Scot McCloughan on Kirk Cousins: "I Don't See Special" - Headed for UFA

[26CornerBlitz]

 

Neither do I.  

 

More from the interview:

 

“He’s a good player,” McCloughan told Denver radio station 104.3 The Fan, via the Washington Post. “Is he special? I don’t see special. But also, we were still building a roster around him to make him special. Jay Gruden does a great job play-calling. [Former Washington offensive coordinator-turned-Rams coach] Sean McVay did a great job play-calling to put him in positions to be successful. He’s talented. Talent is good at quarterback in the NFL. He’s won games. I know his record overall is not over .500. I know he has not won a playoff game. But he’s competitive. He works his tail off. He’s so methodical. Every day he has planned out. He’s always in the building; he’s always watching tape; he’s always talking to coaches; he was talking to me. From the standpoint of the tangibles, they’re excellent. You just need to have some talent around him because you don’t want him to be throwing the ball 35 to 40 times to win the game. You want to have a running game, have a good defense, good [special] teams, and then let him do what he does.”

 

“The thing about it is, when I was there, we tried to get a long-term deal done and were unable to do it,” McCloughan said. “He’s respected in the building. He’s a really good football player; he’s a leader; he’s a smart guy; he does everything right. But he has all the leverage now. . . . If they tag him for a third time, that’s $34 million for one season. It’s good if you’ve got a guy that you know can win a world championship for you, but it affects the other guys, teammates, because of contracts. You’re investing so much money in one position, you’re going to lose some good players, some good young players, and that, from a GM standpoint, that’s how you have to look at it. You’d love to have him. I’m sure they’d love to have him back for another year. He’s had three solid seasons in a row, but it’s a huge investment, and it’s going to affect the team.”

 

The McCloughan segment begins at about 17:30 into the audio. 

 

http://1043thefan.com/category/podcast_player/?a=10016335&sid=1171&n=Pritchard+and+Cecil

Former NFL GM Scot McCloughan joined Pritchard & Cecil. Scot McCloughan talks about his time in Washington with Kirk Cousins and what type of quarterback Kirk Cousins. Scot McCloughan also discusses some other quarterbacks in the draft this season and why it's so tough for young quarterbacks out of college.

Edited January 31, 2018 by 26CornerBlitz

[TheBeaneBandit]

Same here.  Our roster needs way too much work to overpay for a slightly above average QB

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

3 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Neither do I.  

 

 

....so how soon before the "that drunk got fired because he doen't know jack about personnel" posts follow from the Cousins disciples here?......

[Jamie Nails]

You like that!? 

[K-9]

Scot McCloughlan is right. 

[papazoid]

TD's thrown

 

KC - 27

TT- 13

 

that's more than slightly better

 

if cousins was on this years team....we beat JAX

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

Wasn’t McCloughan the GM Cousins went right up into his face after a great Washington win and basically yelled at?

 

oh yeah!

 

here it is.

 

“After his 375 passing yards and three touchdowns helped the Redskins beat the Green Bay Packers 42-24, the veteran QB tracked down general manager Scot McCloughan and screamed a bold message into his ear.”

 

“How you like me now?!”

 

lol.  Keep up the good work Mr. McCloughan.  ? 

[26CornerBlitz]

More from the interview:

 

“He’s a good player,” McCloughan told Denver radio station 104.3 The Fan, via the Washington Post. “Is he special? I don’t see special. But also, we were still building a roster around him to make him special. Jay Gruden does a great job play-calling. [Former Washington offensive coordinator-turned-Rams coach] Sean McVay did a great job play-calling to put him in positions to be successful. He’s talented. Talent is good at quarterback in the NFL. He’s won games. I know his record overall is not over .500. I know he has not won a playoff game. But he’s competitive. He works his tail off. He’s so methodical. Every day he has planned out. He’s always in the building; he’s always watching tape; he’s always talking to coaches; he was talking to me. From the standpoint of the tangibles, they’re excellent. You just need to have some talent around him because you don’t want him to be throwing the ball 35 to 40 times to win the game. You want to have a running game, have a good defense, good [special] teams, and then let him do what he does.”

