Tag: Kirk Cousins

Eagles penalty for allegedly tampering with Saquon Barkley won’t come during 2024 NFL draft

The league’s review into tampering allegations against the Falcons and Eagles is ongoing and will not conclude this week during the draft

The Eagles and Falcons will both likely receive penalties for tampering during the NFL free agency period, but according to Adam Schefter, that resolution won’t happen before or during this weekend’s draft.

Cousins has admitted that he communicated with Atlanta’s athletic trainer and head of public relations before the NFL’s new league year.

Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings to sign a four-year, $180 deal with the Atlanta Falcons, and Barkley left the New York Giants to join Philadelphia on a three-year, $37.8 million contract.

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During an interview prior to free agency, Barkley’s college head coach at Penn State, James Franklin, referenced the star running back and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman speaking on the phone during the legal tampering period.

Schefter previously reported that discipline is coming soon, with the punishment likely harsher for the Falcons, given Cousins’ on-the-record statement.

The Dolphins lost their 2023 first-round draft choice and a 2024 third-rounder for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton thrice from 2019 through 2022. Miami owner Stephen Ross was fined $1.5 million, and team vice chair and limited partner Bruce Beal received a $500,000 fine.

Kansas City lost their 2016 third-rounder and a 2017 sixth-round choice for tampering with former Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015. The Chiefs were hit with a $250,000 fine, and new head coach Andy Reid ($75,000) as well as then-general manager John Dorsey ($25,000) were also fined.

Adam Schefter: ‘Resolution coming soon’ in Kirk Cousins tampering case

According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, the NFL could come down with punishment for the Atlanta Falcons this week in their tampering case.

The NFL draft starts on Thursday, and the event could be in for a big shakeup. And no, we’re not talking about the Minnesota Vikings trading up for a quarterback — for once. Instead, we’re talking about a former Vikings quarterback, Kirk Cousins, and the league’s tampering investigation centered on his signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league could conclude its investigation and hand down the punishment as early as this week, which could have an effect on the first round of the draft. There is precedent for the league to take away a team’s draft picks for tampering.

The Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick in last year’s draft, along with a third-round pick in this year’s draft, in two separate tampering cases involving former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and former Saints head coach Sean Payton. That punishment was handed down in August 2022.

Before that, the league stripped the Kansas City Chiefs of a third-round pick in 2016 and a sixth-round selection in 2017 for their tampering with former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015.

In both cases, members of the coaching staffs and/or front office personnel received fines in addition to the draft pick forfeitures. Schefter reports that there are some sources who believe that the punishment for the Falcons is “likely to involve draft picks” and “is expected to be more severe.”

However severe the punishment winds up being, it’s probably unlikely the league would grant the Minnesota Vikings any compensation despite rumors that Minnesota could be granted the Falcons’ selection, which is currently No. 8 in Thursday’s first round.

Falcons could be punished for tampering allegations ahead of draft

The Falcons could be punished for tampering allegations with QB Kirk Cousins ahead of this week’s draft

While NFL teams will never openly admit to it, tampering is rampant around the league ahead of free agency. However, teams rarely get caught because players are usually smart enough to keep their mouths shut about any illegal contact with the coaching staff or trainers.

Apparently, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins didn’t get the memo. During his introductory press conference, Cousins admitted to talking with the team’s head athletic trainer before he was technically allowed to.

“There’s great people here,” said Cousins during his intro presser. “And it’s not just the football team. I mean, I’m looking at the support staff. Meeting, calling yesterday, calling our head athletic trainer, talking to our head of P.R.”

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Cousins’ comments quickly drew the attention of the NFL, who began an investigation into Atlanta for tampering. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons could be punished as soon as this week:

The NFL’s investigation into alleged tampering charges against the Falcons for their involvement with then-free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Eagles for their involvement with then-free-agent running back Saquon Barkley is ongoing and could reach a conclusion as early as this week, per sources. Sources believe the discipline, which is likely to involve draft picks, is expected to be more severe for the Falcons. — ESPN’s Adam Schefter

Could Atlanta potentially lose a first-round pick? Schefter highlighted other recent tampering cases for reference.

The Dolphins lost a first-round pick in 2023 due to tampering with head coach Sean Payton and QB Tom Brady. The Chiefs were fined a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick for tampering with free-agent WR Jeremy Maclin back in 2015.

The Falcons were happy to land Cousins in free agency but if the 35-year-old’s loose lips wind up costing the team a first-round pick, it likely won’t sit well with fans. The first round of the 2024 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday in Detroit, Michigan.

Falcons met with 26 prospects

Falcons strength of schedule

Most likely picks at No. 8

1st-round mock draft

Falcons 7-round mock

Kick Cousins jokingly couldn’t believe how fast his Falcons teammates roasted him for being a corny dad

The Falcons are ruthless.

With his presence alone, Kirk Cousins gives the Atlanta Falcons legitimacy they haven’t had in years. If the veteran can continue giving Atlanta borderline top-10-level production, the Falcons might even be an understated Super Bowl contender.

