Just where will James Cook's uncertain contract situation lead him?
Well, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane hopes it's not out of Western New York.
Beane -- during the second episode of Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills, which premiered Tuesday night -- made it clear he wants Cook staying put, but once again made a point that a new deal doesn't have to happen right now.
"I'm hopeful a year from now, that James Cook is still wearing the Buffalo Bills red, white and blue," Beane told the Hard Knocks cameras.
Hard Knocks' newest episode aired hours after Cook ended his nine-day hold-in and took part in Bills practice.
The 2022 NFL Draft second-round draft pick is headed into the final year of his rookie contract due a $5.27 million base salary. He's also coming off a season in which he scored an NFL-high 16 rushing touchdowns and turned in his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Originally, Cook made his extension intentions known in February, indicating he wanted $15 million per season, which would have put him at No. 2 among running backs annually at the time behind only the San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey. Since then, though, the Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley's become the league's top-paid back and Cook's original ask of $15 million would put him at a tie for third with the Baltimore Ravens' Derrick Henry.
Just what Cook's exactly asking for now isn't known. However, the drama escalated on Aug. 3 when Cook decided to forgo practicing as a "business" decision.
His return to actually practicing at practice came prior to Beane's Hard Knocks interviews. However, Beane's message of Cook practicing now and getting paid later remains unchanged regardless of the taping schedule.
"The perfect world is James back on the practice field," Beane said. "And at some point, we're able to keep him here in Buffalo. It doesn't have to happen now."
The desire to keep Cook, a homegrown talent, with the franchise for the long haul has been a sentiment Beane has held tight to since the ordeal's genesis. It's the way in which the club wants to run things, after all.
"Our philosophy is to draft, develop and re-sign our own," Beane said. "That starts with ownership, them giving us the resources to do that."
So far, homegrown products such as quarterback Josh Allen, wide receiver Khalil Shakir and defensive end Gregory Rousseau have inked extensions this year.
Will Cook be next? Beane isn't offering any timetable, just the desire to keep Cook where he started his career.
"I love James so much," Beane said. "You feel like, this is a guy you've drafted and developed. A lot of times these guys feel like your sons or your younger brothers, however you look at it. I also have to manage the whole team and the cap and the cash and all those things. The whole puzzle has to work together."
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills premieres at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday nights on HBO/HBO Max.
