MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Free agency has Cousins feeling like a high schooler getting recruited again



Soon-to-be free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins is in a place he hasn’t been in since he was a senior at Holland Christian High School in Holland, Michigan: He gets to pick his next team.

Cousins said today on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he feels like a recruit again, knowing that when free agency starts next month he’ll have teams interested in him and he can choose the place where he fits best.

“I haven’t had a chance to choose where I was going to play since 2007 when I chose Michigan State. I’m looking forward to that opportunity,” Cousins said.

Cousins will weigh his options when free agency begins, and his goal is to find a team that’s ready to win a championship.

“I want to win,” Cousins said. “Go where you can win. That’s exactly what the plan is.”

Cousins said he had no inkling that Washington was going to work out a trade for Alex Smith until someone texted him that the news was breaking while he was in a hotel gym.

“It was a surprise. I was working out in my hotel in Minneapolis,” Cousins said.

Now Smith will take over where Cousins left off in Washington, and Cousins will see which team thinks he’s the final piece for a championship. (PFT)

 

Case Keenum feels there’s “unfinished business” in Minnesota



The Vikings aren’t playing in Super Bowl LII at their stadium this Sunday because a successful season came crashing to an end when the Eagles beat them 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game.

Falling short of the biggest game of the year is something that “still really stings” quarterback Case Keenum almost two weeks later. That’s left the impending free agent with the desire to take that next step with the Vikings in the future.

“We love Minnesota, we love it here, we love the season we had, we definitely feel like there’s some unfinished business with how things ended,” Keenum said on 1500 ESPN in Minneapolis. “At the same time, we understand tough decisions have to be made and so we’ll see what happens.”

Sam Bradford will also be a free agent and Teddy Bridgewater could join them on the open market if he avoids having his contract tolled after spending six weeks on the physically unable to perform list this season. The Vikings’ decision about who they will choose to help finish the job in 2018 will be one of the biggest storylines in the league once the Super Bowl is over. (PFT)

 

Tyrod Taylor not open to another restructuring of deal

Tyrod Taylor learned in 2017 to make sure he looks out for himself when he has the chance.

Benched in the middle of a playoff run, Taylor returned a half later after his replacement, rookie Nathan Peterman, crashed and burned in his starting debut. Taylor started all but one of the remaining games, going 3-2 in his final five starts as the Bills ended the NFL's longest active playoff drought.

And yet, Taylor enters yet another offseason filled with contract questions. This time around, he's not down for a restructuring.

"Definitely not part of my mindset," Taylor said, per the Buffalo News. "I've done that before. I don't think there's a need to do that again. That's definitely not part of my mindset."

A year ago, Taylor went from being set to make $30.75 million guaranteed (!) in 2017 to seeing a significant drop via contract restructuring as new head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane attempted to remake Buffalo's roster without losing a competent quarterback. It came as a surprise, as many expected the two sides to part ways. This time around, it sounds like that's going to happen.

Taylor, who said he loves playing in Buffalo, learned about the cold nature of the business of professional sports when he was saddled with the blame for Buffalo's midseason struggles. After agreeing to make less money for the team's greater cause, he didn't see the same treatment from the organization. Now he's rightfully worrying about himself first and the letting the rest of the pieces fall where they may.

"I really haven't had any communications as to what's the plan moving forward," Taylor said. "I'm sure that it'll be communicated to me at some point, but as of right now, I'm going to continue to focus on myself mentally, physically, and get ready for another season."

From Taylor's standpoint, he'd command significant money -- somewhat closer to what he was supposed to make in 2017 -- if he entered free agency. He'd also add some juice to a group headlined by Kirk Cousins, and give teams an additional target if they lose out on the Cousins sweepstakes. There are more teams with a desire for a veteran quarterback than there are viable options. Taylor will get a sweet offer from at least one team.

As for Buffalo, the franchise enters an intriguing point if it finally severs ties with Taylor, a quarterback the franchise has seemed to begrudgingly retain for lack of a better option. What we saw from Peterman inspires zero confidence that he'll be the better option, but with this same offseason, Buffalo could swing a deal to add someone else at the position.

One thing is fairly clear at this point: It would be more surprising to see Taylor back in a Bills uniform in 2018 than it would be to see him in a different team's colors. For now, though, Taylor is still under contract.