 

“The thing about it is, when I was there, we tried to get a long-term deal done and were unable to do it,” McCloughan said. “He’s respected in the building. He’s a really good football player; he’s a leader; he’s a smart guy; he does everything right. But he has all the leverage now. . . . If they tag him for a third time, that’s $34 million for one season. It’s good if you’ve got a guy that you know can win a world championship for you, but it affects the other guys, teammates, because of contracts. You’re investing so much money in one position, you’re going to lose some good players, some good young players, and that, from a GM standpoint, that’s how you have to look at it. You’d love to have him. I’m sure they’d love to have him back for another year. He’s had three solid seasons in a row, but it’s a huge investment, and it’s going to affect the team.”

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jfkISmocJVU

 

its called a Mulligan Mr. McCoughan.

[87168]

3 minutes ago, papazoid said:

TD's thrown

 

KC - 27

TT- 13

 

that's more than slightly better

 

if cousins was on this years team....we beat JAX

27 TDs and no playoffs. 

[Coach Tuesday]

He’s right.  Any team that allocates a huge contract to Cousins is screwed.  I hope it’s the Jets.

[JohnC]

2 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

More from the interview:

 

“He’s a good player,” McCloughan told Denver radio station 104.3 The Fan, via the Washington Post. “Is he special? I don’t see special. But also, we were still building a roster around him to make him special. Jay Gruden does a great job play-calling. [Former Washington offensive coordinator-turned-Rams coach] Sean McVay did a great job play-calling to put him in positions to be successful. He’s talented. Talent is good at quarterback in the NFL. He’s won games. I know his record overall is not over .500. I know he has not won a playoff game. But he’s competitive. He works his tail off. He’s so methodical. Every day he has planned out. He’s always in the building; he’s always watching tape; he’s always talking to coaches; he was talking to me. From the standpoint of the tangibles, they’re excellent. You just need to have some talent around him because you don’t want him to be throwing the ball 35 to 40 times to win the game. You want to have a running game, have a good defense, good [special] teams, and then let him do what he does.”

 

“The thing about it is, when I was there, we tried to get a long-term deal done and were unable to do it,” McCloughan said. “He’s respected in the building. He’s a really good football player; he’s a leader; he’s a smart guy; he does everything right. But he has all the leverage now. . . . If they tag him for a third time, that’s $34 million for one season. It’s good if you’ve got a guy that you know can win a world championship for you, but it affects the other guys, teammates, because of contracts. You’re investing so much money in one position, you’re going to lose some good players, some good young players, and that, from a GM standpoint, that’s how you have to look at it. You’d love to have him. I’m sure they’d love to have him back for another year. He’s had three solid seasons in a row, but it’s a huge investment, and it’s going to affect the team.”

I listened to a tape of his interview on a Maryland station. I thought his evaluation of Cousins and the situation was spot on. He objectively listed his strengths and weaknesses. The conundrum for the Redskins is if they give Cousins the money that he wants then the franchise is going to be handcuffed in attempting to upgrade the rest of the roster. My takeaway from the interview is that although he believes Cousins is a good qb he is not the elite caliber of qb you should mortgage the rest of the roster. 

[Guest K-GunJimKelly12]

8 minutes ago, 87168 said:

27 TDs and no playoffs. 

Washington was 32nd in run defense and 28th in run offense, that is definitely Cousins fault.

Edited January 19, 2018 by K-GunJimKelly12

[GoBills808]

Of course he doesn't. Him and Snyder are the reason Cousin is going to be available. Using a McCloughan quote on Cousins is laughable. 

 

Have you seen this guy's drafts, either with the Niners or Washington? He doesn't see special period.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

1 minute ago, JohnC said:

I listened to a tape of his interview on a Maryland station. I thought his evaluation of Cousins and the situation was spot on. He objectively listed his strengths and weaknesses. The conundrum for the Redskins is if they give Cousins the money that he wants then the franchise is going to be handcuffed in attempting to upgrade the rest of the roster. My takeaway from the interview is that although he believes Cousins is a good qb he is not the elite caliber of qb you should mortgage the rest of the roster. 

