James Cook got a new contract last year and backed it up by leading the is rushing.
Now, he鈥檚 underpaid.
The Buffalo Bills gave Cook a that鈥檚 a bargain compared to the money teams handed out to running backs this month.
He鈥檚 not complaining. At least, not publicly.
鈥淛ust keep growing, just keep elevating my game, be the best version of me,鈥� Cook said on the AP鈥檚 鈥淥n Football鈥� podcast. 鈥淓ach and every day I step on the field, sky鈥檚 the limit.鈥�
Jahmyr Gibbs became the in NFL history when the Detroit Lions signed him to a $67.5 million, three-year contract with $51.5 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $22.5 million.
Bijan Robinson received a $66.75 million, three-year deal from the Atlanta Falcons with $51.6 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $22.25 million.
The Indianapolis Colts gave Jonathan Taylor a $44 million, two-year deal.
Those contracts set a new bar for running backs, surpassing Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million annually) and Christian McCaffrey ($19 million annually).
Still, running backs are underpaid compared to wide receivers. Twenty-five receivers are making more money per season than Gibbs and Robinson. That includes Robinson鈥檚 teammate, Drake London. Robinson led the NFL last year in scrimmage yards with 2,298. London was 50th with 919 yards. But he鈥檚 making $13 million more per season.
After the season, running backs could make this an issue like they did a few years ago when they met virtually to discuss their contracts.
For now, it鈥檚 all business.
on trying to help the Bills get to an elusive Super Bowl victory.
Led by Josh Allen, Buffalo has won a playoff game in each of the past six seasons but hasn鈥檛 made it past the AFC championship game.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have to do nothing but keep being us man, and just get over that hump,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淭he ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl, but you got to take day by day and step by step to get there. It ain鈥檛 gonna be easy. So we know that and each and every day, each and every week we step on the field, we鈥檙e trying to put our best foot forward to win.鈥�
A frustrating loss to Denver in overtime in the divisional round last season cost coach Sean McDermott his job. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady was promoted to take his place so Allen, Cook and Co. will run the same system.
鈥淛oe is going to be Joe,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 gonna let us be, let us have fun, but also be business as usual. So, I don鈥檛 think nothing changed, man. It鈥檚 just the same, it鈥檚 just us, man. But we got to do the little things different to get over that hump. And, I mean, we鈥檝e been doing it, we鈥檝e been working our tail off, and it鈥檚 going to show on Sundays.鈥�
Cook ran for a career-best 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, earning his third straight Pro Bowl appearance and making the second team AP All-Pro team.
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