BUFFALO BILLS running back James Cook is holding firm on his contract demands.
Cook finished last season with 16 rushing touchdowns – the joint top in the league.
James Cook is holding firm on his contract demands[/caption]
The 25-year-old was present as training camp begins ahead of the 2025 season.
But amid his uncertain future, Cook said: “I’m never gonna give up. I deserve what I want. It’s gonna get done, wherever it happens at.”
Cook – entering the final year of his rookie deal – appears to at least be opening the door to an exit.
But he previously hinted at wanting $15million per year.
“I like my money. I do, I definitely do. That’s why I’m here,” Cook added.
Cook’s demands would make him the second highest-paid (per-year) running back in the league, behind San Francisco 49ers star Cristian McCaffrey, who is currently averaging $19m annually.
He caused controversy by removeing all of his Bills-related posts from Instagram and even unfollowing the team account.
Cook is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.
He tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns last year and his 4.9 yards per-carry average ranked fifth among all running backs with at least 200 carries.
Should the running back be awarded with the new deal, he would earn more than Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry and Chuba Hubbard annually.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott heaped praise on Cook this season and said: “He’s in our leadership council meetings in the morning.
“Then, just if you could have stood next to me and heard him in that game, the way he was, what he was saying to me and how he was talking to me, it was, even with the year he had, it was like he was on missile lock
“To be his build and to play as physical as he did. He was in another, I don’t know if he was in flow state or he was just in another stratosphere of his intent. It was incredible.”
