Possible Kirk Cousins Ploy With Washington Redskins
By Erik Lambert
The NFL off-season can be one of the most exciting times in professional sports, if only because of its unpredictability. After leading the Washington Redskins to the playoffs for the first time 2012, throwing for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns in the process, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Kirk Cousins would work out some sort of long-term deal with the team. Recent reports have altered that theory.
Redskins and QB Kirk Cousins have broken off contract talks, per team source. No further talks scheduled.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 16, 2016
Some other sources claim this is not exactly true but the fact is multiple credible insiders have claimed the talk have not been going well between the Redskins and Cousins’ camp. Jason La Canfora was one such person.
"“I tend to think that the contract advisers working with, say Kirk Cousins, will take a very different tact than some of their peers who have recently bound their clients to new deals. Cousins and the Washington Redskins were nowhere close to a new deal coming out of the Senior Bowl, sources said, and Washington very well might have to apply the franchise tag in order to retain primary negotiating rights on the quarterback.”"
Indeed this sudden breaking off of talks could be a ploy by Cousins and his agent, essentially daring Washington to use the franchise tag or risk losing him to free agency. Current estimates indicate it would cost the Redskins a considerable chunk of change.
Assuming a $155M 2016 salary cap, it will be $19.876M for the Redskins to give Kirk Cousins a non-exclusive franchise tag.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) February 16, 2016
If Washington were serious about it, chances are they wouldn’t be hesitating on a deal. This would indicate they’re trying to sign Cousins to a more team-friendly contract but he knows how well he played at the end of last season and is willing to bet on the fact other teams will be interested if he reaches the free agent market.
Why wouldn’t they? He’s a smart, 6’3” quarterback who is 27-years old and coming off a year that could’ve landed him in the Pro Bowl. By last estimate the Texans, Browns, Eagles and Rams are all in the market for a new quarterback. The odds would have to indicate that at least one of them would jump at the chance to sign him if he became available. Thus the ball is put in Washington’s court. He has leverage and they have two choices. Use the franchise tag and buy time to try bringing his price to something they’re comfortable with, or letting him walk and starting from scratch.