Buffalo Bills running back James Cook changed course regarding his desire for a multi-year contract extension when he did not participate in Sunday’s team practice because he made what he referred to as a “business” decision.
Later in the day, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero indicated Bills fans shouldn’t necessarily lose sleep over the Cook contract saga as of the first Monday of August.
“The sides have been engaged,” Pelissero said about Cook and the Bills, as shared by Bobby Kownack of the NFL’s website. “From my understanding, they have not been that far apart through the course of the talks. James Cook did show up and was fully participating in practice during training camp until [Sunday]. …My understanding of where things stand here is, again, these sides have been in talks for a long time, they have not been that far off, but this is kind of like fourth-and-goal in the AFC Championship Game. Is James Cook going to get them across the goal line? Are the Bills going to be able to do their part to back it up?”
Cook is in the final year of his rookie deal and previously suggested he wants to earn at least $15M per season via an extension. Per StatMuse, he recorded the ninth-most regular-season rushing yards (2,131) over the past two campaigns. ESPN stats show that Cook finished last season with a league-best 16 rushing touchdowns (tied with two others).
Kownack noted that the Bills have Ray Davis and Ty Johnson on the depth chart beneath Cook. Davis rushed for 442 yards and three touchdowns on 113 carries last season, while Johnson accumulated 213 yards and a score on 41 attempts.
As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Bills and Baltimore Ravens tied as the top betting favorites at +600 odds to win Super Bowl LX. Thus, it seems likely that the Bills will ensure that they have a happy Cook in the lineup when they open the upcoming regular season with a prime-time matchup against the Ravens on Sept. 7.
“This is not a situation where the sides are completely breaking down,” Pelissero added during the segment. “It does make some sense if James Cook has these contract negotiations hovering over his head, that it would make sense for everybody to not have him practicing when he’s not necessarily locked in solely on football. We’ve seen injuries happen around the NFL.”
Unlike big names such as Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin and Dallas Cowboys defensive star Micah Parsons, Cook has not publicly requested a trade this summer. Even if he goes down such a road, Buffalo should find a way to have the 25-year-old on the field at Highmark Stadium on the first Sunday night of September.
