A Cautionary Tale

If Cousins was 29 like he was when Washington let him go, we would not be having this conversation, because he would have already had an extension.  Letting a healthy 29 year old go as opposed to a 36 year old coming off a major surgery are two completely different situations. 

@"JR44" said: If Cousins was 29 like he was when Washington let him go, we would not be having this conversation, because he would have already had an extension.  Letting a healthy 29 year old go as opposed to a 36 year old coming off a major surgery are two completely different situations. 

Washington has had 12 different starting QBs since Cousins left. Let that sink in.

Kirk has existing, proven chemistry with JJ, Addison, TJ, the coaches, and a team that unanimously votes him as a captain...and similarly talks about wanting him back.

Yes, I know the money, the age, and everything else matters...but I also know that drafting a young QB is inevitable regardless, and I'd like the young'un to learn behind someone better than Dobbs, Hall, or Mullens...and I want no part of Wilson "riding" with the team.

@"Waterboy" said:

@"JR44" said: If Cousins was 29 like he was when Washington let him go, we would not be having this conversation, because he would have already had an extension.  Letting a healthy 29 year old go as opposed to a 36 year old coming off a major surgery are two completely different situations. 

Not to mention, did they win a Super Bowl under either circumstance, and hasn't Washington been known for making boneheaded decisions for years.  It's not like keeping Kirk would have changed much to anything other than maybe they could have had a few avg years rather than poor years.

@"JR44" said: If Cousins was 29 like he was when Washington let him go, we would not be having this conversation, because he would have already had an extension.  Letting a healthy 29 year old go as opposed to a 36 year old coming off a major surgery are two completely different situations. 

But this is a post about how hard it is for teams to find good QBs. There are at least a dozen teams who need one. Washington has been through 12 different starters in the 6 seasons since Kirk left. The Bears have spent 104 years searching for a QB. The Lions spent 60 years looking for a guy despite picking in the top 10 perennially. Harrington, Ware, Chuck Long. All 1st rounders, all busts. And the Browns with Mayfield, Manziel, Quinn, Couch. All 1st rounders, all busts.

I think the lesson here is that when you have a good QB, you keep him until you have a competent replacement.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JR44" said: If Cousins was 29 like he was when Washington let him go, we would not be having this conversation, because he would have already had an extension.  Letting a healthy 29 year old go as opposed to a 36 year old coming off a major surgery are two completely different situations. 

You're right that the situations are not perfectly equal. And if you think it's time for the Vikings to draft Cousins' eventual  replacement because of his age, you'll get no argument from me. 

But this is a post about how hard it is for teams to find good QBs. There are at least a dozen teams who need one. Washington has been through 12 different starters in the 6 seasons since Kirk left. The Bears have spent 104 years searching for a QB. The Lions spent 60 years looking for a guy despite picking in the top 10 perennially. Harrington, Ware, Chuck Long. All 1st rounders, all busts. And the Browns with Mayfield, Manziel, Quinn, Couch. All 1st rounders, all busts.

I think the lesson here is that when you have a good QB, you keep him until you have a competent replacement.

 Cousins (6 seasons)
            W  L. T
2023:  4  4  0

2022:  13  4  0

2021:   8  9  0

2020:   7  9  0

2019:   10  6  0

2018:  8  7  1
_________________
           50  39  1

Before Cousins (6 seasons)

2017:  13  3  0

2016:   8  8  0

2015:   11 5  0

2014:   7  9  0

2013:   5  10  1

2012:   10  6  0
________________
              54  41  1

@"DeepFreeze05" said:  Cousins (6 seasons)             W  L. T 2023:  4  4  0

2022:  13  4  0

2021:   8  9  0

2020:   7  9  0

2019:   10  6  0

2018:  8  7  1
_________________
           50  39  1

Before Cousins (6 seasons)

2017:  13  3  0

2016:   8  8  0

2015:   11 5  0

2014:   7  9  0

2013:   5  10  1

2012:   10  6  0
________________
              54  41  1

I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems.
I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

@"MaroonBells" said: A common belief: Teams need to take risks to escape the purgatory of .500 football. Also you can't do the "rebuild" portion of a competitive rebuild while paying Kirk market value.  6 years ago Washinton was faced with a similar dilemma with the same QB. In the 2 seasons prior to Cousins taking over, the Redskins went 3-13 and 4-12. In the 3 seasons with Cousins as the starter, Washington had a winning record and won a division title, despite having a defense that ranked 28th, 28th and 21st. Obviously the QB was not the problem. Who did they get rid of? The QB.

