Bills' James Cook explains why he sat out of mandatory practice

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook took another step in his attempts to get a new contract extension from the team on Sunday, opting to sit out a mandatory, full-team practice. When asked why he sat out the practice, he told a small group of Buffalo reporters that it was just business.

He was then asked if he was now holding in, or if he would be at practice on Monday, he again repeated the business line.

Cook is entering the last year of his rookie contract and is seeking a contract extension that would make him one of the highest-paid running backs in football. 

He has not been shy about what he wants, and he fully expects to get it ... whether it is from Buffalo or somebody else.

To this point, Cook had still mostly participated in the team's offseason activities. While he was not at the optional offseason activities, he took part in all of the mandatory minicamps and, up until Sunday, had been involved in every training camp practice.

The Bills did not list Cook as one of the players not participating on Sunday, while they also had no comment on his absence. 

Cook is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Bills, including a 2024 season that saw him lead the league with 16 rushing touchdowns. 

He has become a key part of their offense in both the running and passing game, given his ability to also catch the football. 

The Bills and Cook's representation are reportedly still working on a deal, and while it seems they are not far apart on numbers, nothing has officially been signed yet. Until pen is put to paper, there is a good chance Cook starts missing more practices as a means of putting more pressure on the front office.