Cory's Corner: Don't Worry About Kirk Cousins to Minnesota

It’s hard to believe, but Kirk Cousins could wind up being another above average quarterback taking snaps in the NFC North.

Kirk Cousins…to the Vikings?

It’s hard to believe, but Cousins could wind up being another above average quarterback taking snaps in the NFC North. Minnesota is not expected to franchise tag Case Keenum, which means the Vikings could be making a run at the 29-year-old Cousins.

Is Cousins better than Keenum? Yeah, he is. But he’s a B- quarterback that has averaged 12 interceptions a season the last three years.

And that runs counterculture to what Minnesota needs out of a quarterback. It needs a quarterback to not screw things up. With a defense that was No. 1 in total defense last year, the quarterback’s job is to not give the ball away or put the defense in a tough spot on a short field.

But I think that would be just a marginal difference for Minnesota. Getting in a bidding war for a guy that reminds me of Brad Johnson wouldn’t offer a lot in return.

The Vikings are in a tough spot because if they choose not to bring Keenum back, the other two quarterbacks were hurt last year. Sam Bradford had arthroscopic knee surgery in November and didn’t return. Teddy Bridgewater tore his left ACL, dislocated his knee and also suffered other structural damage in August 2016. It was so bad that teammates were seen puking when they saw what had happened.

Which means the Vikings are driving a Lamborghini on defense with a Ford Escort at quarterback.

Cousins would be the next in a long line of mediocre Minnesota quarterbacks. Guys like Johnson, Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte and Christian Ponder. Could he be better than all of those guys?

Sure. But Cousins isn’t anything to really worry about, especially because he will command more money than Bridgewater and Keenum. That means that signing Cousins may inhibit Minnesota from keeping or signing more defensive depth.

So don’t fret about Cousins. He’s due north of $25 million a season, but his production won’t come close to that. 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (94)

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NickPerry's picture

February 27, 2018 at 06:57 am

I guess I'm like Cory and I'm not overly concerned if Cousins were to go to Minnesota. Actually I'd love to see them get in a bidding war for Cousins and then watch them TRY to sign Hunter, Diggs, Kendricks, and Barr, all FA after the 2018 season IF they did sign him. Minnesota hasn't had to pay a premium price for a "Franchise Type QB", not really. Sure they paid Bradford around $20 million but that was short lived, it cost them a 1st round draft pick in the process, AND he was injured for most of the time he was there.

Cousins best season was 2015. That was the ONE season the Redskins made the playoffs under him AND they were eliminated by Rodgers and the Packers 35-18. That was the ONE season he had a passer rating over 100 and the ratings have gone down with each passing season since. Keenum got them to the NFCCG and his reward is all this talk about the Vikings making a push for Cousins. I understand the Vikings concern Keenum is a one year wonder, but damn what must Keenum be thinking about all this?

At the end of the day I don't care who the Vikings QB is, he ain't Aaron Rodgers! What would be absolutely HILARIOUS would be to watch the Purple Pee Pee Eaters LOSE out on Cousins, lose Keenum, and be basically HOPING Bridgewater can come back and throw a ball farther than 4 yards downfield. There will be some hurt feelings in Minnesota in the next few weeks.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:30 pm

Counterpoint here NP:

I agree that a spending spree for Cousins wrecks the Vikings long term. They make their hay on the defensive side of the ball, and they won't be able to pay those young players looking for contracts if they have a 30 mil/AAV for a Tier 2 QB.

However, I am concerned that Minny gets Cousins. He is undeniably better than Keenum, Bridgewater and Bradford. And in the short term, with that defense, what would stop them from winning it all next year or the year after? They'd be the deserved favorites.

I do not want to lose the "ZeroTrophiesSince1961" trump card with the Barney fans.

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gr7070's picture

February 27, 2018 at 01:28 pm

Cousins DVOA ranking last three years:
15
5
6

If he plays like the top 6 QB in the league it doesn't matter that he had a few more INTs as hell have a few more TDs etc.

Top 5 QB would be a huge plus for MN.

If course repeating as a top D is rather difficult. There's a lot of players that have to play well to continue that run.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 03:03 pm

"However, I am concerned that Minny gets Cousins. He is undeniably better than Keenum, Bridgewater and Bradford. And in the short term, with that defense, what would stop them from winning it all next year or the year after? They'd be the deserved favorites."

Injuries, declining performance, bad bounces. locker room division, some other team simply being better, etc, etc.

The same things that stop any team from winning it all.

Last we saw that super duper defense, they were getting chewed up and spit out by a backup QB...after barely squeaking out a lucky win on the worst defensive play I have ever seen in my life. I am the only one that remembers the playoffs?

