So how does this Cook's "hold-in" end gracefully (if there is no extension)?

[PoundingDog]

I don't know how Cook can simply end his "hold-in" if no extension is provided. At a minimum, I think there needs to be some constructive conversation to happen to provide a runway to come off the stage. 

[Xerx]

He's not missing game checks

[SCBills]

I think he’s either extended, traded or comes back for the opener.  I put the first two at higher odds than the last one. 
 

I have to imagine the next move, if no extension is on the horizon, is a trade demand. 

[Doc Brown]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

I think he’s either extended, traded or comes back for the opener.  I put the first two at higher odds than the last one. 
 

I have to imagine the next move, if no extension is on the horizon, is a trade demand. 

Who's going to trade for a running back who wants what appears to be an unreasonable extension?  If I had to guess most to least likely it would be extended, shows up week 1, or goes full nuclear and won't report until week 12 to get his accused season in.

[Mister Defense]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

I think he’s either extended, traded or comes back for the opener.  I put the first two at higher odds than the last one. 
 

I have to imagine the next move, if no extension is on the horizon, is a trade demand. 

 

I am counting on Beane not being dumb enough to jettison his most dynamic offensive weapon, the Bills only elite offensive weapon, and the fastest, most elusive player on the roster--and right before a season with such high expectations.

 

I am betting on the first option, to end this nonsense now.  Something like: 13, 14, 15 with most of it guaranteed, locking up the biggest offensive threat for 3 years for under 45 million.  Should be a tremendous bargain by the end of this season.

 

Soon!

 

 

[Spiderweb]

Cook's biggest mistake to date was his initial very public social media demands.... I can't believe that went over very well..

[Chris from Rochester]

The Rams did us a favor by extending Williams. I think it helps us extend Cook at a reasonable deal similar to what they did.

[MJS]

3 minutes ago, Chris from Rochester said:

The Rams did us a favor by extending Williams. I think it helps us extend Cook at a reasonable deal similar to what they did.

Cook thinks he is a top 3 back in the NFL. He'll want more than Williams got.

[SCBills]

6 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

I am counting on Beane not being dumb enough to jettison his most dynamic offensive weapon, the Bills only elite offensive weapon, and the fastest, most elusive player on the roster--and right before a season with such high expectations.

 

I am betting on the first option, to end this nonsense now.  Something like: 13, 14, 15 with most of it guaranteed, locking up the biggest offensive threat for 3 years for under 45 million.  Should be a tremendous bargain by the end of this season.

 

Soon!

 

 

I don’t think a trade of Cook would be done unless we get a player back that can help us this year. 
 

I’m not saying some mega deal for Parsons, but I don’t think it would be Cook for a 3rd. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

My Guess is he will sit until he has to play week 10 or 11 so he Accumulates a full season toward Free agency.  If he does that, I franchise him.

[Virgil]

I would love to see the Bills "leak" their offer.  If it's close to the Williams offer, Cook and his agent will easily lose the court of public opinion.

[MasterStrategist]

Positive spin: Cook is team focused, isnt going to want to lose out on gamechecks.  His incentive is to crush 2025.  Beane holds all the cards right now and this new agency of Cooks, might be willing to move along with Beane after Williams deal is now public.

 

There is zero reason for Cook to risk injury in preseason without a deal.  He's losing out on reps, but positive spin is Ray and others can benefit from that in the interim.

 

To answer the question, his "hold in" will end either with a new deal or end of preseason, whichever comes first.  Graceful has nothing to do with it, its about business now --- both sides understand that and so do his teammates.

 

Now in the highly unlikely scenario it drags into week 1 or beyond, then yeah, it would take a new contract IMO to end it.  I dont see this happening tho.

[JP51]

I dont think this ends gracefully unless he signs a contract before week 1 ... If not I think it ends in week 10 acrimoniously I really feel like he is dug in and honestly not gonna work out well for anyone...  but yet I also have hope that this sit in is because we are close to a contract and he is looking to get them to move... but if that doesnt happen... I think this gets ugly... 

Edited 2 hours ago by JP51

[Paup 1995MVP]

43 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

I am counting on Beane not being dumb enough to jettison his most dynamic offensive weapon, the Bills only elite offensive weapon, and the fastest, most elusive player on the roster--and right before a season with such high expectations.

 

I am betting on the first option, to end this nonsense now.  Something like: 13, 14, 15 with most of it guaranteed, locking up the biggest offensive threat for 3 years for under 45 million.  Should be a tremendous bargain by the end of this season.

 

Soon!

 

 

If the Bills were going to offer Cook that kind of contract, it would have been done a long time ago.  I don't see Beane going anywhere near that.  

 

He is not the kind of GM that will be bullied by anyone.  Look how he went off about our supposed lack of quality WR's on the radio talk show.  

 

I think he has made the Bills best offer to Cook.  He can take it or not.  I don't think anyone on the coaching staff or management is losing sleep over James Cook.

[BuffaloBillyG]

I think if a deal isn't done but week 1 (and unless he buckles I don't think it will) he will reluctantly come back for the season opener. 

 

That's where it's gonna get real nasty. He will push too fast too soon, not be in football shape and end up with a soft tissue injury. And he will take his time coming back from it. 

 

I see a very legitimate path to him ending up on IR and missing a bunch of weeks. No new deal ..no reason to rush back will be his thought. All in all I expect him, if this extends to week 1, to miss more games than Joey Bosa. He will end the season and his Bills tenure on a down note and head to free agency. And he won't find the deal he's looking for there either. 

[Xerx]

Let's hope that's not the case, truly grim outlook

[Captain Hindsight]

1 hour ago, Spiderweb said:

Cook's biggest mistake to date was his initial very public social media demands.... I can't believe that went over very well..

And in the real world, NFL teams are in the business of wanting good players on their teams, and can handle a social media post.

 

[SectionC3]

He comes back with a rotten attitude.  

 

The vast majority of the Bills, in my dealings with them and from what I hear from people who deal with them regularly, are good, kind people who just want to earn a living and live a relatively quiet and decent life.  I say “vast majority” because Ed Oliver and James Cook are on the team.  Knowing what I know about Cook (nothing sinister about either one, more personality, selfishness, and stupidity-driven), I have a hard time believing this administration is going to break the bank to pay him.  Maybe he gets a relatively short term, fair deal.  But I will be surprised if he gets top of market from these guys.  

[Mister Defense]

1 hour ago, Paup 1995MVP said:

If the Bills were going to offer Cook that kind of contract, it would have been done a long time ago.  I don't see Beane going anywhere near that.  

 

He is not the kind of GM that will be bullied by anyone.  Look how he went off about our supposed lack of quality WR's on the radio talk show.  

 

I think he has made the Bills best offer to Cook.  He can take it or not.  I don't think anyone on the coaching staff or management is losing sleep over James Cook.

 

I really hope you are wrong and that Beane is better than that.

 

If I were Cook I would do what he is doing--one slip up on the field, one foot planted in the turf, can mean he is a much lesser player--or the end of his career.  And the money he is destined to make in the future, deserves, all up in smoke. Gone forever.

 

If you are right, and Beane is taking this personally, thinking in terms of himself vs. Cook, then the deal may not got done.

 

If Beane is a bigger man than that, he gets this done and now, and stops making one of his best players, maybe the 2nd best player on the team, having to worry about his every move.

 

And if the coaching staff thinks they may lose Cook this summer, they should be losing sleep. He is the Bills' best weapon, a player who can break off a long, game changing run or pass or touchdown every time he touches the ball.

 

The Bills have been looking for a game changing weapon like Cook at the running back position since McBeane arrived. He is here.