The vibes around Bills running back James Cook have always been fantastic, but the good vibes are starting to get a little bit sour.

It’s only February, with a full year left on his rookie contract, and Cook is already making plenty of noise about his desire for a new contract. After taking to Instagram to make his stance known that he wants $15 million per year on his next contract, which would make him the second-highest paid running back in the NFL, Cook decided to unfollow the Bills on all of his social media accounts, including changing his profile picture from one in his jersey to one in street clothes. 

His social media behavior needs to be separated from the conversation of him wanting to get paid. That’s a separate conversation. For Bills fans, frustration seems to be growing, where the two lines are getting a bit blurred. 

Cook wanting to get paid has plenty of merit. There’s no denying that he was one of the most valuable running backs in the league this year. He tied the league-lead with 16 rushing touchdowns. He did so on 207 carries. Derrick Henry did it with 325. Cook deserves a new contract, but the value of it is up for debate.

Bills Mafia, don’t blame Cook for asking for what he feels like he’s worth. He’s right to do so. That’s how negotiations work. Now the Bills will take it into advisement, and let them know where they stand. Maybe they already have. Maybe they gave him a “$15 million per year isn’t happening,” and that’s why Cook is taking things to social media the way that he is.

Regardless of his reasoning, Cook has been so beloved by this franchise, and Bills Mafia shouldn’t turn on him simply for asking to get a new contract. Hopefully the dramatics of the situation settle down.