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

[LABILLBACKER]

On 8/6/2025 at 10:01 AM, MJS said:

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

He's nowhere near a top 5 RB in the league.  If he thinks he is,  he's dreaming.  He can't block or play 3 downs. I'd go 12-13 at the very most.  But 15 is crazy.  I'd pay him exactly what Williams got.

[Nephilim17]

30 minutes ago, RichRiderBills said:

Ugh...on most folks assumptions on the hard $.

 

Guy does one little tweet and we are dead set he wants huge Barkley money. I admit I don't know how this will turn out or where it is. 

 

My honest guess is the Bills offer / ball park is 8-10 million. Cook wanted 12-14....but maybe now w Williams deal things are getting clearer. 

 

Bills just don't overpay guys. Especially lately. 

 

The bottom line is he's not a 3 down back like Williams. Can't block well. 

 

It's also very possible Bills strategic plan is just not to pay him. God knows.

 

I'm honestly not sure. I definitely want them to get a deal done though. 

Cook was crystal clear with his initial demands:
 

Cook went on Instagram Live on Wednesday and pinned his own comment that said "15 mill year," per the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

Has he reduced his number either slightly or significantly? Who knows. But let's not act as if we know he's changed his stance and is asking for a number that the market will bear for his production and duties. 

You can guess what you want, but I'll deal in known facts and the fact is he went public with a $15 million demand. Do we sign him for $11 million? Maybe, but until we find out, the folks dealing with his public comments have more information than you do.
 

Edited August 11 by Nephilim17

[finn]

2 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

The rest of the hating and weird punishment fantasies, you can just keep yourself.

So taking a hard line on the Cook negotiations is not only wrong but weird and hateful. Would you prefer all posters check with you ahead of time to be sure their views align with yours? That way, you wouldn't have to vent your spleen nearly as often. Gotta watch that old blood pressure, right?

 

[DrDawkinstein]

6 minutes ago, finn said:

So taking a hard line on the Cook negotiations is not only wrong but weird and hateful. Would you prefer all posters check with you ahead of time to be sure their views align with yours? That way, you wouldn't have to vent your spleen nearly as often. Gotta watch that old blood pressure, right?

 

 

[dave mcbride]

28 minutes ago, Nephilim17 said:

Cook was crystal clear with his initial demands:
 

Cook went on Instagram Live on Wednesday and pinned his own comment that said "15 mill year," per the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

Has he reduced his number either slightly or significantly? Who knows. But let's not act as if we know he's changed his stance and is asking for a number that the market will bear for his production and duties. 

You can guess what you want, but I'll deal in known facts and the fact is he went public with a $15 million demand. Do we sign him for $11 million? Maybe, but until we find out, the folks dealing with his public comments have more information than you do.
 

Wawrow says he'd certainly entertain a Kyren Williams deal:

 

[Delete_Delete_Delete]

1 hour ago, MikePJ76 said:

 

 

He is better than Williams whether or not he plays all 3 downs also.  He is a unique playmaker and is a perfect fit with this team.

 

IMO, he should have been paid before Shakir and then they could have gone to Shakir with his deal.  

 

Giving Cook 3 or 4 years at 12 or 13 million is not going to stop the team from doing business with the guys they want to keep going forward.  

And to your point, he hasn’t taken a beating like between the tackles runners such as Kyren do. Cook wasn’t exactly a workhorse in college, he’s done a good job of staying healthy at this level, he’s still almost as young as Tremaine Edmunds, and his usage rate suggests there is more than enough tread on those tires for him to stay productive throughout the entirety of his extension. 

I think people are wayyyy to stuck on the “every down back” stuff. Cook maximizes his touches, because as you mentioned the guy is just a playmaker. With the schedule already at 17 games and barreling towards 18, the sun is setting on the days of the “every down back”. Even Bijan gets spelled a healthy amount by the downhill stylings of Tyler Algier. Thats what the Ray Davis’ of the world are for, to live between the tackles, and while I love the way Ray runs, Cooks skill set is much more dynamic and adds a dimension to the offense that you’re not going to get with Davis or Johnson in the backfield. 

39 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

He's nowhere near a top 5 RB in the league.  If he thinks he is,  he's dreaming.  He can't block or play 3 downs. I'd go 12-13 at the very most.  But 15 is crazy.  I'd pay him exactly what Williams got.

Can’t play three downs, is different from don’t need to play him three downs. Why burn him out and risk injury if you don’t need to?

 

Letting him walk over 2 million dollars of not your money is crazy. Who are the Bills signing for that extra 2 million that makes a difference in winning a Super Bowl right now?