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Bearmeat's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:10 pm

Sure, but you win the most super bowls by putting yourself in the conversation as many times as possible. With Cousins and that defense, that team would rightly be one to be feared.

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dobber's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:14 pm

"Sure, but you win the most super bowls by putting yourself in the conversation as many times as possible."

Isn't this the "Packers win the division" argument we've been disparaging so much recently?

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Bearmeat's picture

February 27, 2018 at 05:53 pm

Yep. Got me. Lol

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John Kirk's picture

February 28, 2018 at 07:07 am

No. He doesn't. The unquoted 2nd car on your train of thought is critical. When has Green Bay had the defense? :). Pack is in convo because of 12, alone. Different to be in conversation because of your overall roster power vs. a singular player.

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dobber's picture

February 28, 2018 at 07:22 am

No, actually it's not. They're two independent statements. One talks about tickets to the dance and how number of punches relates to chances to win the SB. This is an argument used frequently around here to justify the approach of management since 2010. The other does point toward roster quality but talks nothing about the first statement or even winning SBs. If you want to merge them, that's fine, but they're standalones that don't really have much to do with each other.

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John Kirk's picture

February 28, 2018 at 08:11 am

***Sure, but you win the most super bowls by putting yourself in the conversation as many times as possible. With Cousins and that defense, that team would rightly be one to be feared.***

I saw them as one. "feared" translated to: feared, to be in SB's. You're right, though, the first could be spoken to as stand alone. I just saw part two as reason for saying part one. I didn't think he was saying the Vikings were the first statement unless they added Cousins.

In any case, there's no way that anyone would say that you wouldn't want as many punches as possible for SB's. The quality of those punches are what have been at issue, here, since 2010. In bearmeat's example he spelled out two distinct reasons for being feared/SB chance... Cousins AND that defense. In Green Bay the chance has been, Aaron Rodgers AND ????... not that defense.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:10 pm

Double post

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 05:52 pm

That defense is good but not nearly what some people seem to think. They piled up stats by playing JV offenses nearly half the time. They looked better due to Hundley (x2), Chicago (x2), Cincy, Cleve, Balt and TB appearing on the schedule.

Cousins is a middle of the road QB. I think he'd have a hard time matching Keenum's 98 QB rating from 2017. I know Keenum would not match it.

I just don't see the same powerhouse that others do.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 06:29 pm

The Vikes did get fat on poor competition, but if you look at the progression since Zimmer was hired...

2014 19th ranked defense
2015 13th ranked defense
2016 3rd ranked defense
2017 1st ranked defense

Cousins may not light it up in Year 1, that's true. However, we've seen that this team can get to the playoffs with Bridgewater and Keenum. I think Cousins can do just as well, even in Year 1, and we've never seen them with a full season of Dalvin Cook. We all saw what Dallas was without Elliott for a few games and Cook isn't far from being mentioned in same breath with Zeke. I will lament every moment of Dalvin in Minnesota as he was someone I desperately wanted in Green Bay but we got King instead. Curious how that'll play out as years roll by.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:03 pm

"... if you look at the progression since Zimmer was hired...

2014 19th ranked defense
2015 13th ranked defense
2016 3rd ranked defense
2017 1st ranked defense"

Hmm, so changing coaching staff can make a difference in play on the field. Good news for the Packers, indeed.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:07 pm

I smiled when you took this to a different place than intended. :)

We already knew that and saw it when Dom and crew came to town. Now, I miss Kevin Greene.

Let's hope it doesn't take my guy Pettine 3 years to produce what Zimmer's crew did.

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mrtundra's picture

February 28, 2018 at 08:39 am

That defense was nowhere to be seen against the Eagles. That defense has been overrated because the League wanted Minnesota in the picture, being talked about, for something. The hype surrounding their team playing in their own stadium in the Super Bowl was nauseating and finally put to rest by Nick Foles and Co. If the vikings sign Cousins, he will not make the vikings Super Bowl contenders. That's what the vikings thought when they signed Favre, Bradford. Keenum surprised them last season. Cousins leading the vikings to an 8-8 season shouldn't surprise them, at all.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:45 am

I think most Packers fans are unable to see this move for what it would be. It'd be no different than asking a Vikings fan what they thought of us making a huge defensive move...of course, they'd soft pedal it, just like this piece does on Cousins. (NP...yes, his passer rating has gone down, but he's a career 97.5 guy...that is very, very good. His OL was a disaster last season) EDIT: I was wrong, the 97.5 is his number over the last 3 seasons. As 61 pointed out he's a career 93.7.

