Redskins consider tagging Cousins

That seems like it would be a really risky move for Washington. They have no intention of keeping Cousins and franchising him would lock up $34.5 million in cap room not to mention the $17 million they are spending on Cousins. You might get a team like Cleveland, who is desperate enough to offer a trade, but if Cousins threatens to not sign a long term deal, then that kills his value on the trade market. Unless some team is willing to make a stupid deal, then Washington is better off with the cap space and recouping a compensation pick in 2019.

We're already short on draft picks as it is and while Cousins is arguably the best option out there, he's certainly not the only option.

that would be hilarious if it backfired on them. 

thinking about it more i would think the players union would have something to say about this.  the union might insist that he not sign the franchise tag. 

They can consider all they want. That ship sailed Danny boy.

lol, no way. 

Some poster mentioned that the Redskins were a well run franchise...I'm wondering if there's some alternate reality where this is a true statement...

@"BarrNone55" said: Some poster mentioned that the Redskins were a well run franchise...I'm wondering if there's some alternate reality where this is a true statement...

The Alex Smith contract is not official yet. They only have $38 million in cap space so once his contract hits the books, how could they pull that off without being over the cap? I can't see anyone trading for him at $34.5 million so it would have to be a sign and trade.  

Besides this being a far fetched fantasy for the skins, Cousins would have to agree to actually sign the tag and allow washington to decide where he will be going. Never gonna happen.

This is just Snyder being petty. He and the Redskins lost and they know it. They won't end up tagging & trading Cousins for a variety of reasons: 

1. The cap which most people seem to be caught up on. From the Redskins point of view, they can't hold $34M on the cap for a QB they have no intention of keeping. No team is going to give up anything of value for that contract either. With $34M guaranteed for 2018 that'd become the starting point for a new contract extension. A new team will pay up but won't negotiate when the player has all the leverage. 

2. The CBA also has explicit language that the franchise tag must be used with "the intention of retaining a player long-term" . So Cousins and the NFLPA would likely challenge the Redskins intent all together since they're clearly not trying to retain him after the Alex Smith acquisition. 

3. Kirk's right on the tag. This is the one area where Kirk could really make the Redskins life hard. You can't trade a player who isn't under contract and Cousins wouldn't officially be under contract until he signs the franchise tag. That doesn't have to happen for a number of months. In the meantime they'd have to carry the $34M cap hit unless they opted to pull back the tag. 

Anyone who thinks about this rationally will realize that its highly unlikely Washington tags him. But the Redskins aren't exactly known for being a stand up organization. 

@"Geoff Nichols" said: This is just Snyder being petty. He and the Redskins lost and they know it. They won't end up tagging & trading Cousins for a variety of reasons: 

1. The cap which most people seem to be caught up on. From the Redskins point of view, they can't hold $34M on the cap for a QB they have no intention of keeping. No team is going to give up anything of value for that contract either. With $34M guaranteed for 2018 that'd become the starting point for a new contract extension. A new team will pay up but won't negotiate when the player has all the leverage. 

2. The CBA also has explicit language that the franchise tag must be used with "the intention of retaining a player long-term" . So Cousins and the NFLPA would likely challenge the Redskins intent all together since they're clearly not trying to retain him after the Alex Smith acquisition. 

3. Kirk's right on the tag. This is the one area where Kirk could really make the Redskins life hard. You can't trade a player who isn't under contract and Cousins wouldn't officially be under contract until he signs the franchise tag. That doesn't have to happen for a number of months. In the meantime they'd have to carry the $34M cap hit unless they opted to pull back the tag. 

Anyone who thinks about this rationally will realize that its highly unlikely Washington tags him. But the Redskins aren't exactly known for being a stand up organization. 

As you stated, the cap hold would cripple them in free agency.  They also have to execute the trade with Kansas City and extend Smith.  If they renege on that deal then Snyder will not be too popular amongst owners.  I cannot see them backing out of the trade just to try and hold some leverage on Cousins.

If Cousins and Smith are in the cap then they will not be able to extend Trent Murphy, Zach Brown, Bashaud Breeland, Spencer Long, Dustin Hopkins, and some other free agents they probably want to keep.

These players will not wait until the Cousins situation is resolved once free agency starts.  That money dries up fast and they were going to want to get paid. 

Plus, they could be soured on the organization because of this entire mess.

The worst part is that if they tag him and rescind it then they will not get a compensatory pick (if I am not mistaken).  That would be too funny.

They should just be happy with the most likely 3rd round pick they get next year.

If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

@"SmashmouthD" said: If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"SmashmouthD" said: If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

thats what I was thinking.  sure they could trade you to the browns for a year,  but you hold a lot of leverage and could really make them uncomfortable for that last year.

@"MarkSP18" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"SmashmouthD" said: If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

thats what I was thinking.  sure they could trade you to the browns for a year,  but you hold a lot of leverage and could really make them uncomfortable for that last year.

He definitely should NOT sign it immediately.

First, he wants out and everyone knows they do not have the cap space to do it.

Second, he is more than likely going to get 50 mil guaranteed from a team that signs him (I hope it is the Vikings) plus another 20 to 40 guaranteed for injury.

So, if I were his agent, I would say do not sign it.

They will rescind it and then you will get more guaranteed from an organization that actually wants you.

Worst case is that they truly have gone completely mental and then you do sign it and get the 34 mil for 2018 to be there.

But, he should wait them out.  At least I would.

@"MarkSP18" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"SmashmouthD" said: If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

thats what I was thinking.  sure they could trade you to the browns for a year,  but you hold a lot of leverage and could really make them uncomfortable for that last year.

He definitely should NOT sign it immediately.

First, he wants out and everyone knows they do not have the cap space to do it.

Second, he is more than likely going to get 50 mil guaranteed from a team that signs him (I hope it is the Vikings) plus another 20 to 40 guaranteed for injury.

So, if I were his agent, I would say do not sign it.

They will rescind it and then you will get more guaranteed from an organization that actually wants you.

Worst case is that they truly have gone completely mental and then you do sign it and get the 34 mil for 2018 to be there.

But, he should wait them out.  At least I would.

sounds like i need to become cousins with cousins with all these numbers floating around

@"SmashmouthD" said: If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

If Cousins took that approach, could the Redskins still void the trade for Alex Smith? It isn't official until the league year starts, so they may have an out.

@"Jor-El" said:

@"SmashmouthD" said: If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

If Cousins took that approach, could the Redskins still void the trade for Alex Smith? It isn't official until the league year starts, so they may have an out.

@"Jor-El" said:

@"SmashmouthD" said: If I'm Cousins and someone tags me for $34 million for one year, I sign that shit immediately.  Immediately.

Then, refuse to sign a long-term deal with any other franchise.  Make those a-holes pay you $34 million to sit on the bench.  Or, they cut you, pay you the $34 million, and then sign with whomever you want.  Double-dip, baby.

Washington would have no leverage whatsoever.

If Cousins took that approach, could the Redskins still void the trade for Alex Smith? It isn't official until the league year starts, so they may have an out.