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NFL

Cousins, Redskins on 'same page' despite tag

Richmond, Virginia — Kirk Cousins’ past will help guide him, once again, during a season in which his long-term status remains uncertain.

The Washington Redskins quarterback said that’s not just because he played on a one-year deal last season, but because most of his career has had the same feel: a player always having to prove himself.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins says he’s “living the dream” playing in the NFL despite being unable to land a contract extension in Washington for a second straight offseason. Rafael Suanes/USA TODAY Sports

“The lesson I learned was the same lesson I learned as a senior in high school when I played my high school senior year with zero scholarship offers,” Cousins said, “and the same thing I learned my senior year of college when I played with wondering if I could go to the NFL.

“If you win football games, everything else takes care of itself, and that’s a beautiful thing. If you do that there is going to be plenty of opportunities down the road. So my focus never really has to change from that standpoint.”

Cousins is one of 12 key starters or backups playing on a one-year deal. But none have garnered headlines like Cousins’s situation. The Redskins used the franchise tag on him for a second season and failed to reach a long-term deal by the July 17 deadline. His future remains murky in Washington, but the same was true last season. He still threw for 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as Washington finished 8-7-1.

Teammates aren’t concerning themselves with his situation — cornerback Josh Norman made a “zero” sign with his fist when asked how much he worries about another player’s contract status. And Cousins said he’s not focused on it either.

“I feel good. I’m ready to go,” Cousins said. “I’ve been feeling good the last several weeks, and we’ve done a good job communicating between myself and the team. We’re all on the same page. We’re all in a good place right now. We’ve got enough to worry about trying to get our offense playing at the level it’s going to need to have a great season so that I can be back in future years.”

The common refrain is that Cousins is betting on himself. But Cousins said it’s not about betting on himself but rather the system: If he works hard and wins, he’ll be rewarded. It also helps that he’ll make $24 million this season.

“As I’ve said many times, my wife and I love it here and we’re in a good place,” Cousins said. “I’m living the dream being a starting quarterback in the NFL. I’ve got my hands full this season with 16 games. I talk about how in the offseason the ball is in the team’s court, as it is, but from Week 1 to Week 17, the ball’s in my court, and I’ve got to go play football well, so that’s where my focus is.”

And it’s a focus he’s grown accustomed to having.

“Every year you never had it mapped out,” Cousins said. “So to be in that role now may feel different, but it really doesn’t to me because that’s been my story all along, and I’ve just learned that’s the way life is. Maybe that’s the way the Lord wants it to be for me, and I’m OK with that. It’s a healthy place for me to be. It’s worked in the past and hopefully it can work going forward.”

Soccer

Perfect player series: Building a flawless central midfielder

Every footballer on the planet has blemishes – weaknesses in their game they wish didn’t exist. But what if they didn’t? What would the ideal player look like in every position? Plucking specific traits from various superstars, theScore is diving into the lab to build the perfect footballer.

Complete series:

In the fourth installment of our seven-part series, we’re assembling the perfect central midfielder. Basically, think Luka Modric on steroids.

Mind: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)

Sergio Busquets isn’t fast. He isn’t particularly strong. He lacks the dynamism typically associated with central midfield superstars. And yet, he’s been the bedrock of Barcelona’s wildly successful spell over the last decade. Anchoring the midfield, the Spaniard acts as both a shield for the backline and a hub that the team’s possession-based system flows through. He’s one of the smartest midfielders in the game, using his brain to consistently outwit superior athletes.

Stamina: N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

N’Golo Kante is the real-life embodiment of the Energizer Bunny. He just never. stops. running. He’s more talented, technically, than some give him credit for, but there’s no denying his greatest attribute is his stamina. The indefatigable Frenchman covers ground like nobody else in the game, his energy never waning and his ability to be in all places at all times defying logic. It’s no coincidence that the last two Premier League champions, Leicester City and Chelsea, were powered by the Kante engine in midfield.

Tackling: Casemiro (Real Madrid)

Casemiro isn’t Real Madrid’s best player – which is nothing to be ashamed about, of course – but he is one of the club’s most vital. The Brazilian tackling machine led all central midfielders in Europe with an incredible 5.4 successful tackles per 90 minutes last season, and provides balance to the ultra-attacking Champions League kingpin. Zinedine Zidane has championed Casemiro since taking over as Madrid manager, a decision that’s paid off handsomely.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Passing: Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich) and Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

These two are the ultimate pass masters. It’s impossible to pick between them, so you get both. Deal with it.

Composure: Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Regardless of where he is on the pitch, Marco Verratti is willing to try things that are more commonly seen in a video game. The diminutive Italian superstar is supremely confident in his abilities – which are, in fairness, spectacular. In a position so hectic, where players converge quickly, Verratti’s calm, collected nature with the ball at his feet is vital. A central midfielder simply can’t afford to be rattled by the frenzy around him.

Long-range shooting: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

The most expensive player in history is unfairly targeted by critics who seem to take joy from nitpicking his every move, but despite their efforts to discredit him, Paul Pogba is objectively one of the best midfielders alive. He’s a physical marvel who combines vision and passing ability with a flair for the dramatic, but arguably his greatest strength is his ability to unleash vicious strikes from outside the penalty area. He may get carried away sometimes, sure, but the #Pogboom campaign didn’t come out of nowhere. Look for the Manchester United stud to find the net with regularity this coming season.

Dribbling: Naby Keita (RB Leipzig)

Players who can dribble like Naby Keita don’t usually play central midfield, which is one of the reasons Liverpool’s been told its €75-million bid for his services won’t suffice. Even for a gargantuan fee, RB Leipzig doesn’t want to lose one of the most unique midfielders in the world. Nobody out there can replicate what the Guinean provides.

Decision-making: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

“Decision-making” is, admittedly, something of a cop-out, but Luka Modric does everything at such an elite level that it’s the most fitting catchall for the brilliance of Real Madrid’s focal point. All the preceding players are superstars in their own right with a discernible marquee skill; Modric may not dribble at Keita’s level, tackle at Casemiro’s, or show off tricks and flicks like Pogba, but he can do all of it. He is, simply, the best.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images, unless otherwise stated)