James Cook: "Business" man

[JerseyBills]

29 minutes ago, Watkins90 said:

The team can cut a player whenever they want. So, I don't blame Cook. 

So can literally any job , if you underperformed and if they're overperforming you might get a raise , you negotiate,  Bills did that, Cook declined 

Lock in and hit free agency and get your bag, he's a Bill for 2025

Edited Tuesday at 02:44 PM by JerseyBills

[Mikie2times]

54 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I 100% agree with this... unless this gets ugly and is unresolved into the season... he doesnt play, holds out to game 10 or whatever the last game is and then tries to comeback so he can get his year in. Ugly things happen then when a player is coming back at a time when supreme focus is required... if he doesnt handle it properly, sits and pouts and takes it to the media cause he is not playing etc... then it can become distracting... In the camp time... this stuff is done all the time, players get it and may have done it or thought about it as well... you only have so much time to be paid and as a 200lb RB who puts his nose in the pile 10 -20 times a game... clearly that longevity is at risk in a precarious way....  Bottom line, this should not be a distraction unless it is handled poorly by both parties and extends deep into the season... JMO Last thing I will say, a prolonged hold out is really risky for him as well... Ray D comes in and produces in a similar way and the team moves on like next man up... that is gonna hurt his negotiating on a league wide level... I also recognize that he and his brother are not the same people... but I can imagine people have Dalvin in the back of their minds going we hope he doesnt fall off that cliff...  etc... this is a really interesting exhibition of negotiation for sure... 

Significant risk in a prolonged holdout. He would be effectively diminishing his value for his contract year. As you call out, Davis could perform, which further diminishes his value. Another person called out Bell for the Steelers in 2018 as an example from my post. Even so, we are talking about an event that happens maybe once a decade. The probability he practices and gets injured is far greater than a holdout creating a situation that is truly detrimental to our success. Everybody gets hurt in such a situation and likely for that reason it is extremely uncommon in the NFL.  

[Captain Hindsight]

23 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

He probably would have thrown for 4,000 last year if he didn't essentially sit out the final game of the season. If that game mattered and was close, he would have gotten there.

He also sat out multiple 4th quarters during blowouts. Thats why when people were say "Lamar had better stats", well yeah he played more. Josh probably sat out 2.5 games in total 

[Mat68]

[Mat68]

If it is close just push it across the line and move along. 

[Ya Digg?]

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

What would you suggest?

Dallas is going to want a lot more than what you offered. Epenesa had 6 sacks last year, the second round pick is presumably going to be a late 2, and Cook is great but a running back doesn’t have the value of a top 3 defensive end, who is also only 26. At the very least it’s going to cost multiple 1st round picks, and that’s just the start. AJ has no trade value, no team is jumping to get him, ima use Dallas wouldn’t even care if they got him in a deal. 
 

To get a prime time player, the Bills would have to make a prime time offer. Epenesa and a 2nd is not even remotely close to that 

[lookylookyherecomescookie]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

You, and I, are chipping in a bit more for the cost of the stadium because we will be using it. And our combined share is around 5% of cost. The state and county are covering 38%. Terry and the NFL are paying the rest.

    I assume your 5% figure (coming from PSLs) is accurate. Just to be accurate, state and county 38% is also coming from us (the taxpayers) . Terry and the NFL portion is also coming from us (from profits). As we are the ultimate consumer, all costs are ultimately borne by us. I'm not complaining, just clarifying.

[thenorthremembers]

 

11 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

 

Whether the gap is large or not, if the Bills are at their ceiling as far as offers go and Cook is still pushing for more the stalemate can easily continue. 

 

Cook isnt worth more than $13.5 million a year.    A new contract for him should be around 4/$53.5 million.    Thats the very top the Bill should be willing to give him in both years and cash.   If Cook is looking for $15-$20 million he needs to test free agency in March.   He is a good back, but he plays with a superstar QB, a great offensive line, and comes off the field on 3rd downs.   He should not sniff what Barkley, McCaffrey, or Henry make.  

Edited Tuesday at 03:18 PM by thenorthremembers

[Mat68]

2 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

 

 

Whether the gap is large or not, if the Bills are at their ceiling as far as offers go and Cook is still pushing for more the stalemate can easily continue. 

 

Cook isnt worth more than $13.5 million a year.    A new contract for him should be around 4/$53.5 million.    Thats the very top the Bill should be willing to give him in both years and cash.   If Cook is looking for $15-$20 million he needs to test free agency in March.   He is a good back, but he plays with a superstar QB, a great offensive line, and comes off the field on 3rd downs.   He should not sniff what Barkley, McCaffrey, or Henry make.  

5 mil away per year isnt close.  13.5 to 15 is really nothing.  Creates cap space this year. Talking vet minimum salary.   

[Doc Brown]

16 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

CTW just reported it's all finished financially but the holdup is the clause is the contract where he has to cut his hair so defenders can't grab it as a last resort.

[SoonerBillsFan]

12 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

5 mil away per year isnt close.  13.5 to 15 is really nothing.  Creates cap space this year. Talking vet minimum salary.   

