‘Let’s get this out of the way up front: There is no free way to watch HBO or HBO Max in 2025. But you can still get access to episodes of “Hard Knocks” on the cheap through an unexpected streaming bundle.’
BillsBeat - August 5, 2025
Cook hold in enters day 2 at Bills camp Monday
‘On Monday, Cook was only seen for a brief moment before practice in street clothes before he exited into the injury tent and wasn’t seen on the field the rest of the day. He was around during drills and rode an exercise bike along with some of his injured teammates Sunday.’
With James Cook's future unknown, Ray Davis looking to build off 'mediocre' rookie season with the Bills
‘“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.”’
Training camp observations: Bills' David Edwards, Connor McGovern learning from prior free agency forays
‘“I don’t think about it anymore because I know what it did to me in 2022, just my mental game, my happiness, my on-field performance,” Edwards told GNN Sports. “I think that if you simplify your life and what you do in practice and in games, it just makes everything easier. So I’ll worry about that if the conversations happen today or if they happen in March.”’
How Murfreesboro's Robert James defied odds to be NFL All-Pro
‘James, a Holloway High School graduate in Murfreesboro and former Fisk football and track and field standout, was in his third day of training camp with the Bills in 1969 when his path collided with Paul Costa’s path.’
Hard Knocks with the Buffalo Bills: What to know ahead of premiere
‘The first episode of this year’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills” premieres on Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.’
Bills GM Beane has no timeline on contract standoff with Cook after RB skips 2nd day of practice
‘Cook wore a white hat, red Bills pullover and blue shorts upon briefly entering the practice field, before ducking into a portable bathroom about 12 minutes before practice was scheduled to start. He then left the field, exiting through the trainer’s tent and did not re-appear during the two-hour session.’
Bills RB James Cook, seeking extension, sits out again
‘Cook briefly appeared at the team’s practice but not in uniform. Instead, he was in workout gear and a beanie. He walked by the outskirt of the field, inside a portable toilet and then went back out towards the team’s locker room. Cook did not appear at practice for the rest of the day.’
Bills GM Brandon Beane speaks on James Cook contract stalemate, hold in: 'I wish we weren't here'
‘It’s no secret that Cook seeks a contract extension. He hinted this offseason while live on Instagram that he’s seeking $15 million per year, which is a number just three NFL running backs make, but did attend mandatory minicamp and training camp because, like Marshawn Lynch, he didn’t want to get fined. It appears Cook wanted to show the organization he wasn’t going to be a distraction, but it’s fair to assume that progress hasn’t been made at the negotiating table, leading him to change course.’
Bills GM Addresses James Cook's Contract-Related Practice Absence
‘”At the end of the day, I wish we weren’t here,” Beane said during an appearance on WGR550 on Monday. “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.”‘
Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane puts pressure on James Cook
‘“We tried to get something done with Jimbo,” Beane said. “But unfortunately it takes two.”‘
James Cook contract hold-in, explained: Why Bills RB is sitting out of training camp practice in Buffalo
‘With training camp in full swing, running back James Cook appears to have excused himself from practicing as he seeks a resolution for his contract situation in Buffalo. Cook is currently set to enter free agency following the 2025 season and is seeking a new contract before the season begins.’
Hamlin feels more free this season for Bills
‘”I’m just trying to grow my game as a whole,” said Hamlin on Monday following practice at Bills training camp. “Last year I was trying to prove a lot, dealing with the sudden cardiac arrest on the field, and having the world see me as that moment. I felt like I was chasing plays a lot, and felt like I had to make plays so that people can see me as the athlete and what I can truly do on the field, which had me antsy in my game a lot. So coming back around this year, I truly feel like I accomplished that, and that I have peace. I don’t feel any outside world expectations. I’m not worried about trying to get other people’s labels off of me. I’m just locked into allowing the game to come to me, and focusing on my technique and fundamentals.’
With James Cook still out, Ray Davis steps into lead running back role
‘”I just control what I can control, as far as coming out here and doing what I can do,” Davis told reporters after practice on Monday. “It’s kind of a next-man-up mentality for practice. So whoever’s getting reps, me, Ty [Johnson], ‘D-Ev’ [Darrynton Evans], or Frank [Gore Jr.], we’ve got to go out there and keep playing ball and let everything take care of itself.”‘
Beane on Cook's camp 'hold-in': 'Both sides have to agree on what that number is'
‘”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”‘