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JT2 -> RE: General Vikes Talk (12/21/2023 1:25:24 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: David Levine
“I would love to be back in Minnesota. Hopefully, we can make that happen,” Cousins said on “The Adam Schefter Podcast” on December 18. “Tends to be more of a February, March conversation. And this is more right now about just finishing the football season, and trying to help us get to the playoffs and then stay in the playoffs.”
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus projects Cousins’ next contract to resemble that of Philip Rivers in 2020, or, roughly 12.6% of the salary cap which was $198.2 million at that time, per Spotrac.
For Cousins, under a salary cap expected to exceed $240 million, Spielberger estimates Cousins’ deal could come in around $60 million over two years with $37.5 million in guaranteed money.
That $30 million annual salary works out to $12.5% of the projected cap in 2024.
The next question is should the Vikings be willing to invest that kind of capital into a quarterback who will be 36 years old by the start of next season and is coming off a major injury?
Cousins listed off a whole host of athletes (and other public figures and friends) who have overcome Achilles injuries. He notes that many – including teammates Cam Akers and Jordan Hicks, who has torn both of his Achilles before – came back as good if not better than before.
“I do believe there’s, probably, my best football still up ahead of me. But I gotta go prove that with the way I heal up and then with the way I play up ahead,” Cousins said. “The game is so much mental, and it’s so much on past experiences.”
“I’ve heard Tom Brady comment, … ‘I’ve spent my whole life in football to get to this point where I know the defenses, I know the blitzes, I know the checks, I’ve seen them all that many times,'” Cousins said. “It’d be a shame if I’m the best version of myself but my arm can no longer do it. … Because the mental side of it, and even the emotional, is the best it’s ever been.”
Cousins again pointed to the “experience factor” and the reps that he has under his belt.
https://heavy.com/sports/minnesota-vikings/cousins-future-contract-injury-brady-rodgers/
All of that sounds so rehearsed and agent created. He may be the best QB ever.....at getting paid. That's what he's the best at. That wouldn't bother me at all if he played to the level of his pay. He doesn't. Never has.
He quotes Brady. I remember when Brady talked about striving for perfection and Belichick told him that wasn't enough, he said you need to expect perfection. Not a subtle difference. He played that way. Gronkowski, Edelman, White and a dozen of others got sucked into the mindset of a winner. He was a leader. He was the boss. Even Gronkowski figured out it's best to do what Brady says. In my opinion, Brady's best attribute was his ability to lead.
Cousins isn't cut from that same cloth. He's childlike in some ways. He needs his teammates to like him. Hopefully, soon, somebody will take charge of this team. It won't be Cousins. I'm doubting it will ever be Kevin (that's for Todd).
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