Bills’ James Cook credits Saquon Barkley for raising payroll bar for running backs

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo’s James Cook reflected on his offseason contract dispute with pride, a sense of unfinished business and a nod to Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley.

Though the Bills’ fourth-year running back might already be outperforming the four-year, $46 million contract extension he signed in August following a week-long hold-in, the NFL’s rushing leader enters Week 17 feeling vindicated for banking on himself.

“You got to do what you got to do. You need to take care of your family, and that’s what I did,” Cook said Friday, referring to his contract dispute that included him skipping all of the team’s spring voluntary practices.

At the same time, Cook thinks he has more to prove.

“The job’s not even finished,” he said. ”So just keep going.”

With a career-best 1,532 yards rushing, Cook has a 43-yard lead over the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor in what stands as a two-way race for the rushing title.

What’s fitting for Cook this weekend as the Bills (11-4) prepare to host the Eagles (10-5) on Sunday is him owing his on- and off-field achievements to Barkley. If not for the Philadelphia running back raising the payroll bar for all players at his position, Cook figured he might still be spinning his wheels while seeking a pay raise.

“He set the standard. He set the mark,” Cook said of Barkley turning his league-leading 2,005 yards rushing last year into a two-year contract $41.2 million extension that made him the NFL’s first running back to average more than $20 million a season.

“Last year, he set the rushing title,” Cook added. ”And I’m just trying to replicate it.”

Two of the NFL’s premier running backs will square off in expected sloppy conditions, with the forecast calling for a wintery mix of snow and rain Sunday.

In Buffalo, Cook has scored 12 touchdowns and topped 100 yards nine times while taking the load off quarterback Josh Allen and contributing to the Bills reaching the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season.

In Philadelphia, Barkley has found his footing and the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles appear to have rediscovered their balanced offensive identity.

Barkley has topped 100 yards twice in the past three games after doing so just once in the first 12. The Eagles have won two in a row and are coming off a 29-18 win over Washington during which they became the first team to clinch consecutive NFC East titles since they did so over a four-year span from 2001-04.

Barkley said he “never lost faith” in the offense or coordinator Kevin Patullo, who was criticized for the Eagles’ sluggish start.

“It’s always not going to be pretty. The stat line isn’t always going to be 100 rushing yards,” he said. “When we get our running game going, we’re going to be a hard team to beat.”

Barkley noted he exchanged messages on Instagram with Cook this week.

“He’s the leading rusher right now and I sent him a message, like, ‘Go finish,” he said. “He’s a guy who’s had a heck of a year. ... Super excited to go against him. Wish him the best, but not too well against our team.”

Barkley has an opportunity to thrive against a Bills defense that has allowed 150 or more yards rushing seven times this season, and will be missing three defensive tackles to injury.

The Bills, however, can counter with Cook, whose 12 TDs rushing are tied for fourth in the NFL.

Bills coach Sean McDermott praised Cook for emerging as a team leader and for how he didn’t get comfortable after signing a new contract.

“The week to week intensity is different than last year,” McDermott said. “He had some big games last year, but the look in his eye each week, the intensity that he shows up with, it’s really been influential on our whole football team.”