Kirk Cousins is learning the hard way that his say in the Atlanta Falcons organization is relatively small. Cousins chose to leave the Minnesota Vikings in favor of a big contract from the Falcons in a location in the country where he wanted his family to live.
The veteran quarterback might have expected treatment similar to what the New York Jets gave Aaron Rodgers last year when they let him essentially hand-pick their offensive coordinator and offensive weapons.
The Atlanta Falcons disappointed Kirk Cousins in April
The Falcons did no such thing. They added plenty of help for Cousins in free agency. However, their first-round pick went to help the Falcons in the post-Cousins era. Per Jane Slater with the NFL Network, Cousins was upset when the Falcons picked Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick:
As we all sit in shock over the Atlanta pick, a source tells me Kirk Cousins just as “shocked” and “disappointed” Never said anything to him or his reps about a QB in 1st round despite suggesting they would. Still “it’s a business”
Cousins has a new issue with the Falcons
Cousins has a new disagreement with the Falcons, and it’s about playing time. According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, head coach Raheem Morris told Cousins he would not get to shake the rust off during preseason:
Where Cousins and Morris seem to disagree is Cousins’ participation in preseason games. Morris said Wednesday morning that he was unsure if Cousins would play in any of the Falcons preseason games, but Cousins said after practice that he’s already asked to and been shot down.
“I think that ask fell on deaf ears,” Cousins said. “Raheem’s model is, ‘You’re not playing.’ I don’t know if I’m letting the cat out of the bag. Maybe I could persuade him. Who knows how the Dolphins practices will go. Maybe he wants to see us in the game. I think seeing live bullets and playing is helpful, but I also understand the logic of not doing it. Everything we do is calculated and that will be as well.”
The Falcons don’t want to risk an injury
The Falcons are paying Cousins a lot of money coming off an injury. It makes sense for them not to want to see that money wasted by playing in a meaningless game in August. Cousins will have to find another way to prepare to be ready for Week 1.
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