Is Kirk Cousins still an underdog?

[purplefaithful]

In an age where athletes spend an exorbitant amount of time and money spiffing their image to fit a carefully thought-out narrative, Kirk Cousins came across his persona organically.In Washington, he earned the label of an underdog by spending three years being largely unappreciated by his own bumbling franchise.

But the moment Cousins put ink to paper on an $84 million deal with a team that went 13-3, he signed away part dark horse image. He’s no longer operating the Little Engine That Could. He’s taking over a powerful locomotive and getting paid more than any other conductor in the world.


http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/0...-underdog/

[Guest]

Cousins’ tenure in Minnesota will be defined by the figure $84 million and the words “Super Bowl”

Overlooked and underestimated has been the theme of his athletic career, according to his father, Don Cousins.

In 2015 he screamed, “YOU LIKE THAT!?” at a reporter after a comeback win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The following year he shouted, “how you like me now?” at the team’s GM after a win. 
When Cousins was questioned about his losing record as a starter, he didn’t exactly take ownership of it.
PFF rated Cousins the 19th best QB overall in 2017 and rated him the 17th most accurate. He was ninth overall in 2016. Alex Smith ranked seventh last year.
“I think [the Vikings] get some consistency in that you will know that he’s going to be somewhere between the 10th and 20th best quarterback in the league,” Eager said on the Purple Podcast. “The question becomes: When should you pay for that? 

Head coach Jay Gruden was asked whether the team improved at the quarterback position by letting Cousins walk and acquiring Alex Smith.
“Yeah, without a doubt,” Gruden said at the annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. “I don’t want to compare two players, but we’re always trying to be better at every position. We got better. Alex’s experience is well-noted, and his record the last five years is what it is. You could argue that all day, but we feel very good.”


An interesting article that captures the crux of the situation.  The Vikings front office is going for broke betting on this guy. Anything less than a Superbowl appearance will be a disappointment. Yet his last coach seems glad to see him gone.  He wont be able to be the underdog any more.  
Did Rick make a mistake in paying a record amount for a guy who analysts suggest it is reasonable to expect Cousins to only be the 10th to 20th best QB in the league?
You have to wonder were Wilf stands on all of this and how much leeway he is willing to give to Rick and Zimmer.  Wilf has made it extraorinarily clear since purchasing the team that he is here to win superbowls.


I couldnt help but notice the irony in that the situation with the Keenum, the Vikings have cast him in the Cousins role.



Never a dull moment

[Guest]

Going for broke? Chips all in?

That's desperation talk imo. I paint it "being bold"

They did exactly what I'd want them to do -- assess with their metrics that they improved the team and gave themselves a chance to better themselves at the position all in one fell swoop. 

Whether that plays out remains to be seen. But as a fan, if they thought Cousins was clearly better and didnt make a move to acquire that asset? I'd have been more po'ed at that timid behavior...

  

[Guest]

I guess I want my favorite team to always be 'all in'. How else do you maximize your potential? 'All in' to me means doing everything possible to be the best team you can. Shouldn't 'Superbowl or bust' be every team's mantra? 31 teams fail to win the Superbowl each and every year...so they are all abysmal failures then? 

The media gets so stupid with stuff.

[Guest]

@purplefaithful said:
Going for broke? Chips all in?

That's desperation talk imo. I paint it "being bold"

They did exactly what I'd want them to do -- assess with their metrics that they improved the team and gave themselves a chance to better themselves at the position all in one fell swoop. 

Whether that plays out remains to be seen. But as a fan, if they thought Cousins was clearly better and didnt make a move to acquire that asset? I'd have been more po'ed at that timid behavior...

  

I dont see it as desperation at all.  You could characterize paying an average QB the highest contract ever and then guarenteeing it as bold but others might see it as a desperation move.

It wasnt as if picking Cousins was the ONLY way to upgrade the team.  They could have worked a much more affordable deal for a Qb who was currently on the team and spent the money upgrading the other positions like the O line and resigning the team’s current young stars.  They will be second guessed all season until the end and we will all see if they chose correctly.

[Guest]

By the end of the season Kirk Cousins will be considered an elite QB. Whether he is or not is beside the point. 

Kirk Cousins has always had elite-level yardage numbers, TD to INT ratios and passer ratings. And so now with the NFL's best defense, receivers like Thielen, Diggs, Wright and Rudolph, and a runner like Cook, Cousins will do the one thing which has prevented him from being considered among the best QBs in the NFL: WIN. 

[Guest]

@MaroonBells said:
By the end of the season Kirk Cousins will be considered an elite QB. Whether he is or not is beside the point. 

Kirk Cousins has always had elite-level yardage numbers, TD to INT ratios and passer ratings. And so now with the NFL's best defense, receivers like Thielen, Diggs, Wright and Rudolph, and a runner like Cook, Cousins will do the one thing which has prevented him from being considered among the best QBs in the NFL: WIN. 

I think all Viking fandom is hoping right along with you Maroon.  It is going to be a great ride.

[Guest]

If the Vikings just wanted an underdog they could have stuck with Case Keenum. They wanted an upgrade and did what it took to get it. If Kirk finds an underdog attitude useful for motivation, so be it.  So much speculation this time of year. it makes my head spin. Can't wait to see some games played.
My speculation is; the Vikings will do just fine if the O-line can protect Cousins and the defense continues to be dominant. Many years in recent history, the Vikings had the defense but no offensive punch. This year they should be a threat in all three phases of the game.
SKOL Vikes!

[Guest]

The vikings aren't "Going for Broke" or "Super Bowl or Bust".  Those terms suggest mortgaging the future for current success.  The Vikings are maximizing their chances for current success without jeopardizing their future potential.  They just picked the best available option and paid him the market rate.  He doesn't need to be a savior or anything.  He doesn't need to be Elite.  He isn't going to single handedly drive the destiny of this team.  He can just be a guy.  He just needs to be Keenum plus a little bit extra.

[Guest]

Agree KC neds to be better than CK and the defense need to play great until the very end of their season.