 

....agree with your takeaway as well as Scott's assessment.....yet the TBD pundits see it differently...........I'd rather overpay for a beer than meet his demands for mediocrity......

[MDH]

Of course he's not special. If he was special they would have paid him like he was. He's a top 10 QB but not in the tier of Brady, Rodgers and Brees. I don't think anybody is disputing that. That being said, he's much better than "slightly above average" that a poster above wants to paint him as.

 

I don't know if he's worth the contract he's going to get but he's one of the best QBs in the league and you can defiantly win with him if the other pieces are in place. Granted, as mentioned in the article, a huge contract my prohibit having the cash to put the rest of the team around him.

[Alphadawg7]

20 minutes ago, ILoveEndingTheSeasonInNov said:

Same here.  Our roster needs way too much work to overpay for a slightly above average QB

 

We are a 12-4 team in 2017 with Cousins instead of Taylor.  How can anyone not like that?  And thats with having a bare cupboard most the year at WR due to trades and injuries.  

 

We won 9 with TT, safe to say we still win all those 9 games.  We definitely win the Car, Cincy and Charger game with Cousins as the QB.  Thats 12 wins right there, not to mention both NE games were winnable as well as the Jets game.  And we definitely win the Jax game with Cousins.  

 

We would be a 12 win team that would have been at least in the 2nd round of the playoffs with 2 first round picks, 2 second round picks, and extra picks in the other rounds of the draft too.  How can anyone be down on that scenario?

 

THREE OF THE FINAL 4 QB's IN THE PLAYOFFS ARE:  Borltes, Keenum, and Foles.  Cousins is substantially better than all 3.  For anyone to sit back and think Cousins isnt good enough just because he isnt a top 5 QB in the NFL is crazy.  You dont have to be "special"...those guys are rare...if we wait for a "special" QB we wont win for a long time.  The last "special" QB we had failed to deliver a SB despite playing on a roster full of talent and HOF players on both sides of the ball.  

 

Screw "Special"...give us good to very good coupled with all those draft picks and we are a VERY dangerous team.  

 

GIVE ME COUSINS!

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

....agree with your takeaway as well as Scott's assessment.....yet the TBD pundits see it differently...........I'd rather overpay for a beer than meet his demands for mediocrity......

I agree with you that I don't see this regime losing the cap flexibility to reshape the roster and address multiple needs by paying the premium price to get him. That would seem to go against how they want to rebuild this roster. 

 

Make no mistake Cousins would be a dramatic upgrade that would reverberate throughout the offense. But this outfit is more conceptual in their thinking and have a big picture approach to building a franchise. It seems to me by getting a high end qb prospect through the draft will provide this franchise for the next few years a lot more flexibility. In general, I like what they are doing. 

[GoBills808]

10 minutes ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

....agree with your takeaway as well as Scott's assessment.....yet the TBD pundits see it differently...........I'd rather overpay for a beer than meet his demands for mediocrity......

I know your feelings on this OldTime and we don't have to quibble over whether he's mediocre or top 5, but from an immediate impact standpoint you have to admit that upgrading the QB spot without the risk that comes with a 1st round rookie is at least a situation worth looking into. 

[reddogblitz]

34 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

He’s talented. Talent is good at quarterback in the NFL. He’s won games. I know his record overall is not over .500. I know he has not won a playoff game. But he’s competitive. He works his tail off. He’s so methodical. Every day he has planned out. He’s always in the building; he’s always watching tape; he’s always talking to coaches; he was talking to me. From the standpoint of the tangibles, they’re excellent. You just need to have some talent around him because you don’t want him to be throwing the ball 35 to 40 times to win the game. You want to have a running game, have a good defense, good [special] teams, and then let him do what he does.”

 

Sound like anyone we know?

[BillsFan130]

I don’t see anything special about him either

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, reddogblitz said:

 

Sound like anyone we know?

 

Come on. He's a better QB than Tyrod, but he's not in the upper echelon among the true Franchise guys as some here believe. 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

6 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I agree with you that I don't see this regime losing the cap flexibility to reshape the roster and address multiple needs by paying the premium price to get him. That would seem to go against how they want to rebuild this roster. 

