OPINION:
Kirk Cousins made his negotiating position clear to everyone when he declared publicly a few months ago, “I want to be where I’m wanted, and we’ll find out where I’m wanted in a few months.”
Well, he found out Friday. The Washington Redskins will pay $20 million for another season, pretty much because they have to.
But do they think he is worth it? Not if you believe reports of the low-ball offers Redskins management made to their quarterback while trying to negotiate a long-term deal after putting the franchise tag on Cousins.
It may be hard to accept an offer that consisted of $16 million a year and $24 million in guaranteed money, according to NFL.com, is low-ball. But consider that the Redskins are forced – FORCED – to pay him $20 million just for this season – and that the deal they offered him would have put Cousins, who set five franchise records last year for Washington, 21st in the league among quarterbacks in pay, the Redskins offer was as low as a Donovan McNabb weed whacker pass.
This was the same Washington offer that had reportedly been on the table for months.
What it was not was an offer that tells Cousins, in any way, shape or form, that he is “wanted.”
AUDIO: MLB great Bobby Bonilla talks with Thom Loverro
The Redskins found themselves forced to put the franchise tag on Cousins, 27, after a season where he led the team to a 9-7 record and the NFC East division title, while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for a franchise-record 4,166 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions.
Their option was to let Cousins test free agency. The team’s decision not to do so would suggest that if they got into a bidding war for his services, those services – given that Brock Osweiler, who started just seven games last year in Denver, and completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,967 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, signed a four-year, $72 million contract with Houston with $37 million in guaranteed money and an annual salary of $18 million – would have been in great demand.
But the Redskins don’t think he is worth $20 million. They told Cousins that with their offer.
If you believe this was a business decision, based on wanting to see more from Cousins – another year of productivity – then fine, have it. But who in the organization needs to see that? Jay Gruden, the coach who put his job on the line last year by benching the franchise’s favored son, Robert Griffin III, and declaring Cousins the starter for the season? You think he needs to see more after what he saw last year, when he was willing to put his job and reputation on Cousins before his excellent season?
You think it is the general manager, Scot McCloughan? Maybe. He didn’t draft Cousins, and we know GMs like to pick, rather than inherit, their talent. But McCloughan stood side-by-side with his coach last year during the battle inside Redskins Park to bench Griffin and start Cousins. He had a lot at stake as well, and after the season Cousins had, you really think McCloughan doesn’t believe Cousins can do it again?
It could be team president Bruce Allen, who may have needed convincing to bench Griffin after calling it a “no-brainer” to pick up Griffin’s fifth-year option last June, telling reporters, “We think Robert is a starting quarterback…we know his talent. I think if you asked us six months before, it would have been the same decision.” Three months later his coach and general manager convinced him Cousins should be the starter.
I suspect, though, as most of the decisions that have created the aura of self-destruction that engulfs Redskins Park, this comes from owner Daniel Snyder. And I suspect that it has little to do with money. When has it ever come to money for Snyder when it came down to getting what he wanted?
No, I believe this is about ego and bruised feelings and the bone that sticks in his throat to sign a big check for the quarterback that reminds him of Mike Shanahan, who picked Cousins in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, the same year they traded a boatload of draft picks to select Griffin with their first pick, and the failure of Snyder’s favorite player. He got over it enough last year to be convinced to go along with the benching of Griffin and let his football people start Cousins. But to pay this guy $40 million, $50 million or more? This guy, of all guys? Do you think if it was Griffin in that position that he would flinch about paying him – heck, overpaying him – long-term money?
Cousins knows this. That’s why he made a point in his comments about playing where he is “wanted.” He will be fine playing under the franchise tag, knowing that he will pocket $20 million, play well, and be one step closer to someday playing somewhere else — where he is wanted.
• Thom Loverro can be reached at tloverro@washingtontimes.com.
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