Redskins QB Kirk Cousins says he wants to play out career in Washington

Another month, another dribble of drama from the ever-looming, ever-festering Kirk Cousins conundrum.

Preseason is now in full swing, nearly a month removed from the July contract deadline. And still, we hear rumblings of a time now long passed. The return of football was supposed to relegate the Kirk Cousins uncertainty to the proverbial back seat. But a recent report has brought the controversial quarterback into the limelight once again, albeit for a short spell.

That’s right. Sal Paolantonio, ESPN’s Eagles specialist, was doing some information grabbing, and along the way, this one-liner hit the waves. It’s pleasing to the eye for fans looking to end the turnstile at quarterback in Washington, once and for all. But it’ll take a turnstile of money to keep Cousins around, and Washington doesn’t seem willing to pay it. After all, they haven’t yet.

This is another instance of Cousins doing what he does best, besides throwing the football and leading the Redskins’ offense. He’s saying the right thing. He’s a signal caller who is still unproven to many, heading into a crucial season with a team that has a very slim margin of error. The last thing Cousins wants to do is speculate on his own long-term future. He’s focused on winning games now, so that his resume will be better when he does have to decide where he’ll be.

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So yes, in a perfect world, Cousins would love to remain a Redskin. But the Redskins lowballed him one too many times. And now, it’s not just about the money. He’s hesitant to believe that the Redskins will ever have faith in him as their franchise quarterback.

A winning season in 2017 would change that. But even if Cousins doesn’t play well, the Redskins will have plenty of competition to sign the veteran. They’ve expressed their desire to keep him around on a historic third franchise tag. However, the feasibility of that move, or lack thereof, is still in the air.

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Cousins’ quote is proof of one thing. Although it is probable that he leaves in 2018, there is yet hope that Cousins will play out his career donning the burgundy and gold. He’s known to be a man of his word. And if he really wants to stay, one would think he’d make it happen. Time will test whether his statement holds true.