"Until I'm told otherwise, I'm a Buffalo Bill," Taylor said on NFL Total Access. (NFL.com)

 

Tom Brady...

The "Greatest of All Time" had the ball, down five points with two timeouts and two-and-a-half minutes remaining.

We've all seen this one before.

This time, though, the ending wasn't what we'd grown accustomed to from Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. There were no late fourth-quarter heroics from the GOAT in Super Bowl LII. The quarterback was stripped, the Philadelphia Eagles recovered, and after a failed Hail Mary on the next Pats' possession, Brady did something the football world isn't used to: He lost a big game that he had a chance to win late.

"They're all pretty disappointing," Brady said of the 41-33 loss after the game. "I mean, losing sucks. But you show up and you try to win and sometimes you lose and that's the way it goes."

The Patriots lost for many reasons Sunday night, but Brady's play wasn't one of them. The quarterback threw for a Super Bowl record 505 yards. He tossed three scores. He rushed for six yards, too.

Yet it was his fumble, caused by Eagles pass rusher Brandon Graham, that ultimately sealed the Patriots' fate. And that was something Brady could only describe as "it sucks" afterward.

"Yeah, I mean, it does suck," Brady said. "It obviously -- yup, it sucks."

Brady, now 5-3 in Super Bowls, expects to have a shot to atone for the loss next season. Despite turning 41 in August, the quarterback said he sees no reason why he wouldn't be under center in New England next season to try to win a sixth ring.

"I expect to be back, so we'll see," Brady said. "I mean, it's 15 minutes after the game, so I want to process it a bit. But I don't see why I wouldn't be back."

 

Like 350 of those yards were to wide open WRs before the 4 man rush could break through completely. Garbage defense on both side but the Pats had so many open receives while Foles had tighter windows. The D finally had better coverage once they gave up the lead and it resulted in the front 4 actually affecting Brady's throws and the strip sack. Honestly Brady threw more than a few balls that should have been intercepted IMO.

Only 1 punt all game.

 

Maybe Philly needed 7 in a back zone D. I felt the Eagles' 4-man rush was too light (prevent-ish), but luckily the coverage was tight on the correct play and the strip occurred.

 

I have still to understand how the coverage was so bad when at least 6 non receiving players (5 linemen and Brady) were occupied by only 4 defenders. I'd like to know the average time to throw from Brady. The rush didn't seem light most of the time, just the throws were off before they could do anything with 4 men. A 4-man rush is supposed to take longer to get pressure but if they are good should have the time due to more men covering the receivers. I blame the coverage but my sense of timing may have been off watching the game all nervous every play knowing a guy was going to be wide open.

 

You can't watch a game of your favorite team and catch a lot of the action going on away from the ball. You are too concerned about what is going on with the ball.

 

Also hard to see when they don't use the aerial view. There is nothing to see but the rush since the TV forces you to only see that. The routes and coverage battles are off-screen.

 

When you go to a game, you wind up watching the same action you see on the screen at home. Either we are trained by the TV or we just can't take our eyes away from the ball.

 

Some of us watch the cheerleaders and occasionally the beer man

 

You always have to know where the beer man is.

 

Tom Brady: No. 1 feeling I have is gratitude



Friday started with a report in the Boston Herald indicating Patriots quarterback Tom Brady would skip offseason work with the team if he doesn’t get a contract extension rivaling the one Jimmy Garoppolo signed with the 49ers on Thursday.

That report has been retracted after radio station WEEI reported someone other than Brady’s agent Don Yee contacted Herald writer Ron Borges claiming to be Yee and Borges went with the story on information provided in their communications.

There’s been no direct response from Brady to any of it. He also hasn’t weighed in directly on Malcolm Butler‘s benching or retirement chatter regarding Rob Gronkowski, but he did make a post to his Instagram account on Friday that focused on gratitude for everything that went on in the 2017 season.

“It has taken me a few days to reflect on our SB loss as well as the great season our team had. There are many emotions when you come up short of your goal. And they are all part of learning and growing in this journey of life. Learning turns everything into a positive. And the number one feeling I have had the past 4 days is gratitude. Gratitude to my teammates for the incredible effort given all season regardless of the challenges we faced.”

Brady went on to express gratitude to his loved ones, the organization, the team’s coaching staff, the Eagles “for bringing out the best in us and being gracious winners” and Patriots fans. (PFT)

 

Why would anyone fall for that lol.

