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Redskins want to retain Cousins, and are in no rush to release Griffin Redskins want to retain Cousins, and are in no rush to release Griffin
(about 4 hours later)
MOBILE, Ala. — Washington Redskins General Manager Scot McCloughan said Wednesday he would like to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins to a long-term contract but that the team was in no rush to release Robert Griffin III.MOBILE, Ala. — Washington Redskins General Manager Scot McCloughan said Wednesday he would like to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins to a long-term contract but that the team was in no rush to release Robert Griffin III.
Cousins is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March unless the team either strikes a new deal with him or applies the franchise tag to its quarterback following an impressive 2015 season. Griffin will be owed $16.155 million next season if the team does not release him before March 9. Cousins is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March unless the team either strikes a new deal with him or applies the franchise tag to its quarterback following an impressive 2015 season. Griffin will be owed $16.155 million next season if the team does not release him before March 9.
McCloughan made it clear during a meeting with reporters at the Senior Bowl that he would like to have Cousins back next season. If the Redskins aren’t able to sign him to a multiyear deal, which has been projected to be around $17 million to $20 million per season, McCloughan said the franchise tag would be an option. The Redskins would have to pay Cousins nearly $20 million next season, however, if they’re forced to go that route. McCloughan made it clear during a meeting with reporters at the Senior Bowl that he would like to have Cousins back next season. If the Redskins aren’t able to sign him to a multiyear deal, which has been projected to be $17 million to $20 million per season, McCloughan said the franchise tag would be an option. The Redskins would have to pay Cousins nearly $20 million next season, however, if they’re forced to go that route.
“Of course you’d rather not [use the franchise tag],” McCloughan said, speaking publicly with the media for the first time since training camp, “You’d rather get a long-term deal done, but we have a lot of options we’re dealing with right now and that’s one of them.” “Of course you’d rather not [use the franchise tag],” McCloughan said, speaking publicly with the media for the first time since training camp. “You’d rather get a long-term deal done, but we have a lot of options we’re dealing with right now, and that’s one of them.”
In his first season as a full-time starter, Cousins set the franchise record with 4,166 passing yards, finishing 10th in the NFL. He was also fifth in the league in passer rating (101.6), eighth in yards per pass attempt (7.67) and tied for 12th in touchdown passes (29). He shared the most improved player of the year award, chosen by the Pro Football Writers of America, with Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman. In his first season as a full-time starter, Cousins set the franchise record with 4,166 passing yards, finishing 10th in the NFL. He was also fifth in the league in passer rating (101.6), eighth in yards per pass attempt (7.67) and tied for 12th in touchdown passes (29). He shared the most improved player of the year award, chosen by the Pro Football Writers of America, with Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman.
“I saw improvement as the season went on,” McCloughan said. “From the standpoint of going forward, of course I’d like to have him around. Our philosophy with me and the organization is that we don’t talk contract stuff with the media, but I want him to be a part of the Redskins.”“I saw improvement as the season went on,” McCloughan said. “From the standpoint of going forward, of course I’d like to have him around. Our philosophy with me and the organization is that we don’t talk contract stuff with the media, but I want him to be a part of the Redskins.”
[On the NFL: McCloughan’s offseason attitude is anything but complacent][On the NFL: McCloughan’s offseason attitude is anything but complacent]
As it currently stands, Griffin is the only quarterback under contract for next season, with Cousins and Colt McCoy slated to become unrestricted free agents. The quarterback situation still technically remains unresolved as McCloughan and his staff scout draft prospects this week during Senior Bowl practices. As it stands, Griffin is the only quarterback under contract for next season, with Cousins and Colt McCoy slated to become unrestricted free agents. The quarterback situation still technically remains unresolved as McCloughan and his staff scout draft prospects this week during Senior Bowl practices.
“The thing about it is that nothing is dead set at that position,” McCloughan said. “What I’m doing here is quarterback, offensive linemen, safety, corner — it doesn’t matter. I’m looking for the best football players. It’d be nice to get everything locked in place going forward, but we don’t. No team really does completely, so it’s always about building no matter what.”“The thing about it is that nothing is dead set at that position,” McCloughan said. “What I’m doing here is quarterback, offensive linemen, safety, corner — it doesn’t matter. I’m looking for the best football players. It’d be nice to get everything locked in place going forward, but we don’t. No team really does completely, so it’s always about building no matter what.”
While Washington is expected to release Griffin to avoid paying his salary and move on from the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the team will likely wait until the new league year deadline to make that decision official. While Washington is expected to release Griffin to avoid paying his salary and move on from the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the team likely will wait until the new league year deadline to make that decision official.
Griffin, who was considered the franchise quarterback after an electrifying rookie campaign in 2012, did not play a down last season as the third-string quarterback.Griffin, who was considered the franchise quarterback after an electrifying rookie campaign in 2012, did not play a down last season as the third-string quarterback.
Washington has the ability to release Griffin the day after the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, when clubs can waive players on the active roster, but the team plans to weigh all of its options as it has no guarantees of what could happen with Cousins. McCloughan said he could see a situation in which Griffin remains with the Redskins next season, but he felt he needed to solidify a plan with Coach Jay Gruden and his coaching staff before making any moves. Washington has the ability to release Griffin the day after the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, when clubs can waive players on the active roster, but the team plans to weigh all of its options because it has no guarantee of what could happen with Cousins. McCloughan said he could see a situation in which Griffin remains with the Redskins next season, but he felt he needed to solidify a plan with Coach Jay Gruden and his coaching staff before making any moves.
“The thing that’s good about where we are right now is we have until March 9,” McCloughan said. “That’s why I want to sit with the coaches — and not just the coordinators, position coaches; everybody — and get a feel for it, because [Griffin] is a good football player, he’s a really good person and he’s under contract. And that’s where we are right now.” “The thing that’s good about where we are right now is we have until March 9,” McCloughan said. “That’s why I want to sit with the coaches — and not just the coordinators, position coaches; everybody — and get a feel for it because [Griffin] is a good football player, he’s a really good person and he’s under contract. And that’s where we are right now.”
[Redskins Mailbag: Jordan Reed’s future and impact of a Cousins deal][Redskins Mailbag: Jordan Reed’s future and impact of a Cousins deal]
Although Gruden went away from Griffin as his starter, McCloughan doesn’t stand alone in his opinion that the former Heisman Trophy winner remains “a good football player.” Multiple NFL pro scouts, coaches and front office executives — all speaking on the condition of anonymity because they didn’t want to subject their teams to tampering charges by commenting on Griffin since he remains under contract — said this week in Mobile that they believe Griffin still has the capability to become a quality starter in the NFL if given the right opportunity. Although Gruden went away from Griffin as his starter, McCloughan doesn’t stand alone in his opinion that the former Heisman Trophy winner remains “a good football player.” Multiple pro scouts, coaches and front-office executives — all speaking on the condition of anonymity because they didn’t want to subject their teams to tampering charges by commenting on Griffin while he remains under contract — said this week in Mobile that they believe Griffin still has the capability to become a quality starter in the NFL if he’s given the right opportunity.
“I don’t see why he can’t do what Cam [Newton] is doing,” an AFC assistant coach whose team has previously faced Griffin said. “He’s got that unique talent. He just needs to be in the right place, but I think he can still play.”“I don’t see why he can’t do what Cam [Newton] is doing,” an AFC assistant coach whose team has previously faced Griffin said. “He’s got that unique talent. He just needs to be in the right place, but I think he can still play.”