Cousins says God told him to reject Redskins' long-term contract
When Kirk Cousins turned down a long-term contract this offseason from the Washington Redskins that included an extra $29 million in guaranteed money, the quarterback was only submitting to a higher power.
Cousins opted to play under the one-year franchise tag for a second consecutive season, offering zero insurance against any potentially crippling injury. It's a bold move for someone who came into his starting role by watching firsthand as Robert Griffin III's career was derailed by knee injuries.
But Cousins has faith that everything will turn out for the best.
While players such as Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell do all they can to avoid the tag and the risk which comes with it, Cousins feels the tag was meant for him, according to a transcribed address at Liberty University last Friday.
I prayed about it and said, "Lord, what do you want to do?" I just didn’t feel at peace about signing a long-term contract. I think the Lord communicates with us in many ways, and one of those ways is through his peace. And I just didn’t feel at peace.
And I do believe that the Lord - at least in my life - likes to use one-year contracts and not long-term contracts. He likes to take me to the edge of the Red Sea and have me see there is water in front of me, there are mountains on either side, and there are Egyptians chasing me from behind. And He wants me to sit there for a moment and go, "God, You better show up." And then He parts the Red Sea and He’s done that time and again in my life, on the football field and off the football field.
Cousins enters his second straight season as the NFL's highest-paid quarterback in terms of base salary, according to Spotrac. If he manages to successfully traverse another NFL season free of a serious injury, he stands to make as much as $34 million under a third consecutive one-year franchise tag, should the 2018 transition tag be set at the estimated value of $28 million.
- With h/t to Bleacher Report