Edited August 11 by Delete_Delete_Delete

[DrDawkinstein]

18 minutes ago, Delete_Delete_Delete said:

And to your point, he hasn’t taken a beating like between the tackles runners such as Kyren do. Cook wasn’t exactly a workhorse in college, he’s done a good job of staying healthy at this level, he’s still almost as young as Tremaine Edmunds, and his usage rate suggests there is more than enough tread on those tires for him to stay productive throughout the entirety of his extension. 

I think people are wayyyy to stuck on the “every down back” stuff. Cook maximizes his touches, because as you mentioned the guy is just a playmaker. With the schedule already at 17 games and barreling towards 18, the sun is setting on the days of the “every down back”. Even Bijan gets spelled a healthy amount by the downhill stylings of Tyler Algier. Thats what the Ray Davis’ of the world are for, to live between the tackles, and while I love the way Ray runs, Cooks skill set is much more dynamic and adds a dimension to the offense that you’re not going to get with Davis or Johnson in the backfield. 

Can’t play three downs, is different from don’t need to play him three downs. Why burn him out and risk injury if you don’t need to?

 

Letting him walk over 2 million dollars of not your money is crazy. Who are the Bills signing for that extra 2 million that makes a difference in winning a Super Bowl right now?

 

Given his 4.9 YPC, if you feed him on 1st and 2nd down you usually dont get to 3rd down anyways! 

[TBBills Fan]

25 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Given his 4.9 YPC, if you feed him on 1st and 2nd down you usually dont get to 3rd down anyways! 

And he can take it for 6 points on any play

Edited August 11 by TBBills Fan

[RichRiderBills]

3 hours ago, Nephilim17 said:

Cook was crystal clear with his initial demands:
 

Cook went on Instagram Live on Wednesday and pinned his own comment that said "15 mill year," per the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

Has he reduced his number either slightly or significantly? Who knows. But let's not act as if we know he's changed his stance and is asking for a number that the market will bear for his production and duties. 

You can guess what you want, but I'll deal in known facts and the fact is he went public with a $15 million demand. Do we sign him for $11 million? Maybe, but until we find out, the folks dealing with his public comments have more information than you do.
 

 

Yeah a silly tweet by a guy in early 20s is not crystal clear. 

[dave mcbride]

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/james-cook-will-practice-on-tuesday

[HappyDays]

 

[YoloinOhio]

 

[vtnatefootball11]

That's a great sign! Deal must be close.

[Mister Defense]

8 minutes ago, vtnatefootball11 said:

That's a great sign! Deal must be close.

 

Yup, I cannot wait for this to happen!  12, 13, 15 million for three years, and with some generous incentives and a lot of it guaranteed-?

 

In the NFL.com article McDermott said that things have changed.  Now may be wishful thinking on my part, to believe he means a new contract is coming soon, but I don't think so:  "I would say so that things have changed," McDermott added. "And yes, we have had conversations with James. Good conversations, as I've mentioned before."

 

Either way, great to see our most dynamic offensive weapon practicing today, less than a month before the regular season.

 

But,  new contract today, please!

 

 

[PoundingDog]

So it looks to be either option 1 or 2 of the poll, only 30% of us expecting that result.

[Bruffalo]

1 hour ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Yup, I cannot wait for this to happen!  12, 13, 15 million for three years, and with some generous incentives and a lot of it guaranteed-?

 

In the NFL.com article McDermott said that things have changed.  Now may be wishful thinking on my part, to believe he means a new contract is coming soon, but I don't think so:  "I would say so that things have changed," McDermott added. "And yes, we have had conversations with James. Good conversations, as I've mentioned before."

 

Either way, great to see our most dynamic offensive weapon practicing today, less than a month before the regular season.

 

But,  new contract today, please!

 

 

It would be so in line with Brandon Beane and the Bills org to drop the new contract at 8:30 tonight, taking all the wind out of the sails for the hard knocks episode that'll undoubtedly feature the holdout as a story line.

Edited August 12 by Bruffalo

[Mat68]

Either deal gets signed before hard knocks tonight or hand shake agreement between Beane and Mcdermott with Cook and his team they will not franchise tag him.  Cook wants 15 be will need to hit FA.  Warrow makes it sound he will take 11.5-12.5. 

[Watching since 1964]

Sean to Jimbo at practice…

 

[Mark Vader]

1 hour ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

This was such big news that Yolo had to come out of twitter retirement!

[Mister Defense]

48 minutes ago, Bruffalo said:

It would be so in line with Brandon Beane and the Bills org to drop the new contract at 8:30 tonight, taking all the wind out of the sails for the hard knocks episode that'll undoubtedly feature the holdout as a story line.

 

Good point, hope that you are right!

 

Beane knows, despite so many saying the Bills have all the cards, that this reflects badly on him and the Bills, the great culture they have established--and tout.

 

Hard Knocks just adds the mix, makes it even more likely this is done--and now!