My view is the exact opposite of this piece. Cousins to Minnesota is something to be very concerned about if you're the type that loves those division titles. Nobody here is going to say the Packers defense is anywhere near what the Vikings have over there. We may never catch up to them figuratively speaking. We used to count on nobody catching us due to our advantage at QB. Cousins to Minnesota narrows that gap yet their defense will still be way better than ours. Advantage Minnesota.

The Vikings offense will feature Diggs, Thielen, a healthy Dalvin Cook and Kyle Rudolph and newly added, Kirk Cousins. If you don't think that's formidable enough just on offense alone without factoring their defense, I think you're suffering major avoidance issues.

For me, the only thing I think that looms as a potential issue is that Kirk has the chemistry with all his weapons that he had with Terrelle Pryor, which is to say...none. Cousins and Pryor, on paper, looked like a buzz saw but what they were wouldn't scare the softest wood. Plus, we have yet to see what Pettine does to raise our defense. Pettine better really juice up this D, and Cousins better not have great chemistry with his new pieces or it's WC city for the Packers for Aaron's remaining time.

Now, I think the idea of dealing Aaron Rodgers to Cleveland in a Herschel Walker type deal makes even more sense should Minnesota land Cousins, IF, they have to pay him some astronomical sum. We're not catching Minnesota paying Aaron 30 some odd million per season should they land Cousins.

One thing to consider...Cousins has faced us twice...he put up over 300 yards both times and the last was a 40 burger dismantling. Yes, that was Dom's D, and perhaps it'll be better but this is not one of those "nothing to see here". It's hard seeing a rival get better and become a SB darling like we were for so many years but we're going to have to get used to it whether we accept it or not. I think this will be one of those 7 stages of grief cycles for most in Packer land. I won't just accept it but I'm looking at this how most who don't care at all about either team would look at it. Wait til you read the pieces that come out on the Vikings and not from their own press. Almost everyone will be on their bandwagon save for Packers fans who'll be telling themselves it's no big deal.

This was a concern of mine for some time now. Hearing Gil Brandt report that if he was a betting man he'd bet on Cousins to Minnesota instantly made me feel like the Packers are at the end of their run and the baton has been passed. We all knew it couldn't go on forever, and that time may have finally come. A building Vikings arsenal and a struggling Packers franchise trying to figure out how to handle their troubling situation by the hand of a first year GM. Again, advantage Minnesota.

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Savage57's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:30 am

You sound more than concerned. Be afraid, be very afraid?

The Packers will be alright. Last season was more aberration than harbinger. These guys will come back to their typical inept center as we saw against the Eagles.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 11:30 am

Afraid? No. Realistic? Yes.

Saying the Vikings are coming back to their center? What does that even mean? They won the division twice in the last 3 years and Aaron was here for the whole season when they got the first of those two titles. Vikes choked that playoff game vs. Seattle. That was a reverse Minneapolis Miracle vs. Seattle.

So, in the last 3 seasons they've won the division twice and in the one they didn't they had Bradford as a guy who just got there in September starting for them and lost AD for the majority of the season, and still started 5-0. They're a combined 32-16 over that time. Meanwhile, we're 27-21.

Now, before you holler about Hundley, realize the Vikings played two of the last 3 seasons with a backup and then a 3rd string QB...and they still have outdone us. Now, that they might land that prize of FA at QB, somehow, the Packers with their mess are going to just magically be better because that's what we're used to? No. Eyes need to open. The Vikings have been passing us over the last 3 seasons...their issues at QB is the only thing masking that at all and they've still been better than us with them.

There is nothing we can say about us being better than them right now and even less should they get Cousins.

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TKWorldWide's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:27 pm

I'd like a harbinger, cooked medium, with ketchup, mustard, cheese, and onions.

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scullyitsme's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:16 am

You could of stopped your rambling at , “we should trade Aaron Rodgers to Cleveland” remark. Believe me, that tells everyone here all we need to know.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:23 am

Does it? Your reply tells me all I need to know. The Vikings got to the NFC championship game with a 3rd string QB and no Dalvin Cook.

Put my Cleveland comment in context. I've said it before now. If the contract for Aaron is going to be so crippling that we can't add what we need to win a SB, then it would be stupid not to deal him but you can hang your hat on the past being the future as wishful thinking. Nobody can stop you.