2 years ago, the Vikings won 13 games despite having the 31st ranked defense. Last year, the Vikings beat the Packers and the 49ers, and played the Chiefs down to the wire, despite not having JJ or a running game. Obviously the QB was not the problem. Who are we about to get rid of? The QB. 

In the 6 seasons since letting Cousins go, Washington has gone through 12 different starters trying to replace him. 12 starters in 6 seasons. The QB they take this April will be number 13.  To their credit, the people in Washington who had a hand in the Cousins decision now admit that it was a big mistake. 

Those who do not learn from history...

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

Plenty of teams move off competent QBs. It doesn’t always lead to a SB or even work out, but the Vikings doing it is far from some unprecedented wild notion. All cases are different.

Looking at that list of the past 12 years, tells me we’re an average team for the most part. It beats being dreadful but it’s not special either. I’m hopeful for better but odds are no matter what we do at QB, we’ll continue to see similar results… unless we finally land that white whale. 

@"pattersaur" said:

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

Yeah the flipside to the coin is other teams who did the opposite. Chargers moved from Brees to Rivers. Then Rivers to Herbert. GB we know. Chiefs. Ravens. Rams. Seahawks. 

Plenty of teams move off competent QBs. It doesn’t always lead to a SB or even work out, but the Vikings doing it is far from some unprecedented wild notion. All cases are different.

Looking at that list of the past 12 years, tells me we’re an average team for the most part. It beats being dreadful but it’s not special either. I’m hopeful for better but odds are no matter what we do at QB, we’ll continue to see similar results… unless we finally land that white whale. 

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

So wait, in this scenario, the Redskins are the abusive ones or the Vikings?  Because I sure feel like a beaten woman after most seasons. 

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

It's all about the QB. It's ALL about the QB. And for those in back....IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUCKING QB!!!!!

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

It doesn't take long for dysfunctional franchises to become functional. And it sure as hell doesn't take long for functional ones to become dysfunctional. Look at New England. That might be the worst team in the NFL right now. Is that a dysfunctional org? 

It's all about the QB. It's ALL about the QB. And for those in back....IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUCKING QB!!!!!

@"DeepFreeze05" said:  Cousins (6 seasons)             W  L. T 2023:  4  4  0

2022:  13  4  0

2021:   8  9  0

2020:   7  9  0

2019:   10  6  0

2018:  8  7  1
_________________
           50  39  1

Before Cousins (6 seasons)

2017:  13  3  0

2016:   8  8  0

2015:   11 5  0

2014:   7  9  0

2013:   5  10  1

2012:   10  6  0
________________
              54  41  1

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

It doesn't take long for dysfunctional franchises to become functional. And it sure as hell doesn't take long for functional ones to become dysfunctional. Look at New England. That might be the worst team in the NFL right now. Is that a dysfunctional org? 

It's all about the QB. It's ALL about the QB. And for those in back....IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUCKING QB!!!!!

A little birdie told me the team really likes this guy:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

It doesn't take long for dysfunctional franchises to become functional. And it sure as hell doesn't take long for functional ones to become dysfunctional. Look at New England. That might be the worst team in the NFL right now. Is that a dysfunctional org? 

It's all about the QB. It's ALL about the QB. And for those in back....IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUCKING QB!!!!!

A little birdie told me the team really likes this guy:

@"AGRforever" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"medaille" said: I don’t believe that you can compare a fucked up franchise with a functional one, in the same way that you can’t look at the kids of the parents who are abusive and think that their problems are also going to be your kids problems. I also don’t believe that you can look at Washington as a organization that is really that serious at fixing their QB problem.  Since Cousins was drafted a billion years ago, they’ve drafted 3 QBs, Dwayne Haskins who was out of the league in 2 years, a 5th rounder, and a 6th rounder.  Their FA hauls look like a team that’s barely tryin

It doesn't take long for dysfunctional franchises to become functional. And it sure as hell doesn't take long for functional ones to become dysfunctional. Look at New England. That might be the worst team in the NFL right now. Is that a dysfunctional org? 

It's all about the QB. It's ALL about the QB. And for those in back....IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUCKING QB!!!!!

A little birdie told me the team really likes this guy:

Can you tell the birdy to get him at 42 or a trade up?  Addressing Edge with 11 and double dipping with Penix is acceptable but Penix at 11 would be hard to swallow.