In search of deal, Prepare dinner sits out Payments’ apply – ‘Simply enterprise’

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills running back James Cook came out to St. John Fisher University on Sunday afternoon but did not participate in a mandatory practice for the first time since seeking a contract extension this offseason.

After practice when talking to a group of three reporters, Cook was asked why he did not participate.

“Oh, nothing. Business.”

Cook was asked if it was his choice not to practice on Sunday, if he was holding in and if he planned to practice tomorrow. To those questions, he said simply, “Business.”

The Bills said “no comment” when asked about Cook, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, not participating in Sunday’s practice. His agent did not return a request for comment. Cook was not included in coach Sean McDermott’s list of injured players not participating ahead of Sunday’s practice.

Cook was also asked how unhappy he is with the “business” right now, to which he responded, “Just business.” He was then asked if he was interested in telling his side of negotiations, to which Cook said, “It ain’t no side, it’s just business.”

Cook’s contract situation has been an ongoing issue after the running back went public with his desire to be paid like one of the league’s top backs early in the offseason. Cook, however, had maintained at the start of camp that he wanted to participate in practice and be there for his teammates — and avoid being fined.

“Sometimes you can’t get on the same page or sometimes you’re trying to fit it in,” general manager Brandon Beane said at start of the camp. “There’s times guys have left here that we really wanted. We just couldn’t make it work. But I can tell you, I’m hopeful, when we’re sitting here at next year’s training camp that James Cook is out there practicing and still representing the red, white and blue.”