Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills returned to St. John Fisher University on Monday, as the team will close out its portion of training camp this week in Rochester. After a day off on Tuesday, the team will hold two final practices on Wednesday and Thursday before their first preseason game Saturday against the New York Giants.
The biggest news at practice from over the weekend was running back James Cook not participating in team activities on Sunday, as it appears he is "holding-in" at training camp.
Despite Cook not participating in drills or any on-field activities, Bills general manager Brandon Beane says there has been constant communication with his agent, as well as Cook himself.
"At the end of the day, I wish we weren't here," said Beane on Monday during an appearance on the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on WGR. "This is my ninth season here. We've never had a player miss due to a contract or anything like that. So that's disappointing for me, not something we want, not something we're looking forward to. But at the end of the day, sometimes it can be the way the world. So we'll deal with it the best we can"
While Beane was hopeful to see Cook on the field in full gear on Monday, he's hopeful to get the fourth-year running back on the field soon.
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Running back contracts in the NFL are ever changing. The market for free agent running backs constantly fluctuates compared to other positions, and can lead to many different types of contract disputes between NFL teams and players.
"I don't think you can make just cold, hard decisions. 'Hey, I don't pay running backs, or I do pay running backs.' I think every situation is its own," Beane said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "You're always trying with any deal, running back, receiver, linebacker, whatever it is, you're always trying to find what you think is the sweet spot that makes sense for you and for the player. This offseason, we found it with pretty much everyone we tried to get a deal done. He was the one. That's probably why we're at where we are. We've got a lot of the deals done that we tried, and it's well known we tried to get something done with 'Jimbo'. Unfortunately, it takes two, and both sides have to agree on what that number is. Obviously that hasn't gotten there."
These types of situations can often lead to distractions on and off the field for both Cook and other players on the team. Along with this, this Bills' front office has never encountered a situation like this in their nine years together.
"Our guys have been around. It feels like no matter what's going on, if that's not a distraction, then this can be a distraction. You're only distracted if you let it be a distraction," Beane said. "I think Sean [McDermott] does a good job of keeping these guys dialed in and focused, and I know that'll be the message."
Hear more from Beane's conversation with Jeremy and Joee in the player below: