After watching Cousins' presser I have come to the conclusion that he is not a leader nor is he a team player. The "protocols" that worked last year wouldn't be necessary if he would get vaccinated. His entire presser could have been summed up by saying "don't confuse me with the facts"
Great article Mathew. We can blame Rick 100% for all of this absolutely shouldn't have been extended to make Kirk Cousins one of the highest paid quarterback's in the league.
He really just blame the room for this issue?? Dude can't take any responsibility for anything, always something else or some other excuse. 100% done with this dude, hopefully so are the Vikings! This has possibly to completely destroy season for various reasons, of which might not even be Cousin's missing games, you know he's losing respect from teammates. Good luck if you lose the respect of your field general, it a team sport.
Hopefully, Cousins will miss a game or two during the season, due to COVID, and the Vikings can figure out a way to void his contract over it. Then, the organization can start trying to build a team that has a chance to win a Super Bowl.
I’m vaccinated and completely understand why many decide not to. Does anybody here really believe the sports reporters weren’t gonna ask Kirk about it? I think he felt it was necessary to get it out of the way. You might not like his style, I get that. Talk about hyperventilating over next to nothing. The season can’t start soon enough…
At this moment, the Vikings have the lowest vax rate in the NFL. I frankly hope the Vikings have to forfeit games, and not only do all their players lose game checks, so do the other team's. I want all the Vikings anti-vaxxers to become radioactive in the NFL. Why? Because they are stupid and selfish.
The press conference was a vivid portrayal of Cousins selfishness, lack of accountability, and cockiness. A clear statement that he is in control because he is the QB. Before I address Kirk directly I have to comment about a couple of these comments as respectfully as I can...
Collin Farrell - "hyperventilating over next to nothing"? You have to have your head completely in the sand. Why the heck did you get vaccinated if this is over nothing? The issue is not Kirk Cousins personal choice, he has a right to a personal choice, the issue is the IMPACT of that choice on the team's productivity and success. The moment his decision causes him to miss a game, negatively impacts the milieu of the workplace or if he gets COVID after stating clearly he understands the protocols and precautions as well as the teams desire to have everyone vaccinated but he believes he's above all that, if I were the Vikings I would immediately fine him for "conduct unbecoming" as well as remove the guarantees in the contract. A contract assumes that an individual will follow-through with what he has agreed to in terms of productivity, impact on the workplace, and safety among other considerations. If he gets COVID or violates the protocols after making it known as clearly as he did he was not getting vaccinated and he guaranteed he'd follow the protocols... its a slam dunk in terms in information necessary to justify significant consequence.
Furthermore, he is reducing his trade value knowing that no other team will touch him when he displays this attitude while having 50-50 winning percentage. Why would that matter? Because he'll get the money and the Vikings will take the cap hit if they can't trade him. All of this is advantage Kirk, disadvantage Vikings organizations and players.
As I stated, first time there is even a minor violation of the protocol or worse, I would be sanctioning cousins monetarily and contractually. You have a right to your own opinions and the company has rights to sanction your or remove you when your opinions result in reduced productivity, have a negative effect on the workplace, or create safety issues.
Dennis Huskey - this is not an issue with Christianity. Plenty of Christians have been vaccinated. This is a Kirk Cousins decision based on something he refuses to speak about. I think he says nothing when asked because there is no defense to his position in relation to the team.
Does anyone believe the vaccines prevents the virus? This isn’t a polio or measles shot we’re talking about. Now I have to wear a mask to work despite being fully vaccinated. That’s right, it’s so ineffective that masks are coming back. In other words I risked my health to take an experimental vaccine that apparently doesn’t work. And the only Viking who has contracted COVID was fully vaccinated. Bottom line, we’re not talking about prevention, we’re talking about close contact penalties. That’s what Kirk was addressing imo and I always side with individual freedom and choice.
Kellen Mond was not vaccinated. That was originally reported but it turns out that wasn’t the case. You can believe what you like about freedoms but in football terms the rules are the rules and those rules make it more difficult for unvaccinated players to play 17 games
Yep I support freedom at the risk of football league penalties and heaven forbid games. I support whatever decision each player makes. It’s their call, not mine.
