Much has been made this offseason about Buffalo Bills running back James Cook and his future with the team. He spent more than a few moments early in the spring letting social media know that it was time for a new contract. But when it came time to show up, Cook was there — for mandatory minicamp and even training camp. That likely meant his eventual “hold-in” during the final week of camp at St. John Fisher University didn’t come easy, with what appears to have been a very preoccupied mindset.
For
any professional athlete preparing to land a new contract, let alone their first major deal, there’s no doubt immense stress plenty off distraction. Cook was, after all, the first player under the direction of general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott to advocate for themselves by sitting out practice and/or games (preseason, in this case).
To the uninitiated, it might have appeared as though Cook was being selfish and offering his own form of distraction for a franchise focused on making it back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 32 seasons.
But Cook knew that until his contract situation was resolved, he couldn’t perform with a clear mind — and to be certain, the Bills will need a focused and fresh Cook if they hope to get to and win the Super Bowl. For Cook, part of what he explained earlier this summer as “business” may have had much to do with a mindset that demanded clarity defined by professional security and commitment.
“I’m just trying to protect myself, you know; just trying to stay healthy and just get everything done before I can go out there and play with a clear mindset and just be locked in.”
That’s a fully reasonable and valid point, given that playing professional football well (and safely) requires undivided attention at every step. Cook prioritized protecting himself from injury, whether due to distraction or otherwise. And for Cook, any injury before signing a new deal would have cost him significantly at the negotiation table.
When asked “who won” at the end of the day, Cook responded:
“I wouldn’t say it was a win or lose situation. I mean, it’s just like I said ‘business,’ and it happened.”
With that, senior writer Tim Graham of The Atlantic pointed out the young running back’s smile, to which Cook playfully responded: “Yeah, you would too,” causing an uproar of laughter among the assembled reporters. Cook was then asked why he began the offseason participating only to then hold-in as he did to end training camp. No matter how anyone feels about the way things played out, Cook’s response proved to be a key moment in understanding how truly important he is to Buffalo’s roster:
“Just to show my loyalty to my team and my teammates, you know, I know they always got my back so I got their back too. So, just showing them that I’m willing to not be a problem and a distraction; just go out there, just practice and, you know, and play and see happens. That was my mindset.”
Often, professional athletes are criticized for self-advocating, hoping to get a pay raise while in their prime. The truth is that time and opportunity is limited for every athlete’s career, far different than nearly every other profession. James Cook simply decided it was right to get ahead of time’s curve.
Now, securely with the Bills for the foreseeable future, Cook can simply concentrate on the business of bringing a Super Bowl championship to Western, New York.
Check out Cook’s presser following the big contract news, including his response when asked if he ever felt “misunderstood” during the entire process. Plus, Cook got a bit emotional while putting pen to paper, which paved the way for his now-iconic photo-op with shades.
