BUFFALO, N.Y. — Because the Buffalo Payments took to the observe area for the crew’s obligatory minicamp, all eyes had been on operating again James Cook dinner.
The one noticeable distinction from a typical observe got here from the nameplate change on the again of Cook dinner’s jersey. His title now learn in full: “Cook dinner III,” which he typically wore throughout his time at Georgia, however not but within the NFL. The change, one thing he’d been which means to do, got here this yr as soon as the mandatory paperwork had been full with the league.
The beginning of obligatory minicamp was the primary time the change was on show after Cook dinner missed the voluntary portion of the crew’s offseason program as he seeks a contract extension.
Cook dinner was in attendance and totally participated within the three days of obligatory minicamp regardless of making his want for an extension publicly referred to as he enters the ultimate yr of his rookie deal. Whereas away, Cook dinner stayed in communication, together with calling operating backs coach Kelly Skipper weekly to see what was happening. The choice to attend? As Cook dinner put it, “I like my cash.”
Cook dinner selected to completely take part in practices: “I imply, why not? I am right here, I am a part of the crew. I am a pacesetter, so I simply bought to observe and get a soar,” Cook dinner stated.
“I am very, very proud that he is right here and he is working as exhausting as he’s being on the sphere with us,” quarterback Josh Allen stated at minicamp. “And loads of guys that would not do this. However he is on the market and dealing exhausting and exhibiting all people that he’s right here for the best causes and hopefully that may get solved. … He is among the finest backs within the league and hopefully, that may be mirrored quickly.”
Whereas preliminary considerations about Cook dinner’s participation and the way he would deal with this portion of the extension dispute had been resolved with the June session, the state of affairs is not over. The Payments will roll into the primary coaching camp observe on July 23 with Cook dinner anticipated to be in attendance. Each normal supervisor Brandon Beane and Cook dinner stated that they anticipate him being there for the beginning of camp. What Cook dinner, 25, was much less assertive on was if he’ll totally take part as soon as that will get underway or if he would maintain in.
“I do not know, man,” Cook dinner stated. “We’ll see when camp comes.”
The Payments rewarded extensions to a number of gamers from Cook dinner’s 2022 draft class this offseason — broad receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford. The crew additionally prolonged Allen and defensive finish Greg Rousseau. Cook dinner is coming off the very best season of his profession by far, however questions linger about what his future with the group seems like.
In 2024, the Payments offense set milestones beneath coordinator Joe Brady. Allen was named MVP and the offensive line put up a formidable efficiency (Cook dinner was fifth amongst operating backs in yards earlier than contact per rush at 3.1). Cook dinner’s scoring exploded, tying a franchise-high in speeding touchdowns in a season (16). His 2,638 profession speeding yards are essentially the most amongst gamers from his draft class.
There have been 16 operating backs within the 2024 postseason that had at the least 10 touches. Cook dinner ranked fourth amongst them in scrimmage yards per contact (5.7).
“I assumed the largest factor to me was he improved his energy,” Skipper advised ESPN of Cook dinner’s enhancements in 2024. “He was in a position to break extra tackles, run bodily, so his entire sport got here collectively final yr.
“He had loads of success. … It is good to have him again. … He has a contract problem and all that stuff happening. That’ll maintain itself. He simply wished to be round his teammates, and he is joyful to be right here. I imply, to have the ability to play, he loves soccer. So, him being round his teammates was actually good for him.”
Whereas Cook dinner scored at a excessive price in 2024, he’s the lead again amidst a operating again room that noticed the sphere lots in second-year again Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, who was re-signed this offseason. Cook dinner was on the sphere for 45.2% of the crew’s offensive snaps in 16 video games (together with briefly taking part in Week 18), whereas Johnson performed 28.2% and Davis 24.3%. Johnson repeatedly got here on the sphere for third- and fourth-down conditions (67.8% of third-down performs to Cook dinner’s 12.4%).
“The factor about it’s we bought a pair completely different backs, conditions, various things that occur,” Skipper stated of the place Cook dinner can enhance. “The factor he is bought to pay attention is his entire sport, the run and the cross. Having the ability to cross block as a result of he can do it, you understand what I imply? It is simply what number of occasions and simply being prepared and do not get caught off guard.”
Working again will not be a place that the Payments beneath coach Sean McDermott and Beane have a historical past of investing in extremely financially to any extent. The crew and Cook dinner’s illustration have met however not been in the identical vary, thus the dearth of extension. Cook dinner has posted about wanting $15 million per yr on an Instagram dwell, a quantity that solely Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey have surpassed.
“As a result of we do loads, and I believe we should always worth that and all of the exhausting work that we put in on the bottom and cross blocking and all these kinds of issues, and I believe we needs to be valued extra,” Cook dinner stated of operating backs incomes extra money.
Skipper additionally famous the array of issues operating backs are requested to do, together with being concerned within the operating and passing assault, and having to be able to do quite a lot of on-field roles.
From Cook dinner’s perspective, needing the extension at this level in his profession will not be concerning the often-discussed shorter careers of operating backs.
“I do not take a look at it like that,” Cook dinner stated. “I simply really feel like if you happen to maintain your physique and do all of the issues that you might want to do proper, simply be who you is and every thing can be all proper.”
Beane believes that Cook dinner can be “able to roll whether or not there is a deal or not” for coaching camp. If nothing modifications, a bigger position within the 2025 offense may assist the operating again get the kind of deal he’s searching for.
“The largest factor is you possibly can’t keep the identical,” Skipper stated. “You bought to get higher. I imply, you bought to chase perfection, and so, that is what he is right here, to work on his sport and to be out right here, do particular person [drills], see what sort of situation he’s in. He is been coaching, nevertheless it’s completely different whenever you get out right here and also you operating performs. You run from play to play, so you bought to get within the soccer form. So, it is good for him to get out right here and get rolling.”