That's fine. I was just clarifying... this isn't a political newsletter. I'm only writing about football and on the football side, this is a decision the team is extremely concerned about and could ultimately end up being very costly. That's why he's being so harshly criticized by the team and fans.
There freedom then should include not complaining if they get booted from the team or suspended without pay if they are unproductive or cause the team to be unproductive as a result of that decision. They made their stand with their eyes wide open. I believe in your right to make your own decision and I also believe you are accepting whatever consequence comes your way based on that decision.
On your other point, vaccinations are intended to improve your immune system. Some vaccinations actually prevent a specific disease from affecting you but not all vaccinations are that successful. The point is that the research is not saying the vaccination prevents the disease 100% of the time. It says that it reduces the catastrophic effects, reduces the chance for hospitalization, but is not a cure all for every variant that will occur.
I truly don't have an issue with Kirk or anyone making their own decisions. I also don't have an issue with a person, including myself, accepting the consequences for the decisions. Pretty simple rule that has been around for as long as there has been written word... if you make a decision to hit me in the mouth and I, in turn make a decision to knock your teeth out, neither one of should be complaining if we get arrested nor should we be trying to dig up a bunch of rationalizations for the decision we made.
That's my opinion, hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm done with the conversation until something else happens that tips the scale either way.
I've thought about the money as well... would Cousins be as comfortable as he is if his paychecks were in jeopardy? As heavy-handed and ugly as that scenario would get, I believe Cousins went over contract stuff with a magnifying glass before taking his stance. I don't believe there is much of anything the franchise can do but just deal with it and hope for the best...
Honestly... bigger meeting room... meeting by the goal post in January... plexiglass barrier... I didn't expect much less from Cousins.
Some folks moan about personal choice, others belittle football over life, some continue to chant nonsense about being sheep. Which one is it folks?!?
I realized my response was becoming paragraphs of over-analyzing society beyond sports and thought it best to delete... instead, I'll just stick with Cousins and call out the obvious... he's already paid. Covid or not, the dude is sitting comfortable, why would he concern himself with others.
After watching Cousins' presser I have come to the conclusion that he is not a leader nor is he a team player. The "protocols" that worked last year wouldn't be necessary if he would get vaccinated. His entire presser could have been summed up by saying "don't confuse me with the facts"
Great article Mathew. We can blame Rick 100% for all of this absolutely shouldn't have been extended to make Kirk Cousins one of the highest paid quarterback's in the league.
He really just blame the room for this issue?? Dude can't take any responsibility for anything, always something else or some other excuse. 100% done with this dude, hopefully so are the Vikings! This has possibly to completely destroy season for various reasons, of which might not even be Cousin's missing games, you know he's losing respect from teammates. Good luck if you lose the respect of your field general, it a team sport.
Agreed. I am officially off the fence re Mr Mealy Mouth. He could win a Super Bowl for us this year and I would still want him gone next year.
Hopefully, Cousins will miss a game or two during the season, due to COVID, and the Vikings can figure out a way to void his contract over it. Then, the organization can start trying to build a team that has a chance to win a Super Bowl.
If he is pulled from a regular season game and we lose, there WILL be a rift in the locker room.
I’m vaccinated and completely understand why many decide not to. Does anybody here really believe the sports reporters weren’t gonna ask Kirk about it? I think he felt it was necessary to get it out of the way. You might not like his style, I get that. Talk about hyperventilating over next to nothing. The season can’t start soon enough…
At this moment, the Vikings have the lowest vax rate in the NFL. I frankly hope the Vikings have to forfeit games, and not only do all their players lose game checks, so do the other team's. I want all the Vikings anti-vaxxers to become radioactive in the NFL. Why? Because they are stupid and selfish.
The press conference was a vivid portrayal of Cousins selfishness, lack of accountability, and cockiness. A clear statement that he is in control because he is the QB. Before I address Kirk directly I have to comment about a couple of these comments as respectfully as I can...
