On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Buffalo Bills got a pleasant surprise amid the team's opening bell of mandatory minicamp today, as veteran running back James Cook elected to report to the team facility with the rest of the team. Cook, who is angling for a new contract from the Bills, is coming off of his second consecutive 1,000 yard rushing season for Buffalo in 2024.
Source: Bills RB James Cook, who has been seeking a new contract this off-season, is in attendance for today’s mandatory minicamp.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 10, 2025
Cook is currently set to play in 2025 in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract with the team. While Buffalo has been willing to make offers to lock Cook in as a long-term piece of the roster, Cook's aspirations for a bigger payday seemingly have prevented any common ground from being met. ESPN's Adam Schefter recently touched on Cook's standoff with Buffalo and painted a gloomy picture over the outlook.
“(Cook) has basically disconnected himself from the organization and the city put his house up for sale...I don’t think we’ll be seeing him in Buffalo anytime soon.” - ESPN's Adam Schefter on James Cook
The move from Cook to arrive for minicamp, based off of the tone from Schefter, is a surprise. But it is undoubtedly the right move for a player seeking to maximize his earnings potential. Cook has earned just over $4.6 million across his first three seasons in the NFL and the prospect of paying fines and starting a holdout is not a particularly business savvy decision. He's currently scheduled to make $5.346 million in 2025 thanks to a proven performance escalator for rookie contracts.
It's a nice pay bump, but certainly not enough to alleviate Cook's thirst for long-term security and a new contract. And it, apparently, isn't enough to justify willingly surrendering money to ignite a formal holdout, either.
Cook holds less leverage in this situation than he may care to admit, and his appearance today for Bills minicamp affirms that. So while we may continue to see the contract negotiations stretch into the heart of summer between these two parties, Buffalo has secured its first big win of the negotiation.
Cook has tipped his hand — he wants to maximize his earnings. And that means these negotiations are likely to continue on Buffalo's terms while Cook decides just how much he wants to bet on himself in the fall.
More must-reads:
- Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp
- Titans officially give up on this former first-round pick
- The 'NFL all-time touchdown receptions leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Broncos agree to extension with leading WR
As expected, a deal is indeed in place between Courtland Sutton and the Broncos. The sides agreed to an extension on Monday, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. This will be a four-year pact, per the report. Sutton’s new deal is worth $92M. It ensures a free agent departure will not be possible next spring and keeps him under contract through the 2029 campaign. The contract contains $41M in total guarantees, per 9News’ Mike Klis, including $27M in new locked in compensation. Having reported to training camp — but participated on a limited basis — Sutton remained a figure to watch regarding a deal being struck in time for Week 1. Earlier Monday, reports indicated progress had been made toward a deal. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed the news of an agreement was coming soon, and that has now taken place. Prior to Monday, Sutton was due to collect $14M in 2025. The 29-year-old has now secured a raise, albeit one which does not move him particularly close to the top of the receiver market. With an average annual value of $23M, this extension will move Sutton into a tie with Calvin Ridley for 18th in terms of yearly compensation at the position. Team and player agreed to a one-year compromise last summer, with 2025 emerging as the time for a long-term arrangement to be made. Nevertheless, the likes of Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen appeared to enter training camp as higher priorities for Denver with respect to working out an extension. In the end, though, it is Sutton who is the first member of that trio to secure a raise. It will be interesting to see if Monday’s move is followed by other big-ticket agreements for the Broncos. Sutton has spent his entire seven-year career in the Mile High City, operating as a full-time starter along the way but not always managing to produce at an elite level. The former second-rounder notched 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2019, but he did not duplicate that feat until this past campaign. Enjoying a strong year with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Sutton set a new career high with 81 catches and managed eight touchdowns. Denver has repeatedly drafted complementary wideouts dating back to before the Payton era began in 2023. As a result, the likes of Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant will be counted on as contributors for Nix’s second NFL season. Out of Denver’s receivers, though, Sutton will of course again be relied on to lead the way. If he can duplicate the success of 2024, the team’s offense could improve from last year’s impressive showing. This offseason has seen a number of changes made in Denver’s backfield as the team seeks a more consistent run game. It will be interesting to see how the new faces at the running back spot fare, but in any event Sutton will continue as a mainstay and a focal point for Nix to target. That will also be the case well beyond the 2025 campaign.
