Post by CAMartin on Mar 13, 2022 20:29:28 GMT -6
Welcome, Purple Brothers and Sisters…to the Mostly(?) Unknown.
As I write this, the news is something like an hour old: the Minnesota Vikings have extended Kirk Cousins and he will be their QB through 2023, with additional voidable years tacked on for inevitable later negotiation. This bit of information will be bouncing across the sports world like a superball in a zero-G room, because our starting QB has been the subject of unending, unprecedented speculation and controversy since his arrival was first rumored…over four years ago. Why does this man, a solid (if not elite) quarterback in the NFL, cause such a stir? Let’s look at the hot buttons:
1. His contract(s). He signed a first-of-its-type guaranteed contract with the Vikings upon his departure from Washington, for what was (briefly) league-leading money. As he was a rare case of a QB hitting free agency in his prime, this situation was rare and caused huge reactions…most of which within the Vikings fandom, who’d weathered QB disasters ranging from draft flops to mediocre journeymen for most of three decades. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he would sign an extension, further stoking the fires of outrage among the contract obsessed. Kirk has figured out how to beat the house in the NFL pay game, and some will never forgive him for this.
2. His production. Kirk Cousins, to his credit and dismay, is living proof that a quarterback cannot actually do everything himself. His offensive line in Minnesota hasn’t been rated higher than 23rd his entire time on the team, the kicking was inconsistent much of the time, and even QB’s a solid to good game gets overshadowed when the team’s defense is near-worst in the league and hemorrhages points at a terrifying rate. Despite all of this, he has consistently put up solid statistics, but those are sneered at by his (many) detractors as meaningless without the wins to go with them. In fact, many of those same detractors have been pining for a certain Houston QB whose last season as a starter showed the exact same number of TDs.
3. Coaching. As more is learned about the Zimmer era in Minnesota, it surprises few that he was not fond of Cousins; Zimmer rarely was complimentary about any of his quarterbacks not named Teddy Bridgewater. During the last 8 seasons, the Vikings went through a slew of offensive coordinators, but it seemed like Zimmer would bully each/all of them into sending the running back into the defensive tackles repeatedly, then calling on the quarterback to convert the resulting 3rd and long situation. After watching Zimmer coach several QBs, it really seems like he wanted a controllable game manager who could make the occasional hero play…and nothing more.
4. The optics. Kirk Cousins, for lack of a better way to put it, is a…dork. He’s a ridiculously wealthy, nerdy, swag-impaired white guy that looks like he should be wearing a short-sleeved button up shirt and teaching community college algebra. He has a celebration dance that basically parodies himself, he lived with his parents well into the time he was rich enough to buy his own neighborhood…but, he’s a dork that can drop long bombs to Jefferson, Thielen, and the rest with accuracy and consistency we haven’t seen since the best of Culpepper’s seasons.
So, meet the new boss (of the offensive huddle), same as the old boss. We are retaining the consistent, goofy, statuesque, sports media target that we’ve had for the last four years…but, we have a shiny new GM, coaching staff, and overall attitude this time around. Yes, we still have questions and concerns ahead, especially regarding Thielen, Kendricks, whether Irv Smith Jr. is healed up, the draft, Hunter, and so on. These questions will all be answered in turn, but I’ll admit hoping that the major pieces find a way to stay together and prove how much Zimmer was holding the team back.
C’mon, folks…even the Cousins Hate Club has to admit that the idea of seeing him with the full set of receiving weapons AND competent offensive coaching is tantalizing. It’s gonna be another long offseason, and there’s a ton of storylines ahead…but for now?
We know the QB, and we got some cap room. SKOL, BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!
As I write this, the news is something like an hour old: the Minnesota Vikings have extended Kirk Cousins and he will be their QB through 2023, with additional voidable years tacked on for inevitable later negotiation. This bit of information will be bouncing across the sports world like a superball in a zero-G room, because our starting QB has been the subject of unending, unprecedented speculation and controversy since his arrival was first rumored…over four years ago. Why does this man, a solid (if not elite) quarterback in the NFL, cause such a stir? Let’s look at the hot buttons:
1. His contract(s). He signed a first-of-its-type guaranteed contract with the Vikings upon his departure from Washington, for what was (briefly) league-leading money. As he was a rare case of a QB hitting free agency in his prime, this situation was rare and caused huge reactions…most of which within the Vikings fandom, who’d weathered QB disasters ranging from draft flops to mediocre journeymen for most of three decades. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he would sign an extension, further stoking the fires of outrage among the contract obsessed. Kirk has figured out how to beat the house in the NFL pay game, and some will never forgive him for this.
2. His production. Kirk Cousins, to his credit and dismay, is living proof that a quarterback cannot actually do everything himself. His offensive line in Minnesota hasn’t been rated higher than 23rd his entire time on the team, the kicking was inconsistent much of the time, and even QB’s a solid to good game gets overshadowed when the team’s defense is near-worst in the league and hemorrhages points at a terrifying rate. Despite all of this, he has consistently put up solid statistics, but those are sneered at by his (many) detractors as meaningless without the wins to go with them. In fact, many of those same detractors have been pining for a certain Houston QB whose last season as a starter showed the exact same number of TDs.
3. Coaching. As more is learned about the Zimmer era in Minnesota, it surprises few that he was not fond of Cousins; Zimmer rarely was complimentary about any of his quarterbacks not named Teddy Bridgewater. During the last 8 seasons, the Vikings went through a slew of offensive coordinators, but it seemed like Zimmer would bully each/all of them into sending the running back into the defensive tackles repeatedly, then calling on the quarterback to convert the resulting 3rd and long situation. After watching Zimmer coach several QBs, it really seems like he wanted a controllable game manager who could make the occasional hero play…and nothing more.
4. The optics. Kirk Cousins, for lack of a better way to put it, is a…dork. He’s a ridiculously wealthy, nerdy, swag-impaired white guy that looks like he should be wearing a short-sleeved button up shirt and teaching community college algebra. He has a celebration dance that basically parodies himself, he lived with his parents well into the time he was rich enough to buy his own neighborhood…but, he’s a dork that can drop long bombs to Jefferson, Thielen, and the rest with accuracy and consistency we haven’t seen since the best of Culpepper’s seasons.
So, meet the new boss (of the offensive huddle), same as the old boss. We are retaining the consistent, goofy, statuesque, sports media target that we’ve had for the last four years…but, we have a shiny new GM, coaching staff, and overall attitude this time around. Yes, we still have questions and concerns ahead, especially regarding Thielen, Kendricks, whether Irv Smith Jr. is healed up, the draft, Hunter, and so on. These questions will all be answered in turn, but I’ll admit hoping that the major pieces find a way to stay together and prove how much Zimmer was holding the team back.
C’mon, folks…even the Cousins Hate Club has to admit that the idea of seeing him with the full set of receiving weapons AND competent offensive coaching is tantalizing. It’s gonna be another long offseason, and there’s a ton of storylines ahead…but for now?
We know the QB, and we got some cap room. SKOL, BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!
... and neither is this Chris guy.