Josh Allen hits out at Buffalo Bills front office in major intervention on James Cook’s contract standoff

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has told the organization to get a deal done with his unhappy teammate James Cook.

The running back has been in a standoff with the Bills since the end of last season over his contract terms and on Wednesday, skipped his third straight practice session as tension heated up.

Cook, currently on $5million in the final year of his current deal, wants around $15million a season on new terms. According to multiple reports, Cook and the Bills are way off, as it stands, on the numbers that should be involved.

And speaking to reporters on Thursday, Allen made his position perfectly clear.

‘No doubt we all want him out there with us,’ Allen said. ‘I’ve got no say in what goes on behind-closed-doors. I’m a big advocate in everyone getting theirs and getting paid and that is where it is at.

‘Guys are going out, guys are stepping up and making plays. It is good for Ray (Davis) to get more reps.

‘But youu know, James is who he is. He is one of the best running backs in the league and we would be crazy to say we don’t want him out there. We desperately want him out there.’

At the end of that answer, Allen stressed the word ‘desperately’ and didn’t dismiss claims by a reporter saying that he and Cook are ‘like brothers’.

He continued: ‘At the end of the day there is a huge business piece to this game. It’s the hardest part.

‘A lot of people don’t understand it, say he’s ‘holding out’ or whatever. This is generational stuff. It’s wealth for you and your family. It’s not a small chunk of change.

‘He’s still going through mental reps, he’s a pro and he knows what he’s doing.’

Allen, last year’s MVP, is still bidding to lead the Bills to his first ever Super Bowl glory and with the American League rivals Kansas City Chiefs considered by some to be weaker than years gone by, there is a feeling among many that 2025 could be the season.

But if Cook was to remain in the wilderness or force a trade should talks drag, it would represent a major blow to the Bills. 

Cook believes he is deserving of a raise based on his production last year – his 16 TDs rushing tied a single-season team record – and the Bills placing an emphasis on a more balanced attack since Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 season.

‘I deserve what I want, what I need, and it’s going to eventually happen,’ Cook said, two days into training camp. ‘I mean, however it happens, it’s going to get done, wherever it happens.’

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