Top moments from 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductions
The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class had its day in Cooperstown on Sunday. This year's class included Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, who were elected by the eligible voters from the Baseball Writer's Association of America, and Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were elected by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. Here are some of the top highlights from Sunday's induction speeches. Dave Parker's son reads poem written by Hall of Fame father Parker's induction into the Hall of Fame was long overdue, and he sadly did not have the opportunity to enjoy the moment of seeing his name in the Hall of Fame as he died June 28. That left his speech in the hands of his son, Dave Parker II, who read a poem written by his dad. Parker spent the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he was an MVP winner, two-time batting champion and World Series champion with the 1979 "We Are Family" team. Dick Allen's wife remembers his kindness Allen was the other veterans committee inductee, and his widow, Willa Allen, spent the majority of her speech remember the kindness of Allen off the field as much as his ability on the field. Allen is going into the Hall of Fame as a Phillie but won the 1972 American League MVP with the Chicago White Sox. He led the league in OPS four times and was the 1964 National League Rookie of the Year. A reminder that Billy Wagner wasn't naturally left-handed Being left-handed is a huge advantage (and money-maker) for pitchers, and Wagner was one of the most dominant left-handed relief pitchers to ever step onto a mound in the big leagues. But he wasn't always left-handed. Wagner was a natural-born right-handed person but taught himself how to throw left-handed after fracturing his right arm twice as a kid. It led to quite a career. Wagner made a name for himself with the Houston Astros but also spent years with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. CC Sabathia takes playful dig at Ichiro Sabathia accomplished a ton in his 19-year big league career. He won 251 games, won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award, was the 2009 ALCS MVP and a World Series champion. He still has apparently not gotten over the one individual award he did not win — the 2001 American League Rookie of the Year Award, which went to fellow 2025 inductee Ichiro. Sabathia made sure to make a playful dig at that. Sabathia was the only American League rookie outside of Ichiro — who also won the American League MVP that year — to get a first-place vote. He received one. The others all went to Ichiro. Ichiro stole the show Ichiro stole 509 bases in his Hall of Fame career, and on Sunday, he added one more steal to his list of accomplishments by absolutely stealing the show at Cooperstown. He delivered two of the best lines of the day, first by calling out the one lone writer who did not vote for him, keeping him from being just the second unanimous Hall of Fame inductee ever (after Mariano Rivera). His best line of the day, however, might have been when he referenced his brief time as a member of the Miami Marlins toward the end of his career. Ichiro played 14 of his 19 seasons with the Seattle Mariners while also spending time with the Marlins and Yankees.
Colorado's Deion Sanders reveals massive medical problem he's been battling this offseason
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders detailed the medical issue he has battled throughout the offseason in a Monday news conference. The coach, who turns 58 on Aug. 9, wasn't with his team during summer camp in June. The Pro Football Hall of Famer revealed it was because he had previously been diagnosed with bladder cancer. The tumor was discovered during a routine vascular scan. Sanders' doctor, Janet Kukreja, said her team removed his bladder and used parts of his intestine to create a new one. The cancer is now gone, and he will continue to coach this season. "The process wasn't easy," Sanders said of the doctors giving him multiple options to treat the cancer. Sanders said he was aware of the surgery before the NFL Draft in April. However, he told his sons, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo, that he just had a foot issue. The coach explained he didn't want his sons to have more to worry about as they prepare for their NFL careers. "I wanted them to focus on making the team and not focused on Dad," Deion Sanders said. "So they really don't know. My daughters do and this joker right here. Much love to my son, [Deion Sanders Jr.], who [didn't] leave my side since we found what was taking place." Deion Sanders said he's still adjusting to changes after the surgery. The coach has a catheter and said Colorado will have a porta-potty on the sideline, just in case he needs to use the bathroom during practices or games. Deion Sanders made a will in May, according to a clip posted to Deion Sanders Jr.'s YouTube channel on Sunday. The coach, though, isn't letting the fear of death weigh on his mind. "I've got too much life in me to be thinking about death — we gotta win a darn championship," he said. Deion Sanders' health is still a concern. He has had 14 surgeries (including the removal of his bladder) since 2021. For now, he appears eager to return to coaching after overcoming one of the biggest medical problems of his life.
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield breaks news about contract situation
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht recently suggested the club and Baker Mayfield will sign a contract extension "when the time is right" because Tampa Bay wants Mayfield "to be our quarterback for a long time." During a Monday appearance on CBS Sports HQ, Mayfield broke some news regarding the three-year, $100M deal he signed to stay with the Buccaneers back in March 2024. "You know, right now, I’m under contract through 2026," Mayfield told CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, as shared by the JoeBucsFan website. "So it was really just about getting guaranteed money for 2026, and they did that. And that’s all I can ask for. I signed the contract and knew what it was." JoeBucsFan noted that Mayfield's $40M salary for 2026 was not previously guaranteed. That's no longer an issue for the 30-year-old after he guided the Buccaneers to back-to-back division titles. While Mayfield is working with his third offensive coordinator (Josh Grizzard) in three seasons with Tampa Bay, he's also coming off the best campaign of his pro career. According to Pro Football Reference, Mayfield ended the 2024 regular season ranked fourth in the NFL among qualified players with a 106.8 passer rating, third with 4,500 passing yards and tied for second with 41 touchdowns through the air. In Tampa Bay, Mayfield found a franchise that has let him be his true self after he spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams from January 2022 through January 2023. He's now the emotional leader of a Buccaneers offense that needed more than just solid play at the sport's most important position after living legend Tom Brady retired in February 2023. "Right now it’s winning," Mayfield said on Monday about his mindset for the upcoming season. "I know good things will happen after that. But I trust this place. I love being here. Obviously, [I’m] used to bouncing around. I’ve done that before, but I don’t want to leave." As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers tied for seventh among the betting favorites at +1300 odds to win the NFC Championship Game held in January 2025. Even if Mayfield fails to lead Tampa Bay to Super Bowl LX, it sounds like he will remain with the Buccaneers through at least the start of the 2026 season.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
