Bills coach shares latest on James Cook as former Georgia RB skips first preseason game
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Bills head coach Sean McDermott commented on James Cook’s contract dispute with the team after the former Georgia star running back declined to play in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Giants.
McDermott convinced Cook to suit up and even take a few handoffs during pregame warmups. But the 2-time Pro Bowler who’s entering his 4th season with Buffalo refused to play in the game. Cook, who played at Georgia from 2018-21 and was a big part of the Bulldogs’ national championship team in 2021, is in a contract standoff with the Bills that has now reached 1 full week.
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The Bills coach was asked if Cook warming up but not playing was part of a compromise between them.
“No, we wanted him to play. I wanted him to play, but I don’t really want to go into it any further,” said McDermott after Saturday’s game.
When McDermott was asked if he expects Cook to practice, he shot back: “Again, let’s just move on.”
Here is more of what McDermott said on the tense matter after the preseason opener:
On Sunday afternoon, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shared more about Cook, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract.
Here is Rapoport’s report on the saga:
The Cook contract dispute will surely be one of the most interesting things to watch as the NFL preseason progresses.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
