James Cook Absent from Bills Mandatory Practice
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook showed up at St. John Fisher University on Sunday afternoon but did not participate in the mandatory practice for the first time since requesting a contract extension this offseason. Cook, when speaking with a group of three reporters after practice, was questioned about his absence. “Oh, nothing. Business,” he replied. He was asked if it was his decision not to practice on Sunday, if he was on strike, and if he planned to practice on Monday. To those questions, he simply said: “Business.” The Bills did not comment when asked about Cook, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. Your agent did not respond to the request for comment. Cook was not listed on the list of injured players who did not participate, presented by coach Sean McDermott before the session. Cook was on the field for the entire practice, even spending a short period on an exercise bike with injured players, and was wearing a white tracksuit with a Bills sweatshirt and a hat with his number. When asked how unhappy he was with the “business” at the moment, he replied: “Just business.” He was then asked if he was interested in telling his version of the negotiations, to which Cook said: “There is no version. It’s just business.” The contract situation has been a recurring theme after Cook made public at the beginning of the offseason his desire to be paid as one of the best running backs in the NFL. However, Cook had maintained at the start of the camp that he wanted to participate in practice and be there for his teammates, and avoid being fined. He did not attend the team’s voluntary activities in the offseason, but fully participated in the three days of the mandatory minicamp and the first eight practices of training camp. The Bills gave contract extensions to three other members of the 2022 draft class this offseason: wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard, and cornerback Christian Benford. Cook is the Bills’ primary running back, but he’s part of a group. He was on the field for just over 45% of offensive plays last year, with Ty Johnson often coming in on late downs and Ray Davis also getting opportunities. Cook’s 2,638 career rushing yards are the most among players from the 2022 draft class. He tied a franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season last year (16).“Sometimes you can’t reach an agreement, or sometimes you try to make it fit,” said General Manager Brandon Beane at the start of camp. “There are times when players have left here and we really wanted them. We just couldn’t make it work. But I can tell you that I hope that when we are here at training camp next year, James Cook will be there practicing and still representing the red, white, and blue.”
Brandon Beane