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scullyitsme's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:44 am

Ah, yes, yes it does. At least to all the sane people that read this blog. There does seem to be far fewer than there used to be, but that’s everywhere now it seems.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:55 am

Bring something to the table to counter anything I've said. If you're sane and I'm not that should be shooting fish in a barrel. If you're looking through the lens of emotionalism, which I believe you are, then of course that's your perspective and hence your type of replies. Drop the emotion and speak rationally to anything I've said here. It'd be nice to make a value judgment when you put your cards out on the table for comparison.

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scullyitsme's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:11 am

Ok, I suggest getting your own blog, instead of hijacking this one every time you perceive someone as disagreeing with you. You apparently have the free time to write more than the creators of cheesehead tv and all the rest of us that occasionally comment. You deserve your opinions, but maybe tone it down a bit or find an appropriate place for the novels and disagreements. That’s my 2 cents. I’m sure a long novel of how I’m wrong and am stepping on your rights as an American and packer fan is forthcoming.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:43 pm

Thanks, CheeseyTex...

You're right, scullyitsme...I should have my own blog. So should several others here who are bright, opinionated and well written.

Responding to someone's usually harsh criticism of me or my view is not hijacking anything. It's keeping discussion going. I see that many kind of want to one off it...write their snarky responses and disappear. I asked you to debate with me and you continue choosing not to offering me life advice in return but by writing your little throw away line at the end, I'm not supposed to be doing this...sorry.

BTW, I'm not long for here. I'll be gone soon enough. It takes me a minute to get the full lay of the land. For benefit of your ilk, I'll eventually refrain from posting.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:05 pm

Don't leave JK. You've got good things to say. Don't let homers bother you either. In my experience, the "everything is great" and the "everything sucks" crowd are usually both equally foolish.

And for having an opinion in between, you'll be blasted by both.

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worztik's picture

February 27, 2018 at 06:47 pm

Don’t give in to the “STATUS QUO” jerks Johnny Kirk!!! Most people don’t like change even if it results in a good outcome. It’s easier to sit and biotch about another’s ideas than it is to actually have some of their own!!! That’s because it requires a thought process and a creative mind; neither of which a number of critics here have!!! Thinking outside the box doesn’t set anyone back; it’s actually the reverse of free thinking that creates the “DUMBING DOWN” effect that’s so prevalent everywhere these days!!! Keep it up, John (Upjohn... wish I had 10,00 shares!) I appreciate a person that can express themselves when most others can’t... just sayin’...

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worztik's picture

February 27, 2018 at 06:49 pm

You da “Ramblin’ Man” my friend!!!

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CheesyTex's picture

February 27, 2018 at 11:08 am

IMO you make excellent points. Don't let the critics influence your refreshingly independent style.

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CheesyTex's picture

February 27, 2018 at 11:10 am

My comment was addressed to John Kirk.

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Spock's picture

February 27, 2018 at 01:30 pm

JK,
Anyone who seriously says to deal Arod without a clear replacement already in the wings and also claims to only be happy with SB wins is IMHO the one who is not thinking rationally! I agree that Cousins to the Vikings is not something to easily dismiss, but I keep trying to balance the dichotomy of your "SB wins are everything" with the "trade Rodgers to improve the team" comments. A doesn't equal B in that equation. I will say one thing: you must have one heck of a typing speed as I've never seen so many paragraph long comments on CHTV so often, LOL. Carry on, I can't match your typing speed but I'm fascinated (like someone watching an on-coming train wreck :)) on what theory you're going to expound on next. Don't know what that will be, but I suspect it will take several pages of comments to follow. Truthfully, I am teasing a bit, but if you care for any advice (doesn't seem like that is something you'd readily take, lol) on your posting, I suspect a "less is more" approach might get your points across better. Just my two cents, John.
Carry on my friend (I'm sincere about that, differences of opinion are what makes the world go round. Well, that and girls.). #NowMeTooWillTakeIssueWithThat, sigh.
EDIT: Didn't see your "not here for long" comment at the end of your post. In a way that is too bad as sometimes an "anti-homer" poster brings out good discussion. You weren't here when a certain "bovine" was commenting. I didn't care for him, but liked the discussions. If you change your mind around the actual game time, I still would be interested in your game analysis as I suspect it would increase discussion.

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dobber's picture

February 27, 2018 at 01:37 pm

The discussions were good, but the bovine did nothing to support his 'anti-homer' comments. He was here to stir the pot but added nothing intellectually to the discussion himself.

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Spock's picture

February 27, 2018 at 01:50 pm

Dobber, Agreed. I'm NOT saying I miss him by any means. The odd thing was that once in a great while he'd actually say something that made some sense. Weird.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 02:56 pm

A stopped clock is right twice per day.

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worztik's picture

February 27, 2018 at 06:50 pm

Dob... I like BOVINE... just agreein’...

