but what I haven't been able to figure out is (a) if the Bills really want to spend that much on the RB position, or (b) what kind of impact that would have on the cap going forward.

 

 

I think a "team friendly" deal for Cook right now is at about $14M/yr. Nothing less than that is getting done. IMO.

[HappyDays]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

I think it's as simple as Cook's market number is much higher than what Beane is willing to pay.

 

Another possibility worth considering is that Cook doesn't really want to be in Buffalo long term. I've heard Joe Marino hint at this without directly saying it. He might want more money to stay here than he would elsewhere. Bills fans don't want to admit it but there will always be some players with that mindset whether we like it or not. Cook who was raised in south Florida and played at Georgia and is known to enjoy the nightclub scene may be one of those players.

[C.Biscuit97]

27 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

the thing is we would be fine without cook because we have Josh…. 
 

But whether that means we are optimized for a Super Bowl run… maybe?

im honestly surprised. Thought it would be a day one of training camp arrival 

Cook was the best player in the title game. Obviously, Allen is a major reason why but if Cook got the ball more, we might have went to the SB. He is only game breaker on offense besides Allen. 

13 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

As much as I'd love to have Cook around for a few more year, I think this ship has sailed. I think it's as simple as Cook's market number is much higher than what Beane is willing to pay. And that's a fair take on both sides.

 

I dont think Beane will come up to $15M/yr now or this season. So Cook will hit the market and get his money there. Unless we tag him as a makeshift "5th year option".

 

I think a "team friendly" deal for Cook right now is at about $14M/yr. Nothing less than that is getting done. IMO.

Eh, just do like $11/ season ish type with a bunch of incentives for him to hit. 

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, HappyDays said:

 

Another possibility worth considering is that Cook doesn't really want to be in Buffalo long term. I've heard Joe Marino hint at this without directly saying it. He might want more money to stay here than he would elsewhere. Bills fans don't want to admit it but there will always be some players with that mindset whether we like it or not. Cook who was raised in south Florida and played at Georgia and is known to enjoy the nightclub scene may be one of those players.

 

Sure, all those things play into it. Look at the Godwin report from this morning.

 

Why Chris Godwin spurned Patriots' $30 million offer, signed for less money with Buccaneers

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-chris-godwin-spurned-patriots-30-million-offer-signed-for-less-money-with-buccaneers/

 

"One opinion mattered to Godwin — his wife Mariah's," Pompei reports in an extensive article. " They went over the possibilities and concluded they would take less, much less, to stay in Tampa."

 

 

 

I moved away from the north almost 20 years ago, and it would take a TON more money to get me to move back to those 8-month winters.

 

[C.Biscuit97]

20 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Sure. We'll be fine without anyone as long as we have Josh. But Cook has been the biggest help to Josh since we got Diggs. Gives us a real threat in the running game that teams must respect, and last year, took the short yardage burden off Josh (when the coaches were smart enough to use him). And when most of the fanbase is screaming at the FO to get Josh more help, I never understood why we'd also want to let Cook go (or trade him away).

 

We're definitely more optimized for a SB with him than without him. Agreed.

 

As for camp, I assumed he'd be at anything mandatory.

This notion that anyone can be a good rb is pretty foolish. I believe the best way to look at rbs is on a bad team, it doesn’t matter. But on a SB contender, it can take you to another level. Getting rid of the second best offensive player (not counting the most 2nd most important ones - the oline) would severely hurt this team. 

[DrDawkinstein]

 

 

3 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Eh, just do like $11/ season ish type with a bunch of incentives for him to hit. 

 

Oh, that easy? 

 

I think Cook's agent would slam the phone down on your ear at that offer.

[C.Biscuit97]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Sure, all those things play into it. Look at the Godwin report from this morning.

 

Why Chris Godwin spurned Patriots' $30 million offer, signed for less money with Buccaneers

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-chris-godwin-spurned-patriots-30-million-offer-signed-for-less-money-with-buccaneers/

 

"One opinion mattered to Godwin — his wife Mariah's," Pompei reports in an extensive article. " They went over the possibilities and concluded they would take less, much less, to stay in Tampa."

 

 

 

I moved away from the north almost 20 years ago, and it would take a TON more money to get me to move back to those 8-month winters.

 

8 month winters is very dramatic bro! 6 max!

 

im different. All I wanted to do was get away from Buffalo when I was younger. But with the ability to travel, good job, cost of living, I kinda love Buffalo. Pros and cons to everywhere. Plus, for players, it’s like 6 months a year playing on a SB contender to be set for life. 

[RichRiderBills]

Great news

[C.Biscuit97]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

 

 

Oh, that easy? 

 

I think Cook's agent would slam the phone down on your ear at that offer.

You do the BS it’s 3 years for $40 million but it’s not really $40 million because there are so many hard incentives to reach.  Agents just look for the little Adam tweets that sounds really good.

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, C.Biscuit97 said:

8 month winters is very dramatic bro! 6 max!

 

im different. All I wanted to do was get away from Buffalo when I was younger. But with the ability to travel, good job, cost of living, I kinda love Buffalo. Pros and cons to everywhere. Plus, for players, it’s like 6 months a year playing on a SB contender to be set for life. 

 

I lived it. It can be cold and grey from October through May. 8 months.

 

And either way, 6 months is still way too long.

[Taro Nimbus]

Just checking in.  Are all the people that wanted Cook traded or cut because of all the fabricated drama from the media still angry? 

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, Taro Nimbus said:

Just checking in.  Are all the people that wanted Cook traded or cut because of all the fabricated drama from the media still angry? 

 

Angrier than ever it seems! Because now they are angry and proven wrong.

3 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

You do the BS it’s 3 years for $40 million but it’s not really $40 million because there are so many hard incentives to reach.  Agents just look for the little Adam tweets that sounds really good.

 

I think at this point it would have to be 3/$45M that isnt really $45M.

 

And what are we debating here? $5M spread over 3 years, with a cap that keeps increasing by $25M/yr thanks to streaming. Git r dun, Beane.

[MiltonWaddams]

It’s not my money, but I’d happily see Jimbo here for another three seasons. I always feel bad for the running backs because their shelf life is so much shorter than any other position. If he signs a reasonable three-year contract, it’s probably the last time he will make more than 3 million in a season

[extrahammer]

I gotta be honest, there's something about a 1,000 yard RB with 16 TD's who says "F the Chiefs" on a show and then rips up printed logos of other teams on another show. I hope we find a way to keep him bc that warms my little heart.