James Cook’s hot start shows he was worth the money: ‘It’s something special’
Cook is proving he was right to demand what some considered too much.
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James Cook’s smile provided the answer.
I asked the man of few words — albeit copious yards and touchdowns — if his contract critics have been on his mind as he has propelled the Buffalo Bills’ offense through the first four games.
“It don’t matter,” Cook played along, standing inside his Highmark Stadium locker stall Sunday. “I don’t even know what to say because the game shows I’m going to just keep improving.”
Cook was the difference in an uncomfortably sloppy 31-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints. While the rest of the Bills’ offense inflamed anxieties within the crowd, Cook provided peace of mind every time he touched the ball. He had 100 of his 117 rushing yards by the third quarter, joining O.J. Simpson, Thurman Thomas and Fred Jackson as the only Bills to hit the century mark in three straight games, and broke the club record with a rushing touchdown in eight straight games.
The fourth-year tailback’s overall start to 2025 has been historic. Cook, who also had three catches for 18 yards Sunday, became the fourth NFL player since 1990 to gain at least 100 scrimmage yards and score a rushing touchdown in each of the first four games.
“It’s something special,” Bills right guard O’Cyrus Torrence said. “I know I haven’t seen a running back at that level of consistency so early in the season.”
From what we’ve witnessed out of Cook so far, it’s difficult to imagine a team not racing to sign him to the contract extension he fought for. Cook skipped all voluntary offseason workouts and, after reporting to training camp at St. John Fisher University, refused to practice for a week before the Bills signed him to a four-year, $48 million extension.
Through the mini-saga, fans and media debated whether Cook was worth not only that much money but also the trouble of his behavior. The Bills under general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott have cultivated a phenomenally harmonious organization. Cook’s decision to “hold in” was the first time Beane experienced a Bills player missing mandatory practices over a contract squabble.
Cook wouldn’t speak voluminously about the contract dispute influencing his hot start, but Torrence went there.
“I definitely think that plays a part in how he’s feeling and his motives and mentality headed into the game,” Torrence said, “because he probably felt like the team or the fans maybe had moved on from him because of what he said he wanted and deserves.
“I feel like he’s going out there, showing he got what he deserves and probably (deserves) even more because he’s just going out there, putting on a show.”
If not for Cook, the Bills might not have beaten the downtrodden Saints, 15.5-point underdogs at some sportsbooks.
James Cook had an outstanding game as the rest of the offense struggled against the Saints.Tina MacIntyre-Yee / USA Today
Buffalo’s offense struggled that much at times. Right tackle Spencer Brown was unable to play through his calf injury, and the offensive line struggled in general. New Orleans has a pedestrian pass rush, and Josh Allen is among the most difficult men to sack, but he was hounded, especially in the first half. Only six teams recorded fewer than the Saints’ 13 quarterback hits through three games, but they amassed seven Sunday, including sacks from Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson and Bryan Bresee.
The pressure throttled Allen in the second quarter, when he threw his first interception and nearly was picked again after his arm was struck while throwing. A dangerous offense went through a four-possession stretch of 14 plays for 13 yards — even though Cook rushed for 17 yards.
Buffalo led by four little points at halftime. Cook eased tensions in the third quarter. After the defense forced a punt, Cook began Buffalo’s first possession with runs for 10 yards up the middle and 15 yards off right guard. He went up the middle again for 11 yards and off left tackle for 5 more to the 5-yard line. Allen ended the statement drive by scrambling for the touchdown.
“The biggest thing is how he’s reading our blocks,” center Connor McGovern said of Cook’s evolution. “There could be a mid-zone where I don’t get my hat in front on the play side, and he knows, ‘All right, I gotta cut back.’ He presses as far as he can up to the line of scrimmage to get that (linebacker) to bite. Then he cuts back for a big gain.”
“Little things that people don’t see: ‘Oh, it’s designed like that!’ No, he’s pulling up the linebackers.”
Asked about McGovern’s analysis, Cook shrugged as he often does.
“I’ve just been locked in, trying to find the right reads to make a 5-yard run into an 80-yard run,” Cook said. “That’s been my mentality. I’m going to stay like that.”
Cook, with 401 rushing yards and five TDs, is a significant reason why the Bills became the first team to score at least 30 points in each of its first four games in back-to-back seasons. Allen passed for just 209 yards Sunday, a week after throwing for 213 yards and two weeks after throwing for 148 yards.
Simpson and Joe Cribbs are the only previous Bills to have rushed for at least 400 yards through the first four games.
Cook’s also playing more than usual. Part of the criticism regarding his contract was that he didn’t play enough snaps to warrant such a deal. Buffalo used him on 48 percent of its offensive snaps last year, but his usage is way up — 77.6 percent of the plays (counting penalties but not victory formation kneeldowns) versus New Orleans.
“It’s just my job,” Cook said when I asked a follow-up question about proving he had deserved the contract extension all along. Teammates such as Allen, receiver Khalil Shakir, edge rusher Gregory Rousseau, linebacker Terrel Bernard, and cornerback Christian Benford didn’t have to stage any boycotts. “It’s what I get paid to do. I’m just going to do it to the best of my ability.”
But doesn’t it make it more fun to play like this after so many people doubted your worth?
“Always,” Cook said, cracking another smile.