There are also optics involved. If Beane caves at this point, he looks weak and I guarantee you its going to bite us in the butt later on in negotiations with other FA's.  IMHO he can't budge, no matter what. 

Edited Tuesday at 03:36 PM by SoonerBillsFan

[MPL]

I'm starting to think a deal gets done this week. And I would be surprised if it was $15M. 

[PoundingDog]

1 hour ago, Lost said:

Josh Allen will probably never throw for 4000 yards again with Joe Brady as coordinator.   This run heavy offensive scheme has really limited Josh's passing attempts.

This might be a direction the Bills are moving to anyway. KC has gone in that direction since they traded away Hill (and they got 2 superbowl wins after that). All recent superbowl winners relied on superior defense. You look at the Bills roster, we have a strong OL which allows us to get more of a steady offense, not explosive offense. But we do have more potential, talent wise, on defense. If things goes more or less as they planned, and injuries does not show the ugly face on defense like the last 2-3 years in the playoff, I expect to see a steady (hope for dominating) defense and opportunistic offense (with Josh showing some superman form here and there) in January.

[SoonerBillsFan]

5 minutes ago, PoundingDog said:

This might be a direction the Bills are moving to anyway. KC has gone in that direction since they traded away Hill (and they got 2 superbowl wins after that). All recent superbowl winners relied on superior defense. You look at the Bills roster, we have a strong OL which allows us to get more of a steady offense, not explosive offense. But we do have more potential, talent wise, on defense. If things goes more or less as they planned, and injuries does not show the ugly face on defense like the last 2-3 years in the playoff, I expect to see a steady (hope for dominating) defense and opportunistic offense (with Josh showing some superman form here and there) in January.

Then wouldn't we move to more of a "power back" someone 220ish or heavier?  Barkley is 230

Edited Tuesday at 03:38 PM by SoonerBillsFan

[oldmanfan]

24 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

Dallas is going to want a lot more than what you offered. Epenesa had 6 sacks last year, the second round pick is presumably going to be a late 2, and Cook is great but a running back doesn’t have the value of a top 3 defensive end, who is also only 26. At the very least it’s going to cost multiple 1st round picks, and that’s just the start. AJ has no trade value, no team is jumping to get him, ima use Dallas wouldn’t even care if they got him in a deal. 
 

To get a prime time player, the Bills would have to make a prime time offer. Epenesa and a 2nd is not even remotely close to that 

Epenesa, a second, and Cook.  So make it a first round pick if you want.  If Parsons doesn’t want to play there anymore then we have an upper hand in negotiation.

 

Guys that would demand multiple first round picks plus more have names like Allen or Mahomes.

Edited Tuesday at 03:41 PM by oldmanfan

[billsfan89]

35 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

 

I'm hoping that is the case, I think they probably got Cook into camp on a good faith promise to negotiate and maybe a backstop that if all things fail they won't tag him after the season. Russini is very tapped into the league so I'm hoping she is right on this one. 

[PoundingDog]

Just now, SoonerBillsFan said:

Then wouldn't we move to more of a "power back" someone 220ish or heavier?

Ray Davis is 220lb, 5'8". Coleman a big jump ball capable guy. Part of the reason I said we are going that direction.

 

I'm not saying we don't want a bona fide #1 receiver. Just that it is hard to get them from where we are drafting or signing due to cap situations. This is not an uncommon problem for teams in Bills caliber are having. 

[thenorthremembers]

8 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Epenesa, a second, and Cook.  You forgot Cook.

 

I dont think Parsons fits into what the Bills do on defense.   He's a freelancer who specializes in rushing the passer.    Parsons, and the Dallas defense in general is below average at setting the edge in the run game.   The Bills want to spend money on guys who can do both well.   I wouldnt hold your breath for a Parsons trade here, especially with him wanting 40 million a year. 

Edited Tuesday at 03:47 PM by thenorthremembers

[Mat68]

Just now, SoonerBillsFan said:

There are also principals and optics involved. If Beane caves at this point, he looks weak and I guarantee you its going to bite us in the butt later on in negotiations with other FA's.  IMHO he can't budge, no matter what. 

I disagree.  Making a deal with a locker room favorite does nothing but boost moral.  He was drafted, developed and performed.  Those guys have been paid.  Negotiating in a vacuum is foolish.  Splitting hairs over a million or a million and a half isnt changing a players evaluation.  Thats all it is asset evaluation.  Player is valued at X.  Player thinks he is worth Y.

 

Where is the market heading?  What would need to spent to replace the asset?  Late rd 2 pick who has out performed his draft position.  Would be looking at drafting a rb in the first to middle of rd 2 to get equivalent production. Open market puts him between 12.5 to 15.  Jones, Jacobs, Taylor and Henry.  Cook younger, less usage(wear) and less injury history.  Based off draft capital and current market imo resigning him is the best option.  Keeps the offensive strength outside of Allen intact. Opens draft capital to attack roster deficiencies vs chasing previous production.   

[17islongenough]

 

 

Is he better than Kyren?