Falcons’ $180m quarterback Kirk Cousins shuns team amid tense standoff

Falcons' $180m quarterback Kirk Cousins shuns team amid tense standoff

Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has revealed that Kirk Cousins is absent from the team’s first day of OTAs on Tuesday.

Cousins is hoping to be traded away this offseason after losing his place as the team’s starting quarterback to Michael Penix Jr. in December. 

The former Minnesota Vikings player only joined the Falcons 12 months ago and signed a huge four-year, $180million contract.

Cousins did surprise some observers last month when he showed up for the first day of the team’s voluntary offseason program.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said then: ‘This is a voluntary thing. Whether a player comes or doesn´t come we have a lot of good professionals who we know are going to take care of their bodies, including Kirk.’

Fontenot has said the team is comfortable in having Cousins, 36, remain with the team as the backup to Penix Jr., the team’s 2024 first-round pick. But Morris said the team is open to listening to trade offers.

Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has revealed Kirk Cousins is not at the team's OTAs

Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has revealed Kirk Cousins is not at the team’s OTAs

Cousins led the Falcons to a 6-3 start last season but lost his job after struggling with interceptions.

Fontenot refuted a report the Falcons were asking any team trading for Cousins to pick up $20 million of his remaining guaranteed salary.

‘We haven’t put a number on it,’ Fontenot said. ‘We wouldn´t share specific conversations, but to answer your question we wouldn´t put a specific number on it.’

The Falcons could have saved a $10m roster bonus by releasing Cousins. Instead, he is guaranteed $27.5m, plus the $10m bonus, in 2025.

The Falcons were 1-2 with Penix as the starter for an 8-9 final record.

Related Posts

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel headlines the pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Fox reality compeтιтion Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which premiers next…

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL players gripping their contraband smelling salts like winning lottery tickets can relax: the league won’t ban the inhalants. The players’ union sent a memo to members…

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

The Cowboys’ offseason trade for Patriots backup Joe Milton wasn’t supposed to start a quarterback controversy in Dallas, given the status of entrenched $240 million starter Dak…

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Kansas City Chiefs тιԍнт end Travis Kelce is glad to escape the mᴀssive attention he gets as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, calling the team’s training camp a ‘sanctuary’…

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought former Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce to training camp despite being a former sworn enemy due to his vast defensive…

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss was devastating for Travis Kelce, but it was a sad night for Machine Gun Kelly as well. The musician, who grew…