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worztik's picture

February 27, 2018 at 07:01 pm

I actually like the “WORD” bovine... isn’t that some sort of Marsupial??? Just kiddin’... we all have a tendency to want and need to defend our ideas and then someone gets feisty and needs to defend their ideas and... IT’S ON like donkey Kong!!! It don’t mean nuthin’.....

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:07 pm

I love that I'm getting a lot of posting advice. When I ask for simple replies to my points I get crickets, but, sure, I'll acquiesce. You get what you want, I'll go without. Kinda like being married. :)

Just erased the posting equivalent of: 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'

Spock, I'd love to respond to all the points you raised...please, get in touch with me at: [email protected]

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worztik's picture

February 27, 2018 at 07:04 pm

I’m new to this... WHAT’’S A CRICKET??? I know... a little black bug that chirps... really tho... what’s a cricket???

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worztik's picture

February 27, 2018 at 02:04 pm

I don’t think AROD plans on signing a long term deal!!! I think he likes the glamour of West Hollyweird!!! Get 2-1s... 2-2s... and 2-3s for Rodgers from Dorsey and off we go!!! Just pissin’ people off prolly....

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worztik's picture

February 27, 2018 at 06:33 pm

It tells me that Captain Kirk flies a starship and is always correct!!!! ‘;~€)

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Bearmeat's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:34 pm

I hate to say this JK, but I think you're right - except that I wouldn't send Arod packing unless the team shows little to no improvement in 2018. They've still got him for 2 more years.... why rush it?

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:45 pm

I only say this for now because Cleveland has picks 1 and 4 overall. Unlikely, to get a haul like that next year or in subsequent years.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:01 pm

Makes sense. Yeah, pick 1 and 4 in this QB draft class would be bold as hell. But it may just be worth it. Too bad Arod isn't 3 years older in that scenario. lol

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dobber's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:16 pm

You would have to sign a vet to be your de facto starter for 2018 in case the new QB1 isn't ready to start day 1, but it's hard to not see some merit in this notion.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 28, 2018 at 06:39 am

I can't complain about long posts, using mind-numbing stats or verbiage since that would be the pot meeting the kettle. Or something.

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stockholder's picture

February 27, 2018 at 07:32 am

I think Cleveland should sign him. Forget drafting a QB in the first round.

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marpag1's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:18 pm

So basically this is saying, "In the year after the Vikings mopped the floor with your ass, twice, don't worry if the Vikings, with their league-best defense in both yards and points, get a big upgrade at quarterback, the most important position on the team."

Uh.... right.

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dobber's picture

February 27, 2018 at 07:51 am

Let's look at this from another perspective, though: look at the season Case Keenum had last year once he got settled in. Do we really expect that Cousins would be much more than that? Keenum played at a high level in 2017 and unless they get a player of the caliber of an ARod, I don't expect much more for them out of the QB position. I'm not saying that offense won't get better, but what I believe is that the improvement in that offense in the near future will come on the OL or from a healthy Dalvin Cook.

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marpag1's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:56 am

I get it Dobber, but at the end of the day, don't you just have to say, "Which one of these two is the better QB... Cousins or Keenum?" There's no way in heck that I would pay Cousins the stupid money that he will almost certainly get, and that I don't think he's worth. He's good, but he sure as heck isn't "30 million good." Yet regardless of what the highly dubious passer ratings say, can we really deny that Cousins is a significantly better player than Keenum?

Last year Keenum had a higher QB rating than ARod had in his brief stint. But we all know that even last year's ARod with a lower passer rating would still have been a monumental improvement over Keenum's higher rating. I don't claim to be a QB guru, but I certainly don't pay much attention to QB stats. Just watch the ball. What Rodgers - and to a lesser extent, Cousins - does just looks different from Keenum.

I kind of chuckled earlier today... some guy on a different board was talking about Keenum and the walk-off TD in the playoffs as "the greatest play in Vikings history." Maybe, but the irony is that wobbly duck that Keenum chucked up there should have gotten Diggs killed. If not for one of the most inexplicable "air tackles" in the history of football, the game would have been over and Diggs would have been in traction. Kinda feel sorry for that poor kid from N.O. He's probably still getting death threats because of that.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:54 am

Lets see, Cousins has Josh Doctson, Ryan Grant, Jamison Crowder, Terrelle Pryor (9 games, 2 starts), Brian Quick, and the ancient TE, Vernon Davis as receiving threats. Hmmm, Cousins might have better stats with Thielen, Diggs and TE Kyle Rudolph, and the aforementioned Dalvin Cook?

