Naturally, Kirk Cousins wants to see life return to normalcy as soon as possible. But, if this year’s NFL games have to be played without fans in the crowd, he’s willing to take an optimistic view. 
“Honestly, we practice every day in an empty grass area and pump in fake crowd noise for away games,” Cousins told reporters (via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com). “But more often than not, you’re used to it. OTA practices don’t have a lot of pomp and circumstance to them. So honestly to go out and just play the game would kind of be refreshing, a breath of fresh air, to just let us know that we don’t have to have all the smoke and the fire, we can just play football. As long as we’re playing the game, I won’t have a lot of complaints, and hopefully if it’s still not returned to normal, we can find a way to make it work.”
Meanwhile, Cousins has extended his contract with the Vikings, agreeing to a new two-year, $66MM add-on to give him a grand total of $96MM over the next three seasons. This week, Cousins opened up to beat reporters about his shiny new deal and also gave his thoughts on Stefon Diggs for the first time since the trade. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.
On his contract:
“We felt like with the CBA and the shifting landscape that it was going to be difficult to know where this was going to go from here, so the timing was not going to be easy. I think that was a big point of communication through the process…a long contract would have been difficult because of the changing landscape of the CBA and I think that’s true for both sides. It was a win-win to get that contract structured the way it was.” (Twitter links via Cronin).
On the talks and the cap space provided by the extension:
“It was a no brainer to be back with the Vikings and find a way to make it work,” Cousins said (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press).
On his reaction to Diggs being traded to the Bills:
“It became apparent that he [Diggs] wanted to play elsewhere, and I think it was smart of the Vikings to grant him that opportunity…I think it wasn’t a mystery, and that’s OK. I wish him really well. I just so enjoyed playing with him. He’s a special player, and we now have to find a way to move forward and replace that, if you will, with a variety of players.”
On bidding Diggs farewell:
“I think my text message to him said something along the lines of, ‘You’re as good as any receiver I’ve ever played with. That includes some names like Adam Thielen, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon … he’s elite. I just wanted to affirm him, and thank him.“
What a difference reporting can make. The ESPN headline I saw read, “Cousins: ‘We’re used to playing without fans.'”
Slightly different connotation.
Haha, click bait headline for sure
It’s only my opinion, but ESPN is terrible. It’s why I love coming to these sites for my news.
With you. ESPN is the Fox News of sports.
Fox isn’t the only one.
True, but they’re sort of the easy banner for “unscrupulous news.”
I do hate that bashing ESPN has now become a partisan activity.
Some of us loathed ESPN just because they suck (they traded substance for slickly packaged smarm) long before there were any politics involved.
Leaving ESPN was the best thing the NHL did. Why be 8th fiddle on a network that doesn’t know you exist?
Unfortunately in 2020, everything 9s politics in the US. Espn lost its way years ago, and turned to politics for the adrenaline hits the fiery talk can bring.
Cousins was extremely professional about the diggs situation. It was obvious diggs and him didn’t see eye to eye and it would be better off if the relationship ended but to speak that highly of him when diggs hasn’t taken the high road I respect it
I don’t think much of Cousins as a QB, average. But he gets the whole professional part of being a pro QB. Exudes class with how he talks of players and former players. He hasn’t uttered a bad word about the Skins. Sure he was frustrated, but always composed himself. And by doing those things, he’s earned a LOT of money!
Good for him and his family.
You think he is average? Can you quantify that, please? He is an above average QB.
If I was an overpaid QB who is frequently booed by fans I’d want to play in an empty stadium too.
ive seen so many people take Kirk’s comments out of context, for example, even the radio in Philly is on the guy about how no fans = no one paying for his salery. all the guy said is he likes the quiet a bit. im sure, if given the choice, many players would love things to be quieter, fans or not.
It seems to me that many offensive players spend more time practicing end zone celebrations than their regular drills and that you rarely see a defensive player make a sack without celebrating. These guys want the fans and lots of noise.
love how he says Diggs is elite and then puts him a class of receivers that isn’t exactly elite lmao
He was listing only the best receivers that he personally has played with, not the league’s best.
just bc they were the best he’s personally played with doesn’t make them elite either
also, regarding the contract, he could’ve just said “u guys know the numbers, my wife would’ve had my brain checked out if I didnt accept it”
I’m fairly certain that had he not accepted, his wife wouldn’t take a walk because he was only earning $30M.
I didnt say file for divorce, I clearly said would have had his brain checked out. love how u also assume another team would pay him $30M/year