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Alaina Getzenberg
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills operating again James Cook took the sector for pregame warmups, sporting his full uniform, as he usually would forward of the workforce’s first preseason sport of the yr towards the New York Giants on Saturday.
He took half within the drills, even taking a snap with the first-team offense throughout 11-on-11 drills throughout the warmups. However when it got here time for the sport to start out, Cook dinner got here out along with his teammates nonetheless with a few of his uniform on however with a beanie on his head as a substitute of a helmet. He didn’t take a snap within the sport regardless of coach Sean McDermott saying that he wished him to. Cook dinner seeks a contract extension and has not participated within the final 4 practices during the last six days.
McDermott stated after the sport that he spoke with Cook dinner, 25, on Friday and that they’d “a superb dialog.” In the course of the dialogue, Cook dinner agreed to heat up with the workforce on Saturday however not play as a result of contract scenario.
“We wished him to play. I wished him to play, however I do not actually need to go into it any additional,” McDermott stated. “There’s actually no change at this time limit from what it was going into this weekend and the sport right this moment, so he warmed up, like I stated, however at this level, as a result of scenario and place he is in, he was not prepared to play, in order that’s the place we’re at. Once more, it was a superb dialog, however actually no change total.”
Cook dinner declined an interview when requested by ESPN after the sport.
“I do not know what else he can do to indicate he solely desires to play for the Payments. Hopefully we are able to determine this out and refocus all power on bringing a Tremendous Bowl to Buffalo,” Cook dinner’s agent Zac Hiller texted when reached for remark.
When requested if McDermott expects Cook dinner to follow this coming week, McDermott stated, “Once more, let’s simply transfer on. We will speak in regards to the guys who performed. I feel that is the fitting factor to do and the truthful factor to do proper now. So, James’s scenario is James’s scenario and let’s speak in regards to the workforce.”
A lot of the Payments’ projected starters participated to some extent within the preseason loss exterior of quarterback Josh Allen and some others which were coping with accidents. Working backs Ray Davis and Ty Johnson each took some snaps with the first-team offense quarterbacked by backup Mitch Trubisky.
The Payments and Cook dinner’s workforce have been unable to return to settlement on a brand new take care of the fourth yr again within the remaining yr of his rookie deal. The workforce prolonged three different members of Cook dinner’s 2022 draft class – extensive receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford – along with defensive finish Greg Rousseau and Allen however haven’t been in a position to come to an settlement with Cook dinner.
Normal supervisor Brandon Beane stated on WGR550 on Monday that “it takes two” to succeed in a deal. Beane additionally famous they’ve by no means had a participant miss as a consequence of a contract beforehand in his 9 years within the function, however that they’d take care of it one of the best they will.
The operating again is coming off one of the best season of his profession, together with tying a workforce report with 16 speeding touchdowns. He scored 18 whole touchdowns after 9 mixed from the 2 seasons prior. Cook dinner was on the sector for 45.2% of the workforce’s offensive snaps (not negated by penalty) in 2024.
“It is no totally different than Khalil [Shakir] being out with an ankle [Injury],” Allen stated on Thursday of Cook dinner lacking follow. “Guys are stepping up, making performs. It was good for Ray [Davis] to get a few of these [practice] reps and get on the identical web page with Ty [Johnson] once more, who I feel is our greatest third down again within the sport. Simply offers them a pair extra alternatives. However James is who he’s, and he is top-of-the-line operating backs within the league, and it might be loopy to not say we do not need him on the market. We desperately need him there with us, and hopefully one thing can get carried out.”