Hope is that they overpay Cousins and/or Keenum, or screw up. The franchise tag designation has to be made by March 6 but MN can't contact Cousins until March 14. I'd franchise Keenum, sign Cousins if I could, and then rescind the franchise (see Josh Norman for ability to rescind a franchise tag) if I were MN's GM. Sure as hell wouldn't allow Keenum to become a FA w/o having a QB I liked under contract.

Little question in my mind that Cousins is a better QB than Keenum, and is better able to go downfield. Cousins INT percentage the last 3 seasons have been 2.0, 2.0, and 2.4%. Nothing wrong with those numbers. AR has had 2.1 to 2.4 INT percentage nunbers in 2008, 2010, 2013 and a 2.5% last year. Course, he throw more TDs as well.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:06 am

Hey TGR...Cousins also had DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed for a lot of his time and the underrated Pierre Garcon.

The irony in the fan posting on the net world is... A huge move like this will be panned by most Packers fans, but if/when we draft a player at 14 there will be more made of that than the move made by Minnesota.

Our base will go on about last year as an aberration as that was Hundley, but what should've been an aberration for Minnesota, too, with a 3rd string QB and losing the star RB ended in an NFC Championship appearance. It takes us having the best QB in the game to get to one of those and the purple did it with a scrub.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 11:29 am

If I'm Case Keenum and offered a franchise tag, it's signed immediately before it can be rescinded.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 28, 2018 at 07:12 am

Yes, I forgot about that. In truth, you got me.

Best I can come up with is I think a team can trade a franchised player, and generally guaranteed cash that has not yet been paid to the player, and its associated cap hit, can be transferred to the new team via a trade. Here, the trade would have to occur prior to July 22. But, I don't care enough about MN to go read Article 10 of the CBA again to be certain whether that is true. Some obvious risks associated with that scenario, LOL.

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mrtundra's picture

February 28, 2018 at 08:47 am

Too late. The vikings are letting Keenum go to FA.

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dobber's picture

February 28, 2018 at 09:09 am

By all accounts, there are no indications that the Vikes are in a hurry to do anything with any of their 3 QBs from 2017.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:08 am

Hey, we scored 10 points against them last year in that sweep, but that was Hundley. Just throw out the window they were playing their 3rd string guy as that doesn't matter at all, it only matters how we were affected, not them.

I couldn't agree more with you on your sentiment. It's head in the sand to think this is no big deal. If Kirk signs, I can't wait to see the numbers but not for how they might affect Rodgers numbers, but for how it's structured to see what kind of window they have with him. Their window could possibly eat up the remaining window we have with Aaron.

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cuervo's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:04 am

Here's hoping the Vikings screw up their QB situation somehow. Packer fans probably don't want to hear that the Vikings are better at every single positional group (except QB) than GB is.

Can Rodgers make up the difference? He has in the past, and the blueprint for beating the Vikings defense was shown by the Eagles.

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:28 am

This isn't true!

...we've got a good punter

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cuervo's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:45 am

...we've got a good punter

Touche'

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:31 am

Since we don't know how 12 thinks, maybe this move pisses Rodgers off because he wants revenge on Barr and the vikes. Maybe it influences him to think more about winning than money, and ultimately moves him to take a reasonable extension. Just a thought. If he saw the division as a lock every year, maybe that's when complacency sets in and dollars matter more. In the midst of competition, maybe hes more team-orientated. Wishful thinking for sure.

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TKWorldWide's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:08 am

Yes! I would REALLY like to know what 12 and his agent are putting out there re: negotiations. But of course we’ll never get wind of that.

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Arthur Jackson's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:29 pm

I liked Cousins coming out, but he will not be an upgrade over what Keenum gave the Vikings. I'd call it a wash, except to get Cousins or resign their other guys they will have to spend more a lot more money.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 03:38 pm

The Packers will be getting a much bigger upgrade at QB even if the Vikes sign Cousins

BTW..Did you see that defense in the playoffs? They didn't look scary to me. Of course, they weren't facing Hundley and Trubisky twice then.

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Handsback's picture

February 27, 2018 at 07:42 am

I think the Packer's think tank is more worried about their pass rushers for next year verses who the Viking have as a QB. It doesn't matter who is piloting the Vikings, the Packers will have to find ways to score against the Viking's defense. Solve that, then worry about the their QB later.

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dobber's picture

February 27, 2018 at 07:52 am

I'm hoping the Packers think tank is much more concerned about getting its own house in order than it is about what Minnesota or any other team might or might not do in player acquisition.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:09 am

Yeah, but to not be paying attention to the landscape around you would be foolish. In the year we finally move on from Ted and believe we're getting the missing pieces to get to the show, it may be the Vikings making that big move to get there while we're left holding the bag. We needed big moves to catch them without this Cousins to Minnesota talk. What moves are we making that are going to counter that should it happen?