Collin Farrell - "hyperventilating over next to nothing"? You have to have your head completely in the sand. Why the heck did you get vaccinated if this is over nothing? The issue is not Kirk Cousins personal choice, he has a right to a personal choice, the issue is the IMPACT of that choice on the team's productivity and success. The moment his decision causes him to miss a game, negatively impacts the milieu of the workplace or if he gets COVID after stating clearly he understands the protocols and precautions as well as the teams desire to have everyone vaccinated but he believes he's above all that, if I were the Vikings I would immediately fine him for "conduct unbecoming" as well as remove the guarantees in the contract. A contract assumes that an individual will follow-through with what he has agreed to in terms of productivity, impact on the workplace, and safety among other considerations. If he gets COVID or violates the protocols after making it known as clearly as he did he was not getting vaccinated and he guaranteed he'd follow the protocols... its a slam dunk in terms in information necessary to justify significant consequence.
Furthermore, he is reducing his trade value knowing that no other team will touch him when he displays this attitude while having 50-50 winning percentage. Why would that matter? Because he'll get the money and the Vikings will take the cap hit if they can't trade him. All of this is advantage Kirk, disadvantage Vikings organizations and players.
As I stated, first time there is even a minor violation of the protocol or worse, I would be sanctioning cousins monetarily and contractually. You have a right to your own opinions and the company has rights to sanction your or remove you when your opinions result in reduced productivity, have a negative effect on the workplace, or create safety issues.
Dennis Huskey - this is not an issue with Christianity. Plenty of Christians have been vaccinated. This is a Kirk Cousins decision based on something he refuses to speak about. I think he says nothing when asked because there is no defense to his position in relation to the team.
Does anyone believe the vaccines prevents the virus? This isn’t a polio or measles shot we’re talking about. Now I have to wear a mask to work despite being fully vaccinated. That’s right, it’s so ineffective that masks are coming back. In other words I risked my health to take an experimental vaccine that apparently doesn’t work. And the only Viking who has contracted COVID was fully vaccinated. Bottom line, we’re not talking about prevention, we’re talking about close contact penalties. That’s what Kirk was addressing imo and I always side with individual freedom and choice.
Kellen Mond was not vaccinated. That was originally reported but it turns out that wasn’t the case. You can believe what you like about freedoms but in football terms the rules are the rules and those rules make it more difficult for unvaccinated players to play 17 games
Yep I support freedom at the risk of football league penalties and heaven forbid games. I support whatever decision each player makes. It’s their call, not mine.
That's fine. I was just clarifying... this isn't a political newsletter. I'm only writing about football and on the football side, this is a decision the team is extremely concerned about and could ultimately end up being very costly. That's why he's being so harshly criticized by the team and fans.
There freedom then should include not complaining if they get booted from the team or suspended without pay if they are unproductive or cause the team to be unproductive as a result of that decision. They made their stand with their eyes wide open. I believe in your right to make your own decision and I also believe you are accepting whatever consequence comes your way based on that decision.
On your other point, vaccinations are intended to improve your immune system. Some vaccinations actually prevent a specific disease from affecting you but not all vaccinations are that successful. The point is that the research is not saying the vaccination prevents the disease 100% of the time. It says that it reduces the catastrophic effects, reduces the chance for hospitalization, but is not a cure all for every variant that will occur.
I truly don't have an issue with Kirk or anyone making their own decisions. I also don't have an issue with a person, including myself, accepting the consequences for the decisions. Pretty simple rule that has been around for as long as there has been written word... if you make a decision to hit me in the mouth and I, in turn make a decision to knock your teeth out, neither one of should be complaining if we get arrested nor should we be trying to dig up a bunch of rationalizations for the decision we made.
That's my opinion, hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm done with the conversation until something else happens that tips the scale either way.
I've thought about the money as well... would Cousins be as comfortable as he is if his paychecks were in jeopardy? As heavy-handed and ugly as that scenario would get, I believe Cousins went over contract stuff with a magnifying glass before taking his stance. I don't believe there is much of anything the franchise can do but just deal with it and hope for the best...
Honestly... bigger meeting room... meeting by the goal post in January... plexiglass barrier... I didn't expect much less from Cousins.
Some folks moan about personal choice, others belittle football over life, some continue to chant nonsense about being sheep. Which one is it folks?!?
I realized my response was becoming paragraphs of over-analyzing society beyond sports and thought it best to delete... instead, I'll just stick with Cousins and call out the obvious... he's already paid. Covid or not, the dude is sitting comfortable, why would he concern himself with others.
The Vikings should trade Cousins to a good Christian organization like the Houston Texans it's a match made in heaven! His daddy would be so proud!