JAMES COOK gave a blunt reply when quizzed on his contract standoff.

The Buffalo Bills star wants to be handed an improved deal and chose to skip a mandatory practice session amid the dispute.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 26: Running back James Cook #4 of the Buffalo Bills arrives to the stadium prior to the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

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James Cook has sat out two practice sessionsCredit: Getty

Cook is one of the NFL‘s rising running backs and is entering the final year a rookie contract.

He supposedly wants $15million per season and the Bills are yet to meet his demands.

The 25-year-old spoke to reporters after missing the practice session on Sunday.

He gave a blunt response when asked why, saying: “Oh, nothing. Business.”

A journalist then wondered if he would return to the field on Monday, to which Cook responded: “Business.”

Another reporter asked if he was unhappy, with him replying again: “Just business.”

The blunt responses continued when given the opportunity to explain his side of the contract standoff.

Cook answered: “It ain’t no side. It’s just business.”

At the start of camp, general manager Brandon Beane said: “Sometimes you can’t get on the same page, or sometimes you’re trying to fit it in.

“There’s times guys have left here that we really wanted.

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“We just couldn’t make it work.

“But I can tell you, I’m hopeful when we’re sitting here at next year’s training camp that James Cook is out there practising and still representing the red, white and blue.”

Cook went public with his desire for a pay rise early in the offseason.

But he revealed he was keen to practice and play for the Bills.

And two-time Pro Bowl star was involved in three days of mandatory minicamp and the first eight practices of training camp.

Cook was spotted at Monday’s practice session in uniform but again did not go out onto the field.

NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE

(All times ET)

Thur 4 Sept
8.20 pm – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

Fri 5 Sept
8pm – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers

Sun 7 Sept
1pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
1pm – Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
1pm – Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
1pm – Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
1pm – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
1pm – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
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4.05 pm – Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
4.05 pm – San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
4.25 pm – Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
4.25 pm – Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
8.20 pm – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

Mon 8 Sept
8.15 pm – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears