James Cook: "Business" man

[DrDawkinstein]

24 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

I don't think we're devaluing, if anything the value is about right on Cook 

 

I mean some guy said Williams was mid to I guess prop up Cook? Wild imo

 

and not that it matters but if I was GM I wouldn't even offer contacts to Bijan or Gibbs and they're pretty clearly the most valuable backs in the league

 

Certainly not you and other level-headed posters/commenters. But I see Bills fans absolutely trashing Cook on reddit and twitter, and even some here.

 

He made ONE comment (not post, COMMENT) on Social Media and you'd think he killed a baby at the 50 yard line.

 

To the last line, all good. I've said before, I totally understand the general philosophy of not paying RBs. But you also wouldnt pretend Bijan or Gibbs are bad players in order to justify not paying them.

 

A looooong time ago, right around when Beane came on board and we were discussing strategies of building a team I even said something along the lines of "the 2nd round is the sweet spot for RBs (thinking of Thurman and some others). Take a RB in the 2nd, use him for 4 years, then take another RB in the 2nd". However, that was predicated on hitting on a lot of other draft picks too.

 

Unfortunately, with Beane's track record on 1st and 2nd round picks, they are too valuable to cycle guys out like that. If he had hit on just a couple of others (give me Justin Simmons and AJBrown/Metcalf in 2019), then I'd be more inclined to just let him walk.

 

But we arent paying any WRs, and it doesnt look like we plan to. There arent many (any) other big threats on Offense. So might as well throw some money at the one skills position talent we do have.

[RunTheBall]

Cook will sign for an 11.5-12 mil/yr AAV for 3 years. This is all posturing

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Certainly not you and other level-headed posters/commenters. But I see Bills fans absolutely trashing Cook on reddit and twitter, and even some here.

 

He made ONE comment (not post, COMMENT) on Social Media and you'd think he killed a baby at the 50 yard line.

 

To the last line, all good. I've said before, I totally understand the general philosophy of not paying RBs. But you also wouldnt pretend Bijan or Gibbs are bad players in order to justify not paying them.

 

A looooong time ago, right around when Beane came on board and we were discussing strategies of building a team I even said something along the lines of "the 2nd round is the sweet spot for RBs (thinking of Thurman and some others). Take a RB in the 2nd, use him for 4 years, then take another RB in the 2nd". However, that was predicated on hitting on a lot of other draft picks too.

 

Unfortunately, with Beane's track record on 1st and 2nd round picks, they are too valuable to cycle guys out like that. If he had hit on just a couple of others (give me Justin Simmons and AJBrown/Metcalf in 2019), then I'd be more inclined to just let him walk.

 

But we arent paying any WRs, and it doesnt look like we plan to. There arent many (any) other big threats on Offense. So might as well throw some money at the one skills position talent we do have.

 

It is exactly this. A lot of people are undervaluing Cook because they don't want to pay a running back. 

 

I don't really want to pay a running back either. I want them to find a way to get explosive passing game weapons in here and pay those guys. If we'd traded for DK this wouldn't even be a conversation, you let Cook walk. But if they are not gonna find those types of passing game weapons then letting Cook walk and replacing him with Davis just makes this offense significantly less explosive again and takes away a playmaker at a time when we should be trying to get more explosive and give Josh more playmakers. 

Edited Wednesday at 12:11 AM by GunnerBill

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

It is exactly this. A lot of people are undervaluing Cook because they don't want to pay a running back. 

 

I don't really want to pay a running back either. I want them to find a way to explosive passing game weapons in here and pay those guys. If we'd traded for DK this wouldn't even be a conversation, you let Cook walk. But if they are not gonna find those types of passing game weapons then letting Cook walk and replacing him with Davis just makes this offense significantly less explosive again and takes away a playmaker at a time when we should be trying to get more explosive and give Josh more playmakers. 

 

I hear Bills fans say "We need to get Josh more weapons! He cant do it all himself!" but then want to let our one actual weapon walk. And what better way to support your QB than with a running game that is an actual threat to take it to the house each and every play, so Safeties CANT cheat up?

[GoBills808]

18 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Certainly not you and other level-headed posters/commenters. But I see Bills fans absolutely trashing Cook on reddit and twitter, and even some here.

 

He made ONE comment (not post, COMMENT) on Social Media and you'd think he killed a baby at the 50 yard line.

 

To the last line, all good. I've said before, I totally understand the general philosophy of not paying RBs. But you also wouldnt pretend Bijan or Gibbs are bad players in order to justify not paying them.

 

A looooong time ago, right around when Beane came on board and we were discussing strategies of building a team I even said something along the lines of "the 2nd round is the sweet spot for RBs (thinking of Thurman and some others). Take a RB in the 2nd, use him for 4 years, then take another RB in the 2nd". However, that was predicated on hitting on a lot of other draft picks too.

 

Unfortunately, with Beane's track record on 1st and 2nd round picks, they are too valuable to cycle guys out like that. If he had hit on just a couple of others (give me Justin Simmons and AJBrown/Metcalf in 2019), then I'd be more inclined to just let him walk.

 

But we arent paying any WRs, and it doesnt look like we plan to. There arent many (any) other big threats on Offense. So might as well throw some money at the one skills position talent we do have.

No and I don't think Cook is a bad player, in fact I think he's a good one. Imo you can make the argument he's anywhere from the 8th to 15th or so rb in the league. 

