Bills‘ New receiver Brandin Cooks Praises Organization,Circumstances of Arrival Remain Murky
ORCHARD PARK,NY – Newly acquired Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play with quarterback Josh Allen and lauded the Bills organization,but questions surrounding his departure from the New Orleans Saints and the NFL’s handling of related contract rules persist. Cooks spoke positively about the Bills following his signing, stating, “He’s a special player. All you do is hear about this organization from afar being a special place, and how they treat players. it’s all about ball. So I’m thankful to be here, for sure.”
Cooks’ arrival in Buffalo followed a complex series of contract revisions and his willingness to forfeit $2.11 million from his Saints deal. The circumstances raise questions about whether Cooks knew a deal with the Bills was imminent when he relinquished the funds, and if his agent engaged in direct negotiations with Buffalo prior to his release. Central to the situation is a league rule that appears to have been circumvented regarding a team’s ability to alter a contract specifically to deter another team from claiming a player on waivers.
The Saints initially revised Cooks’ contract, increasing a 2026 guarantee from $1.69 million to $5.94 million, a move seemingly designed to discourage other teams from claiming him. this revision was subsequently voided to comply with a rule preventing such deterrent tactics. However, the Saints then waived Cooks, perhaps violating another rule prohibiting a waiver following an attempt to deter a waiver claim.
The NFL has declined to comment on four requests for clarification regarding the situation. Sources suggest the league’s silence stems from concerns that enforcing the rule against the Saints could open the door to a collusion case filed by the NFL Players Association, as the rules in question are not part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This outcome has reportedly prompted inquiries from other teams questioning the purpose of having rules if they are not consistently enforced.
Cooks acknowledged the complexities of the situation, stating, “The Saints organization, absolutely unbelievable in this process…looking out for me. Trying to help me be able to make that decision. and so at the end of the day, it’s part of it, right? There’s rules, and we didn’t know.”
