James Cook skipped the start of Buffalo’s Organized Team Activities, an absence that leaves Frank Gore Jr. soaking up more work in non-contact practices and threatens Cook’s $250,000 workout bonus.
The Buffalo Bills began their Organized Team Activities with good early turnout under head coach Joe Brady, but one star running back wasn’t in the building.
James Cook was not present for the start of OTAs. Cook, who led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards, has not given any stated reason for his absence, and it’s unclear whether he plans to join the team for voluntary practices later in the offseason.
There is a direct cost to missing time. Cook’s workout bonus of $250,000 is tied to his participation, and it will be lost if he doesn’t take part in the required workout period.
The timing also lands in an interesting place. Cook signed a four-year, $46 million contract nine months ago, so a contract-related dissatisfaction seems unlikely to surface this early. Still. last week Dolphins running back De’Von Achane agreed to a four-year. $64 million deal. a move that could reasonably sharpen the way Cook measures his own value as the league’s leading rusher.
With Cook off the practice field, the reps went elsewhere fast. Third-year running back Frank Gore Jr. received a lot of work at the start of OTAs, and Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com reported that Gore looked explosive and decisive during the non-contact practice.
So far, the Bills are getting what they can out of an open window in their backfield. Cook’s absence is the storyline, but the visible consequence is clear at practice: Frank Gore Jr. is being tested with more of the ball early. while Buffalo waits to see whether its centerpiece returns to the offseason routine.
Buffalo Bills Joe Brady James Cook Frank Gore Jr. OTAs Organized Team Activities NFL running backs workout bonus De'Von Achane
So he skips OTAs and loses money?? sounds like entitlement to me.
I don’t get why they call it voluntary if people still get hit with bonuses. Like just show up and run around. Frank Gore Jr. getting reps already, that’s gonna mess with the whole depth chart if Cook keeps doing this.
Isn’t OTAs like preseason stuff? I feel like missing that can’t matter that much, but then they’re saying his 250k workout bonus is tied to it so idk. Maybe he’s hurt? or maybe he’s mad about the Achane contract thing? Dolphins stuff always spreads.
Let’s be real, if he’s the leading rusher he can afford to miss a little, right? But losing the workout bonus is kinda wild, like the team really gonna hold it over him while he’s not even there. Also why does Frank Gore Jr. have to work more, isn’t that gonna make him get banged up for regular season??