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Alaina Getzenberg
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Payments working again James Cook dinner has absolutely participated within the crew’s first two days of coaching camp amid his hopes for a contract extension however emphasised Thursday that he is not going to surrender searching for what he wishes.
“We’ve got talks. … I imply, I deserve what I need, I want, and it is going to ultimately occur,” he stated.
When requested if he is assured that it’ll occur in Buffalo, Cook dinner stated, “I imply, nevertheless it occurs, it is going to get carried out. Wherever it occurs at.”
Cook dinner, 25, is within the ultimate yr of his rookie deal and has publicly expressed a want for a brand new contract, together with going dwell on Instagram and pinning “15 mill [per] yr.” If he receives a contract value $15 million per yr, it would make him tied for the third-highest-paid again primarily based on common annual worth with Derrick Henry. Cook dinner stated 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 stated his objective is at all times 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 stated a deal should match into the general crew plan and cap for this season and years to return.
“Typically you’ll be able to’t get on the identical web page or generally you are making an attempt to suit it in,” Beane stated. “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, after we’re sitting right here at subsequent yr’s coaching camp that James Cook dinner is on the market practising and nonetheless representing the pink, white and blue.”
Cook dinner missed the voluntary portion of the offseason work after which absolutely participated in necessary minicamp. The working again stated it wasn’t a consideration to not report back to or not take part in coaching camp.
“It is my job,” Cook dinner stated. “I received 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 received 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 sector, “by me collaborating, exhibiting my teammates that I really like the sport and I am keen to be out right here,” Cook dinner stated.
Cook dinner is the lead again however a part of a gaggle that sees enjoying time. He was on the sector for simply over 45% of offensive performs final yr, with Ty Johnson typically coming in on late downs and Ray Davis additionally getting alternatives. Cook dinner stated he desires to get extra concerned within the passing sport and on third downs this season. His 2,638 profession speeding yards are probably the most amongst gamers from the 2022 draft class. He’s coming off the perfect season of his profession, together with tying a franchise file for speeding touchdowns in a season (16).
“Quarterback, and the followers; I imply, it is an amazing group, and I imply, they drafted me,” Cook dinner stated on why he desires to remain in Buffalo. “They drafted me for a cause, I really feel like, and I am keen to be right here and spend the remainder of my profession right here.”