All of this is well and good. And the Falcons certainly should appreciate their new quarterback. But that doesn’t mean they’ll hold back any (probably warranted) roasts of their new franchise player.

In a tweet on Monday, Cousins mused about how an unspecified Falcons teammate told him he gave off “Dad vibes” in the lunch line. While that’s probably brutal to hear for a 35-year-old who’s only spent a few weeks with his new team … are they wrong?

Cousins’ entire essence is corny dad. This is not necessarily a bad thing because being a corny dad is essentially a rite of passage in our society. It’s a badge you wear proudly while polishing up your dad jokes and solid white New Balance shoes. But it’s still so funny that Cousins’ Falcons teammates already see him in this light, and they haven’t even played a single game together.

Talk about a guy living up to his reputation.

The Athletic: Fans want Vikings to trade up for a quarterback

According to a recent survey from The Athletic, Minnesota Vikings fans overwhelmingly prefer a trade up for a quarterback in the NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is just two weeks away, and the big question looming for Minnesota Vikings fans is: How is the team going to address the quarterback situation? The team signed former Jets, 49ers, and Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold in the offseason, but he’s not the long-term solution at the position. So, what is the best way for the team to find that solution?

According to a survey of Vikings fans from The Athletic, nearly 75 percent want to see the Vikings trade up in the draft to take their quarterback of the future. Whether it’s for Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or J.J. McCarthy, the fanbase overwhelmingly approves of the team making a bold move to secure the most important position in football—if not all sports.

The article, written by Alec Lewis, further breaks down the quarterback choices, with nearly 40 percent of the over 3800 respondents preferring a trade-up (sending picks 11, 23, and 2025 first) for former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

The fanbase’s second choice is former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, with just over 23% of respondents saying they would trade picks 11 and 23 and a later-round pick to land McCarthy. Interestingly, that option is less than 3% more than those who would prefer the team to keep their assets, stay at 11 (or later at pick 23), and take former Washington quarterback Michael Penix, Jr.

Perhaps the most interesting tidbit from the survey is just how many—or how few, rather—of the respondents wish the team had paid to keep Kirk Cousins in Minnesota for at least one more season. Not even 2% of the respondents said that the team should have paid for Cousins.

Formern Commanders DE James Smith-Williams signs with Falcons

Smith-Williams’ departure makes it official. The book on the 2020 NFL draft is closed in Washington.

In the latest free agent signings, James Smith-Williams has departed the Commanders to join the Falcons on a one-year deal.

Drafted in the seventh round (No. 229) in the 2020 draft by Washington, the former North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end played four seasons for the Burgundy and Gold.

When Chase Young went down in 2021 with a season-ending knee injury, Smith-Williams noticeably improved the Commanders defense for the remainder of the season. His defense against the run proved to be a contributing factor to the team winning four consecutive games when he entered the lineup.

He started the last six games of that 2021 season, recording 30 tackles (11 solo, 19 assisted), including four for a loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, and five additional QB hits.

Smith-Williams started 14 games in the 2022 season, contributing 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 assisted), including five tackles for a loss, three QB sacks and 16 QB hits.

In his final season (2023) in Washington, injuries limited him to 13 games (7 starts), 22 tackles (11 solo, 11 assists), two tackles for a loss, one quarterback sack, and eight quarterback hits.

Here are highlights from his last two Washington seasons.

When the 2024  free agent signing period launched in March, the Commanders new administration determined to sign Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. both defensive ends who had played for new head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas.

Then, the Commanders signed Clelin Ferrell, a former 49ers defensive end, whom new GM Adam Peters knew from his time as the assistant general manager in San Francisco.

The Commanders had also determined, this offseason, to re-sign Efe Obada over Smith-Williams. Obada has played both inside and outside on passing downs, accumulating 15 career sacks in his 74 NFL games played.

A couple of things are noteworthy. New Falcons free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins has the same agent as Smith-Williams (Priority Sports & Entertainment), and current Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith was with Washington and ran the draft board during the 2020 draft, Ron Rivera’s first with Washington.

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins explains why he didn’t take Kyle Pitts’ number

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins explains why he didn’t switch jersey numbers with TE Kyle Pitts

When the Atlanta Falcons introduced quarterback Kirk Cousins, he was asked about potentially switching jersey numbers with tight end Kyle Pitts. Cousins, who’s worn the No. 8 for his entire career, said Pitts was willing to part with it in exchange for “targets.”

While the story initially excited fans about the upcoming season, Cousins chose the No. 18 instead. This left fans wondering why the number swap with Pitts never happened. Thanks to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, we finally have an answer.

During an episode of Shaq’s “The Big Podcast,” Cousins explained that while Pitts agreed to give the jersey number up, the NFL stepped in with an additional requirement.

“Then the league spoke into it,” explained Cousins. “They were like ‘Well, Kyle Pitts has a lot of jerseys that are No. 8 with Pitts on the back. You would have to buy every single one.'”

Cousins estimated the price of buying the remaining jerseys to be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even after signing a four-year, $180 million contract in Atlanta, the price ultimately wasn’t worth it to the Falcons QB.

