Kirk Cousins, Dad Style in Tow, is More Important Than Ever
The quarterback is uniquely positioned to impact an NFL game. Yes, other positions — left tackle, wide receiver, corner, edge rusher — are of the utmost importance, but none come close to the signal caller.
Kirk Cousins thus finds himself in a unique position. Nearing his 35th birthday, Cousins has managed to keep getting better throughout his career. Some have been critical about his shortcomings last season (the 14 interceptions stand out), but it’s hard to quibble with the result. An NFC North title behind 8 game-winning drives from the QB is what everyone is looking to see.
Don’t forget that #8 went into the season with a perfectly bland 59-59-2 QB record (wins are a QB stat). Climbing up to 13 wins in 2022 means the overall record is a much healthier 72-63-2. Ideally, that ratio will look even better after the conclusion of the current season.
Yes, Cousins needs to be the engine that drives the Vikings to another winning season. He has never been more important.
Kirk Cousins, Dad Style, and the Pursuit of Team Success
When arriving at training camp, Kirk Cousins was found in his usual attire. The Vikings’ social media team noticed, sending out a tweet highlighting the QB’s style:
Over at Vikings Territory, Dustin Baker responded accordingly in a piece titled “Kirk Cousins Arrives at Camp with Familiar Drip.” Readers unfamiliar with the parlance will be intrigued to know that “drip” refers to someone’s fashion choices. So, saying “nice drip” is akin to complimenting someone’s clothing or accessories (like a watch or necklace).
For a little while, Cousins has been joking about his “dad style.” Last November, Kyle Brandt — an outspoken supporter of Cousins — put together a humorous video that involves inviting the QB to a meal at Applebee’s. Kirk Cousins joins Brandt in the comical video. Minnesota’s QB1 leans into the notion that he’s not particularly trendy or cool. Instead, Cousins gets depicted as a suburban dad, a family man who will make corny jokes.
As Harrison Smith notes in his press conference earlier in the week, Cousins is unafraid of being himself. Being perceived as lame or having “dad style” is of little consequence to the well-paid quarterback.
After all, Cousins is entering his 12th season in the NFL and has just a single playoff win on his resume. Presumably, Cousins would like to change that reality sooner rather than later. He has never been shy about stating his desire to win and no one can question his commitment to getting better. In fact, Cousins’ own press conference from earlier in the week revealed that he has hired someone full time to help keep his body right.
Realistically, Minnesota’s defense isn’t going to be among the league’s best. Brian Flores has proven to be an excellent coach and his aggressive style will be a breath of fresh air. Even still, there are serious concerns about whether the chef has the ingredients to make a great meal. Or, put differently, the players capable of allowing the Flores defense to reach its full potential.
The Vikings seem content to allow their defense to work through some growing pains, but the offense won’t have the same luxury. Kirk Cousins must be excellent as he works to maximize the talent from his array of skill players. Indeed, Cousins needs to not only overcome the challenges of the defense he’s facing but (critically) the growing pains of the defense on his own squad.
Cousins in entering the final year of his contract carrying a $20.25 million cap charge (with a hefty dead money hit scheduled for 2024 unless there is an extension). Last season, Cousins threw for more than 4,500 passing yards while completing 65.9% of his passes. He had 29 TD passes, 14 INTs, and a 92.5 passer rating.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