 

Make no mistake Cousins would be a dramatic upgrade that would reverberate throughout the offense. But this outfit is more conceptual in their thinking and have a big picture approach to building a franchise. It seems to me by getting a high end qb prospect through the draft will provide this franchise for the next few years a lot more flexibility. In general, I like what they are doing. 

 

....I just don't see much in Cousins and am putting that aside for a different perspective....Bruce Allen is the Deadskins' Prez....as GM for the Bucks, he did a pretty darn good job building that club from 204-2008.....the son of former NFL great HC George Allen was hired by the Deadskins in 2009 (maybe Snyder likes history)......if in fact Cousins is/was the Deadskins guy, it's hard form me to fathom Allen couldn't come up with a long term deal in the last TWO years and now could potentially be faced with a 3rd tag at $34 mil.......something isn't passing the smell test here for a personnel guy like Allen....why?................

[njbuff]

If the Bills consider this type of QB, they would be better off with Smith and drafting their future guy in the 3rd round or something............. if they don't get their guy in the first round of course.

[Cripple Creek]

34 minutes ago, 87168 said:

27 TDs and no playoffs. 

So you actually disagree that with Cousins the Bills beat Jacksonville? 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

9 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

I know your feelings on this OldTime and we don't have to quibble over whether he's mediocre or top 5, but from an immediate impact standpoint you have to admit that upgrading the QB spot without the risk that comes with a 1st round rookie is at least a situation worth looking into. 

 

 

 

...cannot agree with you more bud.........could see this gang guilty of "paralysis by analysis" trying to decipher what may be one of THE biggest decisions in years for OBD especially if you consider the richness of the draft capital position in 2018.....

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Scot McCloughlan?

 

is that the guy who got fired twice for having a drinking problem?

 

35 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

In Dennisons offense with this offensive roster? Maybe. 

 

Cousins is better then Tyrod, but I find it funny how soon people have forgotten Tyrod was solid the past couple years before Dennison arrived and forced a system on a QB who clearly didn't fit it. Along with a coach/GM who stripped the offense of most of its playmakers and having the worst WR corps in the league.

 

Even EJ scored an average of over 20 ppg.  

Damn defense sucked though.  

Edited January 19, 2018 by ShadyBillsFan

[White Linen]

15 minutes ago, Cripple Creek said:

So you actually disagree that with Cousins the Bills beat Jacksonville? 

 

I'd have to figure up which players we couldn't have with Cousins contract before answering.  

[zevo]

1 hour ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jfkISmocJVU

 

its called a Mulligan Mr. McCoughan.

What’s the back story to this....cousins seems to be a very even keeled but something fired him up here

[Manther]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

Scot McCloughlan is right. 

I agree with him.  And, I trust his evaluation skills too.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, papazoid said:

TD's thrown

 

KC - 27

TT- 13

 

that's more than slightly better

 

if cousins was on this years team....we beat JAX

And yet TT won more games. Weird, huh?

 

I'm not saying TT is a better QB. But why didn't the Redskins do better with Cousins? That's a legitimate question.

Edited January 20, 2018 by PromoTheRobot

[reddogblitz]

Just now, PromoTheRobot said:

And yet TT won more games. Weird, huh?

 

A team wins because of it's QB.  I know it's true because I read it here often. 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, reddogblitz said:

 

A team wins because of it's QB.  I know it's true because I read it here often. 

I do to, except when that metric doesn't support the argument.

[ColoradoBills]

30 minutes ago, White Linen said:

 

I'd have to figure up which players we couldn't have with Cousins contract before answering.  

 

TT - $18,080,000.00

Clay - $9,000,000.00

 

Total - $27,080,000.00

Roll with a rookie TE.

 

The difference between a Mediocre QB and a Top Paid QB is one "Good" player.

It's no doubt why QB's get the money.

I'm not a huge Kirk Cousins fan but "cost" shouldn't be the issue.

[Shaw66]

 

I think a lot of people here are reading things into this that the guy didn't say.  

