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Bills Fighting So Minicamp Isn't Defined By Ugly James Cook Conflict
Bills Fighting So Minicamp Isn't Defined By Ugly James Cook Conflict originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
So far this offseason, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook hasn't been present for OTAs as he searches for a new, long-term contract.
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Set to play on the final year of his rookie deal, Cook reportedly wants a new contract at roughly $15 million APY, and it appears the Bills front office isn't too keen to part ways with that sort of money.
Especially since they have already re-signed a host of key players, leaving just $1.6 million in cap space.
Still, there are some who think the Bills will try to negotiate a deal with Cook, and despite the running back's absence, we are approaching a key marker in this saga.
Bills minicamp.
And for ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg, one thing to watch is whether Cook shows up or not.
"The running back has not attended organized team activities (OTAs) as he seeks a contract extension, but the team has insisted that Cook will be playing for the Bills this season," Getzenberg writes. "Three other members of the Bills' 2022 draft class received extensions. Cook, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and though there have been discussions with his representation, the two sides didn't agree.
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"Whether Cook comes to mandatory minicamp will be the next big step in how his situation progresses."
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook.© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The fight here, for the organization, is to avoid letting this conflict define everything.
Can they do so?
We will get a good indication of where Cook stands in a couple of days, because if he isn't attending mandatory minicamp, then the franchise can fine him.
Additionally, he can show up and do nothing, citing a bruised pinky finger as the reason, and avoid the fine. So there are multiple ways this could go, but for one of Buffalo's most prized offensive weapons, it isn't ideal for the franchise's Super Bowl hopes if a key piece is missing.
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Could Buffalo win it without him? Possibly, but it would make the task harder, and what is also challenging is finding the necessary cap space for the Bills to get a deal done.
Either way, this is getting ugly, and if James doesn't attend minicamp, it might get even uglier.
Related: Could Bills Pull Off Trey Hendrickson Trade?
Related: Bills' Joe Brady Details The Why In 'Everybody Eats' Mantra
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
