PITTSFORD — James Cook walked toward the practice field and took a quick detour at a port-a-potty. When he emerged, Cook walked toward the field house and wasn’t seen for the remainder of practice.
It was the second consecutive day Cook did not practice after telling reporters his absence was due to “business.” After reporting and practicing the first eight days of training camp, Cook suddenly decided to employ a hold-in as his agents have reached a stalemate with the Buffalo Bills on a contract extension.
During a scheduled appearance on WGR-AM 550 before Monday’s practice, general manager Brandon Beane admitted Cook’s decision not to practice caught the team off guard. By being at St. John Fisher University, Cook avoids a $50,000-per-practice fine.
Beane reiterated that negotiations between Cook and the Bills haven’t reached an impasse, saying there was “constant communication” between Cook’s camp and the Bills. Cook also admitted earlier in camp that he’s had conversations with the Bills as he reportedly searches for a contract value that reaches $15 million per season.
“I wish we weren’t here,” Beane said. “This is my ninth season and we’ve never had a player miss due to a contract, so that’s disappointing for me. It’s not something we want, it’s not something we’re looking forward to. … It sometimes can be the way of the world.”
While the Bills don’t know when Cook will return to practice, it creates opportunities for other running backs. The biggest beneficiary is likely to be second-year player Ray Davis.
Like Bills coaches and teammates, Davis publicly supported Cook’s contract pursuits. But he did acknowledge that it was a chance for him to show what he can do with first-team touches.
“However they handle it is how they handle it,” Davis told GNN Sports Monday after practice. “And that’s just nothing that I can worry about. I can control being out here on the practice field, and when my opportunity is called, to go out there and maximize my reps.”
In the early stages of his second training camp, Davis looks far more comfortable than he did as a rookie. Whether it’s on the field or signing autographs for children each day for nearly a half hour after practice, Davis simply seems confident.
It took a conversation with Bills running backs coach Kelly Skipper during the spring to help Davis get to that point of comfortability. Essentially, Skipper told Davis he was pressing too much and he needed to relax.
For the first time in his life, whether it was high school or his three college stops in five years, Davis wasn’t the workhorse. He didn’t mind being a backup to a Pro Bowler and third-down back Ty Johnson, but he was also clawing for a spot.
“I was just trying to be a perfectionist,” Davis said. “That’s how I’ve always been in my life. I want to be perfect, but sometimes not everything’s going to be perfect when you’re on the football field. So how do you move onto the next play? Last year it was very hard for me to move on to the next play. And this year, when you make a mistake, that play’s over and what you do next will determine whatever happens the rest of the day.”
Davis knew his first training camp didn’t match the standard he expected nor what the Bills desired from him. It resulted in playing six snaps during the season opener, eventually leading to seeing just two snaps in a Week 5 loss to the Texans.
But Davis was thrust into the starting lineup when Cook couldn’t play a Week 6 matchup against the Jets. Davis shined with 97 yards on 20 attempts and 55 yards on three receptions. But that still wasn’t when the light turned on for him.
He had a semi-regular role the remainder of the season, but didn’t reach 20 snaps in a game until the regular-season finale as starters rested. Davis had just three games with double-digit touches and averaged 3.9 yards per carry.
“I’m past last year,” Davis said. “In my eyes, that rookie year was a mediocre year. I feel like I could have done a lot better. So it’s about fixing all those mistakes I made and hopefully putting on a better show out here.”