The question was posed to Sean McDermott only half-jokingly Friday.
Is James Cook underpaid?
The Buffalo Bills coach deferred, saying that would be better asked of general manager Brandon Beane. But in the next breath, McDermott made an observation that has plenty of evidence to support through the first three weeks of the season.
“I understand why we extended James,” McDermott said. “I think he’s one of the better running backs in the NFL.”
We’ll go a step further: He might be the best right now.
Cook has been a crucial part of the Bills’ 3-0 start to the season. With the rest of Week 3 still to play out, he currently leads the league in rushing yards (284) and touchdowns (four).
It’s entirely possible that the four-year contract extension Cook signed during training camp that could pay him up to $46 million will one day come to be looked at as an underpay – if it’s not viewed that way already.
Prior to facing the Dolphins on Thursday night – a game in which Cook led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown in a 31-21 victory – offensive coordinator Joe Brady was asked whether he felt his No. 1 running back got the recognition he deserved leaguewide.
“No, I don’t,” Brady said in a moment of honesty. “But part of what makes us go is we don’t really care about the recognition. When we talk about the everybody eats, it’s not about the recognition. It’s about us just doing our job and celebrating each other’s successes.”
Brady then went back to what stood out to him on film following Buffalo’s Week 1 win over Baltimore.
Despite coming away with a win over the Dolphins and now at 3-0, the Bills earn a mixed bag of grades.
After some of the biggest plays during the come-from-behind win, Cook is the first one on the field celebrating – even if he wasn’t on the field for the play.
“All he cares about is winning,” Brady said. “It speaks all about his character and kind of who he is. … He’s a baller. When the ball is in his hands, good things will happen. I think sometimes the running back position, people don’t value it as much – we do. There’s a reason he obviously earned this contract.”
Through three games, Cook has played 55.9% of the Bills’ offensive snaps – a number that would likely be a bit higher had he been needed more in the Week 2 game against the New York Jets. That wasn’t the case because of the blowout nature of the victory.
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Nevertheless, Cook has very much been used the way some of the best running backs in the NFL typically are, which makes sense, because that’s exactly what he’s proving himself to be.
Not that Cook is chasing that type of recognition.
“Just put my head down and keep grinding,” he said. “I don’t care about none of that. I just focus on myself and do what I’ve got to do to help my team win games.”
Nobody on offense outside of quarterback Josh Allen has helped more in the Bills’ 3-0 start to the season.
“He’s an absolute stud,” Allen said of Cook during the practice week. “He makes us a better team. Throughout the entire training camp and OTA portion, we understood that, we knew that. I’m just very proud of how he handled everything this offseason and didn’t let it become a distraction, because he’s looking as good as he ever has.”
Allen is referring to Cook’s brief hold-in during training camp, which was part of his negotiating tactic in his quest for a contract extension. Ultimately, the two sides did come to an agreement, although Cook did miss about a week of practices.
Perhaps in part because of that, Cook had just 44 rushing yards on 13 carries in Week 1, although he did run for a touchdown and contributed a 51-yard reception.
He hit his stride in the Week 2 win against the Jets by rushing for 132 yards on 21 carries, scoring two touchdowns, then continued that momentum into Thursday’s win.
“He’s hungry. He has that DNA where he’s hungry and wants more,” McDermott said. “That is infectious and bleeds into the team, into the offense in particular, that burning desire to improve, burning desire to be great.”
According to analytics website Pro Football Focus, Cook has 198 rushing yards after first contact and has forced 11 missed tackles so far this season. Those totals speak to his toughness, contact balance and elusiveness – all of which are elite.
“Just trying to start off fast, help my team win games,” Cook said.
Ed Oliver thought Deone Walker could be one to come through for the Bills on Thursday against the Miami Dolphins. Walker, a rookie drafted in the fourth round, proved to his teammates over the past four months he’s going to work tirelessly to make an impact in the NFL. Oliver reminded his 6-foot-7 teammate that he belongs, and he’s capable.
The Bills have shown they can do that a number of different ways offensively. Allen threw it all over the field in Week 1 against Baltimore, and was ultra efficient against Miami. Cook dominated the Jets, and gave the Bills an option to turn to outside of Allen against Miami.
That versatility makes Buffalo a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators to game plan for.
“Coming down the stretch, we’re going to need that,” Cook said. “Guys making plays, that’s what this offense is based on, getting everybody making plays and everybody touching the ball.”
So far this season, good things have happened when Cook does that.
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Jay Skurski
News Sports Reporter
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