For the second consecutive season, Kirk Cousins heads to training camp in a contract year. This time is a bit different. Cousins and the Washington Redskins are coming off a drama-filled offseason that saw the two sides fail to come to terms on a long-term contract.
For Cousins, it was all about long-term security from the only team that has employed him throughout his career. He’s also made sure to indicate that re-signing with Washington wouldn’t be all about the money.
On the other hand, Washington reportedly offered him a deal that guaranteed the quarterback the most money in league history.
From the end of the Super Bowl until earlier this week, the talk of D.C. has been Cousins’ contract situation. Sure he’s set to play under the franchise tag for a second consecutive season. But this has not stopped rumors from continuing to circulate that Cousins wants to join his former offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, with the San Francisco 49ers (more on that here).
Now, with the Redskins themselves reporting to camp and the deadline having passed to sign an extension, it appears Cousins himself is simply all about football.
“We had a lot of time between the end of the season and July 17 to figure out what was the best option, and what made the most sense, and I’m at peace,” Cousins said, via Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. “I’m ready to go play football now.”
What else is Cousins expected to say here? He already signed the franchise tag tender handed his way by Washington. Holding out simply isn’t an option. Though, at the very least, the Pro Bowl quarterback had a nice conversation with new Redskins vice president Doug Williams.
“I did talk to Kirk a little bit last night,” Williams said. “I’ve always loved talking to him, and the thing I told him was, ‘It ain’t about 2016 and it ain’t about 2018. It’s about 2017.’ And for him he just has to ease his mind. That’s what I told him. ‘Just go out and play, man. Just do what you’ve been doing and don’t worry about what the media and everybody says. Just put everything behind you and go ball.”
If the lines of communication remain open between Cousins and the Redskins’ brass, it will most definitely be a good thing moving forward.
But now that the deadline has passed for Cousins to sign a long-term deal, there’s really nothing else that can be done until after the season. In this, Williams is right to tell Cousins simply to focus on the 2017 campaign.