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fthisJack's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:50 am

where have you been? we have a new OC and a new DC. that should counter anything the Vikings do this offseason.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:51 pm

Exactly. Since when are we more concerned with what our rivals are doing. Doesn't matter if we don't improve significantly anyway. Have to beat more than Minnesota.

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:27 am

The vikings are really facing a cultural fork in the road here. Do they want to contend for division titles for a long time? If so, they'll keep Teddy, Sloter and sign another mediocre QB. Do they want to 'go all in' and try to win a SB? Cousins feels like a 'win now and mortgage the future' type of move.

I hope if he goes to the vikes that they have to pay him at least 30M so that they're unable to resign all of their young players in the next 18 months.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:43 am

Perhaps, they do mortgage the future, but keep that in mind when we pay what we're going to pay Aaron that we've also done the same, if not to an even further degree because Aaron's getting more.

The Packers face this same fork right now. Tons of bloat with guys like Bulaga, Cobb, Matthews, Nelson, etc. and a hole filled roster on both sides of the ball...and a looming largest contract in NFL history to be paid. The fork is much sharper in Green Bay because we have the cap concerns the Vikings don't and they're far more set on both sides of the ball save for QB. For anyone to think the Vikes aren't in a much more enviable position is just, I don't know. All we can count on is that they blow it, but that's based on wishful thinking more than anything tangible.

Anything Packers fans are casting upon Minnesota as reasons things won't work out over there could be said even stronger over here but many are only seeing what they want to see. The thinking needs to be applied equally to both franchises but most are seeing things in a very skewed manner.

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cuervo's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:51 am

Excellent post....JK. GB is truly at a crossroads with their current roster, keep all the overpaid vets and you don't have the ability to do diddly in FA.

In all honesty, Gute has inherited somewhat of a mess that will take him more than 1-2 years to get out of IMO.

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:00 am

Completely agree. I think GB has to be committed to a win-now mentality given Rodgers age, whereas the vikings have a choice. And since they don't have a track record of going all in, it'll be interesting to see which path they choose. There's a lot of loser fans who love wearing their division title shirts and hats (on every team), and that's a strong incentive for ownership to play it safe.

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:33 am

Lets also not forget. The vikings defense choked HARD in the playoffs. Arod and Brady combined wouldn't have overcome that pathetic performance, and neither would Cousins.

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Since'61's picture

February 27, 2018 at 08:44 am

I don't know if the Vikings will spend the money that it will likely take to land Cousins. Secondly, I have never been overly impressed with Cousins and the fact that he could become one of the highest paid players in the league tells me how much the level of play has fallen throughout the league.

Now he is still young and may have plenty of upside with another team but the Redskins weren't willing to pay the price. He has a 93.7 career QB rating which is good and he is better than any QB the Vikings currently have but he doesn't scare me.

The Vikings defense has another season to go before they need to start paying people and if they bring Cousins into the mix they won't be able to keep many of their existing defenders.

I see Cousins going to Denver or Arizona before going to the Vikings and there will probably be a few other teams making bids as well. Beside, if I were the Vikings I would sign Keenum for a lot less money and still have about the same level of play from the QB position as I would expect from Cousins. Thanks, Since '61

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:29 am

Cousins would ruin the Vikings' cap. Hope they sign him.

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John Kirk's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:00 am

Yup...but not to the degree ours will be ruined if we extend Aaron. I love your stuff, ALP, here and elsewhere.

Are you hoping the Packers don't sign Aaron to an extension?

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:58 am

Are you seriously comparing Cousins to Rodgers?

Rodgers is a game-changer. Cousins is not. If both have $30 mil cap hits, the Packers are paying the price required and whoever is paying Cousins is soon to have buyers remorse.

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fthisJack's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:17 am

i'm not worried about the big bad Vikings. i think GB has the pieces in place as far as coaching to make a big jump both offensively and defensively this year. if Gute can add some quality FA and some early contributors in the draft, we will be just fine. maybe the Vikings should be worried about scheming for a new offense and defense .

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 11:06 am

Cousins, Keenum, Bradford or Bridgewater...it doesn't matter which one is taking snaps in Minny. None are difference makers. As far as I'm concerned, the more the Vikes pay for any one of them, the better it is for the Packers as that rookie-deal talent bleeds away through FA.