 

 

Read it.   He said he tried to make a deal with Cousins and couldn't.   He said that the cost of the franchise tag is now prohibitive.   What he seems to be saying is that the Redskins won't be able to make a deal with Cousins and they can't afford to franchise him.

 

He said Cousins isn't special.   That isn't news.   Everyone knows Cousins is not Peyton Manning.

 

So if you're objective is to get a Hall of Fame quarterback, Cousins isn't your guy.   But if your objective is more realistic, to get a good QB on your team, this guy sounds completely supportive of Cousins.   He's smart, he works hard, he plays well, he delivers.   The 

 

I think the objective is a top 10 QB.   The Bradys, Mannings, Roethlisbergers are leaving the league, and their successors are not obvious.  Other than Rodgers, who looks to be the new generation of Hall of Famers?   Not Cam, not yet.   Not Luck.   Not the guy in Philadelphia, not yet.   Not the guy in LA, either, certainly not yet.   Not Stafford.   Who are they?   

 

The answer is they're not there.   The game was extraordinarily pass-friendly when the retiring QBs were in their prime and late prime, and now that time is passing.   

 

So you need a good QB, a top 10 QB.   You need someone better than Taylor.   Where are you going to get one of those?   It's nearly total guess-work in the draft.   But there is one who is going to be a free agent - Cousins.   Not Bradford or Foles or any of the other guys who haven't had consistent success.   Cousins has had consistent success as a QB.   

 

I think that's what this guy is saying about Cousins.   

 

Someone is going to sign him.  That team will do more for their chances of winning in 2018 than any other team in the league.   He may not be special, but he'll make a bigger difference than anyone else who joins a team next season.  

 

The only question is whether you're a bidder.   He's going somewhere, and he's going to be a good QB somewhere.  

 

Imagine him on the 2017 Bills.   I'd say the Bills win at least two more games:  Bengals and Ravens.   And, for that matter, maybe one Patriots game.   How much would you pay for two more wins?

[thenorthremembers]

24 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

And yet TT won more games. Weird, huh?

 

I'm not saying TT is a better QB. But why didn't the Redskins do better with Cousins? That's a legitimate question.

The Redskins play the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants for six games a year.   They play in a much tougher division, and in all honesty a much better conference.

 

Cousins is worlds beyond Tyrod as a quarterback.  

[26CornerBlitz]

The McCloughan segment begins at about 17:30 into the audio. 

 

http://1043thefan.com/category/podcast_player/?a=10016335&sid=1171&n=Pritchard+and+Cecil

Former NFL GM Scot McCloughan joined Pritchard & Cecil. Scot McCloughan talks about his time in Washington with Kirk Cousins and what type of quarterback Kirk Cousins. Scot McCloughan also discusses some other quarterbacks in the draft this season and why it's so tough for young quarterbacks out of college.

Edited January 20, 2018 by 26CornerBlitz

[Shaw66]

10 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

TT - $18,080,000.00

Clay - $9,000,000.00

 

Total - $27,080,000.00

Roll with a rookie TE.

 

The difference between a Mediocre QB and a Top Paid QB is one "Good" player.

It's no doubt why QB's get the money.

I'm not a huge Kirk Cousins fan but "cost" shouldn't be the issue.

This is the point that I think people miss.  You're more or less nowhere without a top QB.   The one exception is when you can build a GREAT defense, but if you can do it it only works for a year or two.   Minnesota isn't going to dominate multiple years with that defense.  

 

Otherwise, only a good QB keeps your team competitive.   Someone is going to spend the money for Cousins, and that somebody will have a good QB.  

[CaptnCoke11]

1 hour ago, 87168 said:

27 TDs and no playoffs. 

TT surely wasn’t the reason we made the playoffs.  

[Kirby Jackson]

Cousins is good but not great. He didn’t finish the season strong. I like him and would take him in a second but he isn’t the franchise savior that people are hoping for. He isn’t a guy that raises the guys around him. 

 

One of he reasons that I like him for the Bills is that they will still have cap space and all of their picks. This team has a lot of holes and Cousins makes it easier to plug those holes.