If you had not been following the situation between Kirk Cousins and the Redskins over the past two years, you might think the team decided not to bring Cousins back and instead preferred to replace the Pro Bowler with Alex Smith. But as Jay Gruden reminds us, that is not the case.
Gruden was asked on Thursday about moving on from Cousins, and his response indicated that the quarterback was the one who was not willing to sign a long-term deal with Washington.
: Jay Gruden on #Redskins moving on from Kirk Cousins pic.twitter.com/1Gjwi6XeCT
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 1, 2018
“We’ve played this (franchise) tag game for a couple of years now, and I think it’s time to get some stability at the most important position in sports, and that’s quarterback,” Gruden said. “It’s very important for us to move forward and let Kirk move on. If Washington’s not a place he wanted to be, it’s time for us to move on and get some continuity at quarterback.”
There was some speculation that the Redskins could franchise tag Cousins for a third straight season in an attempt to trade him, but they admitted this week that they are not going to do that. Since Cousins could just refuse to sign a long-term extension with any team he was traded to, Washington really has no leverage.
Cousins said publicly on numerous occasions that he wanted to remain with the Redskins, but his relationship with the team clearly deteriorated the more the two sides negotiated. Now, it appears he may have his sights set on joining another NFC team.