The playoffs are where the rubber hits the road. And for all the people bitching about the Packers playoff failures to ignore the complete luck job playoff win followed by an utter collapse in their admiration and fear of Minnesota are sort of talking out of both sides of their mouths. In their world, the Packers are in deep trouble for having playoff performances just like the Vikings while the Vikings are set to dominate for having playoff performances like the Packers.

Give me #12 and a non-Dom Capers defense and I'll take my chances.

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Since'61's picture

February 27, 2018 at 11:22 am

Hank - I'm totally with you on that. Good post. Thanks, Since '61

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Spock's picture

February 27, 2018 at 01:45 pm

Agree with '61- Good post Hank. I think you nailed it.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 27, 2018 at 10:52 pm

"Give me #12 and a non-Dom Capers defense and I'll take my chances."

Love it. Me too. Throw in some fresh talent and let's go.

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stormin's picture

February 27, 2018 at 12:52 pm

I didn't know this was a pump up the Queens blog. So sad.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 27, 2018 at 03:06 pm

There certainly is a lot of admiration for the Purple Helmeted ones in here. You'd think they were back to back defending champs, not still looking for their first SB appearance since the 70s.

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 02:58 pm

Taking a different route, isn't this a really risky move by the vikings? Who are the other available FA QBs?

Obviously in the ideal world for them, Cousins decides where he'd like to go, and then all other QB deals are signed afterwards. But if Keenum signs elsewhere, and then Cousins decides to go to the Jets or Denver... does this leave the vikings trading for Mike Glennon or something desperate like that?

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 02:58 pm

Can we start the Cutler to the Vikings rumors now?

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dobber's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:10 pm

You win the thread, Cubby!

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dobber's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:13 pm

I wonder if I'm Spielman with this QB rich draft that I don't franchise Keenum to be my transition guy, trade up for a decent QB prospect, and hoard my cap space to keep these younger players that they've built their team on around.

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Cubbygold's picture

February 27, 2018 at 04:29 pm

I would think that's a very tempting option. If Keenum plays anywhere close to what he did last year, they're a competitive group. If he doesn't, and the draft pick develops, then there's an attractive future for the organization.

If that were to play out without Keenum though, it would be a very different story. If Keenum is gone and they miss on Cousins, and are forced into a much lesser option, then it's a situation where the prime years of the defense are being wasted.

Best case from a packer fan perspective, hope the NFL free agency period plays out like the baseball offseason. Hopefully Cousins takes his sweet time and all the decent options are off the market before Denver seals the deal.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 28, 2018 at 07:29 am

Interesting, Dobber. MN has the 30th pick. Trade up to 18 costs their 2nd (if they aren't held to ransom. It cost their 2nd and 3rd to move to 15 or 16. That would definitely be bold for a team that might think they're close to forego their 1st, 2nd and 3rd to move up for a QB who isn't going to play anytime soon. MN doesn't have a 4th so their first pick to help them in 2018 would be a fifth, #167. They probably do a pick in 2019 I suppose to help ameliorate that situation.

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worztik's picture

February 28, 2018 at 11:27 am

Spielman has done a much better job in the draft than TT ever could!!! All of the talk here is about Cousins and I do NOT understand it! He never signed a decent contract with the Redskins and he never impressed me as did others. Why are we so concerned about who signs whom and how much they’re paid? The real question is, and should be until it’s settled, “who is the Packers’ backup QB”??? I’m more concerned and interested in what WE do than what any other team does! If we’re talking about being worried about other teams in our division, and what the concerns are, we shouldn’t look any further than our competition’s DEFENSES!!! The QB for the Vikequeens doesn’t matter... what matters is how we handle all their #1 picks on D!!! Rick Spielman has done a really good job drafting for defense!!! TT... NOT SO MUCH and that’s what concerns me!!! Not who their QB is... just tellin’ it like it is.... ‘;~€)

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Flow49's picture

February 27, 2018 at 09:43 pm

If I’m Cousins I’d be trying to get to Jacksonville ASAP. Great Defense, solid wr’s, good RB and an easy division. Might not be the biggest contract but it wouldn’t be peanuts. And he could potentially lead that young team to multiple super bowls all he’s has to do is be slightly better that Bortles.

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Cubbygold's picture

February 28, 2018 at 06:02 am

Great defense, solid wrs, good rb... Sounds exactly like what Minnesota has to offer, but with the ability to pay more. And if going to an easy division is important to him, every team should run as far away as possible.

I think the only realistic spots are MN, NYJ, DEN and CLE. Just comes down to money vs. championships. Brady's going to be the 21st highest QB next year, says alot about why we see them in the SB each year

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