Bills Fans Wonder If James Cook ‘Loyalty' Can Be Counted On
Bills Fans Wonder If James Cook 'Loyalty' Can Be Counted On originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook turned heads this week with his arrival and participation at minicamp.
Advertisement
After a tumultuous few months of public outcry over his lack of a new deal, the former second-round pick's arrival was a welcome sign for the organization. That doesn't mean a deal is close to taking place, though.
Buffalo has locked up several of their young core to this point. Defensive stars like Christian Benford, Gregory Rousseau, and Terrel Bernard enjoyed lucrative extensions over the last few months.
Cook remains the lone player not to have a new deal.
Just because the running back showed up to minicamp does not guarantee that he'll be in attendance for the start of training camp in a month. … as Bills Mafia wonders if 'loyalty' is a factor here.
Advertisement
And as things stand, Bills general manager Brandon Beane isn't entirely sure if he will arrive in Rochester for the start of practices.
"You'd have to ask him," Beane said. "He hasn't said, 'Hey, I won't be there. There's no deal.' Or any kind of circumstances. So no, I believe Jimbo will be ready to roll whether there's a deal or not."
Cook has repeatedly stated his desire for a new deal worth around $15 million per year. Buffalo currently has less than $5 million in cap space.
If the two sides are going to agree on a new deal, the organization needs to create some cap space. Cook is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is coming off a season in which he led the league in rushing touchdowns.
Advertisement
He is more than deserving of his lucrative contract extension. And while his appearance in minicamp was a positive turn for both sides, it doesn't guarantee that his loyalty will stretch to training camp.
Related: 'Cautious' Joey Bosa Expected To Have Full Workload in Bills Camp
Related: Bills' Josh Allen Leads QB Foursome Being Shockingly Ranked With All-Time Greats
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL analyst thinks Aaron Donald deserves a statue at SoFi Stadium
Statues at stadiums are reserved for legends. Michael Jordan at the United Center. Ted Williams at Fenway. Magic Johnson at Arena/the Staples Center. There is always more room for statues, though, especially since Tom Brady will be immortalized with his own statue at Gillette Stadium this summer. Advertisement Adam Rank looked at what other NFL stars should get statues in their honor. Unsurprisingly, he picked Aaron Donald as one of the most deserving to earn his own outside of SoFi Stadium. "The three-time Defensive Player of the Year was one of the biggest reasons why the Rams won a Super Bowl after they returned home to Los Angeles," Rank wrote. "Aaron was one of the best players at his position — perhaps of all time — throughout his 10-year career, rampaging his way to 111 sacks, 9.5 more than anyone else in the NFL between 2014 and 2023. One question this brings up for me, though: Where does Donald fit in the line of other Rams who also deserve a statue? Like NFL and Rams icon Deacon Jones? And what about Kenny Washington and Woody Strode, members of the 'Forgotten Four' who broke the NFL's color barrier in 1946? I've written about Washington and would love for him to receive the recognition he deserves. There are several great options here, so this is kind of a tough call." Donald certainly isn't the only Rams player deserving of a statue, but his recent stardom is a good starting point if statues get added to the exterior of SoFi. Donald is one of, if not the best, draft pick from current Rams general manager Les Snead and is all but assured a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 2029. The Rams already plan to celebrate Donald's legacy in Week 12, so maybe a statue isn't far away after all. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Does Aaron Donald deserve a statue at SoFi Stadium?
USA Today
20 minutes ago
- USA Today
List of Bills players that sat out 2025 minicamp practices
List of Bills players that sat out 2025 minicamp practices The Buffalo Bills took on their 2025 NFL training camp last week from Orchard Park. Attendance was reportedly good, it even included Pro Bowl running back James Cook who was previously holding out of OTA workouts. While players did show up to minicamp, not everyone was actually working. Despite still being a long way away from the start of the regular season, the Bills did still take the safe route with some and allowed them to sit out of practice because of injury or other reasons. Here is the full list of players that reportedly sat our of minicamp workouts. S Cole Bishop S Damar Hamlin OL Connor McGovern DB Cam Lewis DE Joey Bosa LB Baylon Spector LB Shaq Thompson RB Ty Johnson WR Laviska Shenault WR KJ Hamler OL Alec Anderson
USA Today
20 minutes ago
- USA Today
$40M defender supports Micah Parsons' contract bid: 'He should get every penny he's owed'
$40M defender supports Micah Parsons' contract bid: 'He should get every penny he's owed' How unanimous is the sentiment that Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons is wholly deserving of a record-setting contract extension this offseason? The guy already listed as the NFL's highest-paid defensive player is lobbying for Parsons to surpass him. Myles Garrett, the Browns' four-time first-team All-Pro defensive end and current owner of a bar-setting $40 million-per-year deal, was in his native Arlington over the weekend to throw out the first pitch at Sunday's Texas Rangers game. While fulfilling those duties, the sack artist entering his ninth pro season was asked about the 26-year-old phenom who plays his home games right next door and is expecting a payday that could go well north of his own. "I think he deserves whatever he's earned. I mean, the guy is special," Garrett told Abby Jones of DLLS Sports. "Once I got the chance to train with him, I've seen his work ethic, I've seen how he attacks the weights, running. He's 100 percent committed to his craft and getting better every day, and [he's] someone who produces on the field and has that level of dedication to the game. He should get every penny he's owed." That number currently stands at $24.007 million, the result of the Cowboys exercising the fifth-year option on the former first-round pick. But Parsons's talent is certainly on par with both Garrett and Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt, who are collectively considered by nearly everyone as the top three pass rushers in the sport. Like Parsons, Watt is also seeking a contract extension. Whoever signs a new deal first could easily top Garrett's annual salary; the next guy in line stands to earn still more. Garrett has compiled 102.5 sacks, 250 solo tackles, and 20 forced fumbles in 117 regular-season games. Parsons is on a similar pace over about half as many career games: 52.5 sacks, 172 solo stops, and nine forced fumbles in 63 contests. Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have reportedly spoken and even come to a basic agreement on the general terms of an extension, but Jones has not gone through Parsons's agent to finalize those details or make anything official. Parsons showed up for the team's mandatory minicamp last week but didn't do much in the way of practicing. The four-time Pro Bowler said his plan was to attend training camp in July, but he is not sure if he'll risk injury by participating in those practices in Oxnard, Calif. without an extension beyond the 2025 season. Parsons told Clarence Hill, Jr. of DLLS that if the Cowboys front office is going to wait and drag out the negotiations, "It's going to cost them more." And according to the man making more than any defender in the league, Parsons is worth it. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