 

I just wouldn't pay him, any RB really, but especially one that MIGHT be playing in the perfect offense for him and MIGHT be scheme specific and DOES happen to struggle in pass pro and also has not yet carried a seasons worth of work...I mean I think the market for him in free agency would be a wasteland personally. He's valuable in our offense for sure. I don't know how much interest he generates on the open market. My guess is that's why he's really trying to lock in a contract now and also that the Bills kind of know it as well

 

I hope they get to a reasonable deal. And yes people who are upset about a player trying to get paid need to relax lol

How would you feel if you were up for a raise and suddenly everyone started hating you😂😂

 

You got to be happy when people get their money so they'll be happy when you get yours

[Big Turk]

Well, good luck to him wanting $15 million when Kyren Williams just signed for $11 million and had over 1,300 yards and was on the field for 87% of snaps. Also had 14 TDs, only a few less than Cook

[The Firebaugh Kid]

18 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Well, good luck to him wanting $15 million when Kyren Williams just signed for $11 million and had over 1,300 yards and was on the field for 87% of snaps. Also had 14 TDs, only a few less than Cook

It boils down to % of snaps. Pass protect, or get paid less bruh. 

[aristocrat]

3 years 37.5 get it done

[Pete]

Run Cook into the ground in 2025, then get the comp pick.  Watching Bills highlights earlier made me realize how important Ty and Ray are.  Ty took a team friendly deal to stay.  Cook is about Cook, not the Bills, ***** off

[Brand J]

If Cook and the Bills can’t come to an agreement, I’d love to find a back in next year’s draft who’s even more explosive and faster than James (like a Jonathan Taylor type) and wouldn’t care if he was a first round pick. As it stands, the team has no glaring holes.

[TheFunPolice]

3 years, 35 million, 25 guaranteed. 

 

A bit over Williams deal in all key areas. 

 

Cook will be 29 at the end of the deal and maybe can get 1 more. 

[DaVinci]

"You can have my offer now James, my offer is nothing"

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

It boils down to % of snaps. Pass protect, or get paid less bruh. 

 

Kyren does pass protect but he isn't great at it. I suspect that would be the case for Cook except for the fact the Bills have Ty Johnson and Reggie Gilliam who are pretty good pass blocking backs and so they use them more in true passing sets than they do Cook. The Rams don't really have that kinda player so Williams doesn't come off the field. 

[Ya Digg?]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

Run Cook into the ground in 2025, then get the comp pick.  Watching Bills highlights earlier made me realize how important Ty and Ray are.  Ty took a team friendly deal to stay.  Cook is about Cook, not the Bills, ***** off

You are really distorting things comparing Ty to Cook. Ty wasn’t going to get any more money than what he took here. They are not even remotely the same. Here’s the other thing-2 things can be true. Cook has done everything fans wanted him to do. He showed up for mini camp, he showed up to camp, he even did extra work during and after practices those early days. The world is not binary but that’s the only thinking you’re applying to this. Connie’s also in a position (that Johnson NEVER was) to get paid and he is doing things to try and get paid. What if Cook goes to practice and tears his ACL? He will never see that money. Guys can be about the team AND be looking at this from the business side, they’re not mutually exclusive. 

[Pete]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Kyren does pass protect but he isn't great at it. I suspect that would be the case for Cook except for the fact the Bills have Ty Johnson and Reggie Gilliam who are pretty good pass blocking backs and so they use them more in true passing sets than they do Cook. The Rams don't really have that kinda player so Williams doesn't come off the field. 

Joe Marino say Kyren is one of the best blocking backs in the NFL.  Kyren plays 88% of snaps.  Cook is around 50%

[GunnerBill]

4 minutes ago, Pete said:

Joe Marino say Kyren is one of the best blocking backs in the NFL.  Kyren plays 88% of snaps.  Cook is around 50%

 

I don't agree with Joe on that. I don't know how he has come to that conclusion, genuinely I don't. Agree he plays three downs.... but his pass blocking is mediocre, honestly. It's a little better than Cook's I'll give him that... but he isn't James Connor or anything. He isn't Ty Johnson level either. 

[Pete]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't agree with Joe on that. I don't know how he has come to that conclusion, genuinely I don't. Agree he plays three downs.... but his pass blocking is mediocre, honestly. It's a little better than Cook's I'll give him that... but he isn't James Connor or anything. He isn't Ty Johnson level either. 

Joe is the best Bills podcast there is.  He does very thorough research, and he is my main source for info and insight.

10:17 is where Joe talks about Kyren and Cook.  He believes Cook should get $11 million a year, maybe $12.  He said that one can make an argument that Kyren is a superior player, and deserves to be paid more

Edited Wednesday at 03:37 PM by Pete

[Dillenger4]

13 minutes ago, Pete said:

Joe Marino say Kyren is one of the best blocking backs in the NFL.  Kyren plays 88% of snaps.  Cook is around 50%

Correct - and Cook matches and exceeds in some areas compared to Kyren. Cook does way more with less because HE IS A FRICKIN STUD RB!!!

Pay the dude... if not, Bills are in trouble without a happy cook.

[GunnerBill]

4 minutes ago, Pete said:

Joe is the best Bills podcast there is.  He does very thorough research, and he is my main source for info and insight.

10:17 is where Joe talks about Kyren and Cook.  He believes Cook should get $11 million a year, maybe $12.  He said that one can make an argument that Kyren is a superior player, and deserves to be paid more

 

I like Joe. But I disagree with him here. I don't think he is always right. 

[Pete]

4 minutes ago, Dillenger4 said:

Correct - and Cook matches and exceeds in some areas compared to Kyren. Cook does way more with less because HE IS A FRICKIN STUD RB!!!

Pay the dude... if not, Bills are in trouble without a happy cook.

Id rather not overpay Cook and his childish antics.  Id rather pay O'Cyrus