 

I think he's being sincere. I know your joking (I think lol), but a wise man will humble himself and learn from his mistakes. May have lost the SB, but he really has a lot going for him and stuff to be thankful for. No doubt in my mind, that under BB, the Patriots will reload and be back.

 

I think he means fall for the fake story about Brady...

 

That would be the one

 

John DeFilippo won't leave 'stone unturned' in QB hunt

After coaching regular-season MVP candidate Carson Wentz and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles in Philadelphia last season, new Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo suddenly finds himself in the unfamiliar position of leading Minnesota's search for a quarterback.

The Vikes' brain trust has important decisions to make with incumbent starter Case Keenum, veteran Sam Bradford and wild-card Teddy Bridgewater all slated for free agency in March.

Will the quarterback-needy team be backed into the franchise tag for Keenum? Is the intriguing-yet-brittle Bradford a realistic alternative? Will an independent arbitrator end up ruling that Bridgewater's rookie contract tolls into 2018 as a result of time spent on the physically unable to perform list last year?

Speaking at his introductory press conference last Friday, DeFilippo said he will have "as much say as" coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman want him to have in the upcoming quarterback decision.

"I am going to leave no stone unturned," DeFilippo added, via The Star Tribune. "It is going to be a collaborative effort -- something that we all agree on. I've been through this situation before searching for Derek Carr and Carson Wentz. I've had some experience in this situation in trying to find your quarterback to lead your football team."

Beyond the possibility of carry-overs from the 2017 roster, the Vikings will consider available veterans in free agency as well as early-round prospects in the draft.

After reaching the NFC Championship Game last month with a loaded roster, Minnesota figures to be a prime player in the looming Kirk Cousins sweepstakes. In fact, radio station KFAN kindled local enthusiasm beyond the Super Bowl last week with a report that the host city is "number one with a bullet" on Cousins' rudimentary wish list.

Although Spielman has drawn deserved kudos for his roster construction, it's worth noting that he's had five different passing leaders in six years as general manager. Under his watch, the only constant at the sport's most important position has been change.

This is an organization in dire need of DeFilippo's expertise. (NFL.com)

 

Carson Wentz insists his knee injury won’t change him

Carson Wentz reiterated he hopes to play in the 2018 season opener, and once he does get back, the Eagles quarterback insists he won’t change how he plays.

Wentz tore the LCL and the ACL in his left knee during the December 10 game against the Rams. Since his rehab began, Wentz has targeted a return for the Week 1 game.

“That is definitely my goal,” Wentz said during a Tuesday radio appearance on 94WIP, via Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advance Media. “Timetables and all those things are always such a fluid thing. Obviously can’t come out and make a declaration on anything, but my goal is to be playing in Week 1.”

Wentz isn’t certain his injury happened on his touchdown run that was negated by a penalty, or earlier in the game. But that running play is emblematic of his playing style.

He was sandwiched between Rams linebacker Mark Barron and defensive end Morgan Fox as he dove for the goal line.

“I definitely won’t change, so to speak,” Wentz said. “That has what made me successful this last season and my whole career. It is something I’ve learned since coming into the league — how to protect myself. . . . I am not going to let this change me.” (PFT)

 

Nick Foles: Where I play next year will take care of itself

Nick Foles doesn’t sound like he’ll push for a chance to compete for the Eagles’ starting job, push to get traded, or push for much of anything in 2018.

Instead, the reigning Super Bowl Most Valuable Player says he’ll let everything sort itself out and he’ll be content with whatever happens.

“All that stuff will take care of itself,” Foles said on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. “We’ll see what happens with my career.”

If Foles thinks he deserves a chance to compete with Carson Wentz for the starting job, he’d be justified in thinking so: He’s coming off back-to-back outstanding games in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl. And Foles has been a Pro Bowler in the past. It’s easy to see why he’d think he deserves to be a starter.

And if Foles wanted to get traded to a team that would let him start, he could try to force the Eagles’ hand by vocally stating his desire to leave. Teams generally don’t want unhappy players around, especially if those players are going to be backups, and so if Foles complained loudly enough, he could probably get himself traded.

But Foles sounds like he’s content either to stay with the Eagles or go elsewhere, and content either to start or to back Wentz up. After going from almost out of the NFL to Super Bowl MVP, Foles will be happy no matter where his career goes next. (PFT)