Don’t Take the Bait on Anything Implying Kevin O’Connell Is “Anti-Cousins”
For context, the narrative of “Kevin O’Connell not quite sold on Kirk Cousins” is not widespread. The proceeding paragraphs do not assert the sentiment is all over the place.
Yet, the notion of the new Vikings skipper “not fully committed” to Cousins is out there, nevertheless.
Here’s an example from Fansided, choosing to headline a piece on O’Connell’s “discontent” with Cousins – which is absurd.
After the article was published, the title was changed to: Is Kevin O’Connell still sold on Kirk Cousins? So, someone became self-aware of the farcical headline.
Regardless, the idea O’Connell is “discontented” with his new quarterback is disconnected from reality. A few times now, O’Connell has been asked if Cousins will be the QB1 for 2022. But O’Connell isn’t the general manager. He does not execute trades or contractual extensions. O’Connell coaches the players on his roster – one that is largely undefined in February. Because, well, that’s how it goes.
During an introductory press conference, O’Connell went out of his way to compliment Cousins. He enjoys the man as a football player. He’d like to coach him in 2022 – his words were not interpretive.
However, when asked GM-themed questions, O’Connell has to dance as he is not the general manager. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is the boss. He executes the trades and contractual extensions.
O’Connell will coach and cultivate whoever is dropped his lap by Adofo-Mensah. That’s how it works. If it’s Cousins, O’Connell affirmed excitement about it. This week, O’Connell said he loved Cousins. If you cannot recognize the weight of those unsolicited declarations, you must admit O’Connell is a liar. It has to be one or the other – O’Connell really, really likes Cousins as a football player, or he is deceiving you.
Finally, the trade-Kirk or extend-Kirk conversation – wildly prevalent in Vikings circles – doesn’t have to be my way or the highway. It’s rather evident Cousins is not a Top 3 quarterback. The man is tradeable. Should the new leadership receive a godfather offer for Cousins, they’ll probably accept it. If they do not, Cousins will likely commence his fifth season as a Vikings starter in 2022.
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Trading Cousins or extending him can be fluid. Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell are not entrenched in an opinion on the topic like your buddies.
In fact, if Adofo-Mensah didn’t listen to trade offers for his players, he’d be wholly foolish.
Kind of like the entities claiming O’Connell is fed up with Cousins – some 10 days on the job.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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