Hopefully, Cousins isn’t superstitious. Watch his full interview on “The Big Podcast,” as shared on YouTube below:

CBS Sports doesn’t buy the Saints as a new playoff team in 2024

CBS Sports doesn’t buy the Saints as a new playoff team in 2024. New Orleans has more work to do before they’ll earn anyone’s confidence:

Not many people are buying what the New Orleans Saints are selling — that a team quarterbacked by Derek Carr and coached by Dennis Allen can reach the postseason. Between their own shortcomings and the upgrades other teams in the NFC South have made this offseason, New Orleans is predicted to be watching the playoffs from home like everyone else.

It’s the Atlanta Falcons who will be hosting a playoff game next January, argues Cody Benjamin for CBS Sports. Here’s why Benjamin argues the Falcons, not the Saints, are going to the postseason in 2024:

The Falcons had all the ingredients for a wild-card run in 2023, except a legitimate signal-caller. Now Kirk Cousins is under center, and while his career suggests more of a steady hand than a special talent, he’s got enough ascending skill talent and underrated defensive support to warrant an instant playoff berth in the wide-open NFC South.

It’s early, but Cousins might be the most overrated player to change teams this offseason. The quarterback turns 36 this summer and is coming off of Achilles surgery after an unsuccessful six-year run with the Minnesota Vikings in which he won as many home playoff games as he did in six years with Washington: zero. The only postseason success Cousins found in Minnesota came in 2019, when the Saints (who else?) choked in front of their own home crowd.

Cousins and Carr have been unfavorably compared to each other for years, and their numbers are very similar. So are their resumes. You could argue that Cousins is entering a better situation than Carr found in New Orleans last season, but they’re both teaming up with defensive-minded head coaches who got ran out of one NFL city once already, and who both have sub-.400 career winning percentages (Dennis Allen is at .343, Raheem Morris is at .356). They aren’t that different.

Maybe Cousins is a better quarterback than his production suggests, but he isn’t much better than Carr. The Falcons haven’t won anything with the roster he’s inheriting. At least the Saints have players who have won games in January before, even if it’s been a while. We’ll have to wait and see whether all this confidence Cousins is receiving was warranted when the season kicks off in September.

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B/R writer sees little cause for quarterback panic from the Saints

Bleacher Report isn’t a believer in Derek Carr, so why do they feel the Saints’ panic level at quarterback is low? What about the rest of the NFC South?

Should New Orleans Saints fans feel panic about their quarterback? Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon broke down how concerned each team should be about their current quarterback situation. The levels on his “Panic Meter” ranged from nonexistent to red alert.

Derek Carr is a polarizing figure among the Who Dat Nation, so answers would vary depending on who you ask. But Gagnon puts the concern at a low level for the Saints, writing:

New Orleans Saints: Low

This rating is mainly because they’re sort of stuck with Derek Carr financially for at least two more years. It could get ugly real soon, though.

The assurance of Carr’s future keeps Gagnon from panicking. If Carr doesn’t deliver this season, the Saints could draft a replacement and sit him at the start of the 2025 season. Derek Carr is not a horrible quarterback. He’s an average quarterback. If New Orleans wants to elevate, he probably won’t be the leader. They could do much worse, but it’s tough to see the Saints doing much better without making big changes.

Logically, Gagnon says the Atlanta Falcons find themselves with the lowest panic level in the division. Kirk Cousins is a solid quarterback and should lead the team for a few years at least. The Carolina Panthers do find themselves with a higher concern level than New Orleans though. Gagnon is already looking at potentially moving on from Bryce Young. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are treading water after extending Baker Mayfield. Will all four quarterbacks still be in place this time next year? In two years? Three? We’ll have to wait and see.

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Kevin O’Connell sheds light on Justin Jefferson contract and future quarterback situations

At the NFL owners meetings, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell discussed Justin Jefferson and his involvement with the QB process

The NFL’s annual league meetings are going on right now in Orlando, FL, and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has provided some illumination on two hot-button topics surrounding the team. From ESPN writer Kevin Seifert’s report, O’Connell has said he’s been having “regular check-ins” with wide receiver Justin Jefferson regarding the team’s plan at the quarterback position.

Minnesota lost long-time starting quarterback Kirk Cousins in the offseason, as he signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons in the opening wave of the NFL’s free agency period. Cousins and Jefferson had a connection during their time in Minnesota that helped make Jefferson one of the best wide receivers in the league. With Cousins now gone, O’Connell mentioned that Jefferson is “excited about the potential of contributing to the mentorship of a young quarterback”.

That quote would seem to imply that the plan for the Vikings is to draft a quarterback in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, likely early, and that Jefferson will play an integral role in that quarterback’s development both in the immediate and in the long-term.

To further illustrate the idea that Jefferson is in the Vikings’ long-term plans, O’Connell also mentioned that Jefferson “doesn’t need to know the outcome of the team’s plans before signing a contract extension”.

That news should be encouraging to all Vikings fans. There has been a lot of speculation about Jefferson and how willing he would be to stick around with the Vikings without Cousins in the fold. At least for now, that seems to be a non-issue and both Jefferson and the team seem to be committed to Jefferson sticking around for the long haul.

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