PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Payments working again James Cook dinner has absolutely participated within the crew’s first two days of coaching camp amidst his hopes for a contract extension however emphasised Thursday that he is not going to surrender on in search of what he wishes.
“Now we have talks. … I imply, I deserve what I would like, I want and it’ll ultimately occur,” he mentioned.
When requested if he is assured that it’s going to occur in Buffalo, Cook dinner mentioned, “I imply, nevertheless it occurs, it is gonna get completed. Wherever it occurs at.”
Cook dinner, 25, is within the remaining yr of his rookie deal and has publicly expressed a need for a brand new contract, together with going dwell on Instagram and pinning “15 mill [per] yr.” If he obtained a contract price $15 million per yr, it will make him tied for third-highest paid again primarily based on common annual worth with Derrick Henry. Cook dinner mentioned Thursday that he doesn’t remorse his social media postings.
The Payments have had conversations with Cook dinner’s illustration however haven’t been in a position to shut in on an settlement.
Common supervisor Brandon Beane reiterated his love for Cook dinner on Wednesday and mentioned his objective is all the time to “draft, develop, re-sign our personal” because the crew did with three different members of Cook dinner’s draft class this offseason. Nonetheless, he mentioned a deal has to suit into the general crew plan and cap for this yr and years to come back.
“Typically you may’t get on the identical web page or generally you are making an attempt to suit it in,” Beane mentioned. “There’s instances guys have left right here that we actually wished. We simply could not make it work. However I can inform you, I am hopeful, once we’re sitting right here at subsequent yr’s coaching camp that James Cook dinner is on the market practising and nonetheless representing the purple, white and blue.”
Cook dinner missed the voluntary portion of the offseason work after which absolutely participated in obligatory minicamp. The working again mentioned it was not a consideration to not report or not take part within the crew’s coaching camp.
“It is my job,” Cook dinner mentioned. “I acquired to take part so I will not get fined and simply come out right here and simply present them that I am able to go and earn what I acquired to go get.”
He added that he did not owe it to anyone however himself, his teammates and his household to be out on the sphere, “by me collaborating, displaying my teammates that I really like the sport and I am keen to be out right here,” Cook dinner mentioned.
Cook dinner is the lead Payments again, however a part of a bunch that sees enjoying time. He was on the sphere for simply over 45% of offensive performs final yr, with Ty Johnson usually coming in on late downs and Ray Davis additionally getting alternatives. Cook dinner mentioned that he needs to get extra concerned within the passing recreation and on third downs this season. His 2,638 profession dashing yards are essentially the most amongst gamers from the 2022 draft class. Cook dinner is coming off the perfect season of his profession, together with tying a franchise file for dashing touchdowns in a season final yr (16).
“Quarterback, and the followers. I imply, it is an excellent group and I imply, they drafted me,” Cook dinner mentioned on why he needs to remain in Buffalo. “They drafted me for a motive I really feel like, and I am keen to be right here and spend the remainder of my profession right here.”