A lot of perceptions around Kirk Cousins have changed since the Netflix documentary Quarterback was released last month, and one of them has been Cousins’s willingness to step up as a leader.
NFL Network’s Sam Wyche is one reporter who has taken note after visiting Minnesota Vikings training camp this week, saying Cousins gave a “riveting” presentation to his teammates on Thursday night.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins addressed teammates and coaches Thursday. From what I was told, he further emboldened trust and respect after his “riveting” presentation. pic.twitter.com/7adoN38S5T
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) July 29, 2023
“The people who told me about this said it was absolutely riveting,” Wyche said on NFL Network. “The fact that Kirk Cousins is one of the oldest guys on the team [and] was touching guys who just came into the league with this message, where they were like ‘This is our leader. This is a righteous guy that we want to get behind.'”
According to Wyche, Cousins spent 30 minutes addressing the team about his early days as a backup in Washington. While Cousins admitted on the Quarterback documentary he wasn’t thrilled about being selected by the Commanders – who selected Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick in the same draft – it was the veterans that helped him out.
It led him to discuss another scene in the documentary where he was having trouble learning the play calls in his first year in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. While Cousins admitted to using flashcards in training camp, backup quarterback Nick Mullens suggested recording the play calls and listening to them later in the week.
While it is unknown when the suggestion occurred, Cousins got more comfortable in the Vikings’ new scheme as the season went along and Minnesota wound up with a 13-4 record and their first NFC North title since 2017. Cousins definitely got better as the season went along.
“He said that’s an example of leading up because [Mullens] didn’t have to share that because he’s the backup,” Wyche explained. “He could have been envious or whatever and said ‘I’m not going to help out the starter.'”
Cousins used Mullens’s advice as an example of what the Vikings need to succeed this season, and it’s not the first time that the soon-to-be 35-year-old gave an impressive presentation to his teammates.
According to KFAN’s Ben Leber, Cousins gave another speech to his teammates last offseason, drawing similar reviews and setting the tone for the season.
“There was a meeting – all of the biggest names on the team at this meeting – and Kirk blew everybody away in how he handled the things that were said,” Leber said on the Unrestricted podcast in March 2022. “Apparently, a couple of guys walked out of the meeting and said ‘Kirk’s our dog. Kirk’s our freaking dog.’ Apparently, Kirk came in very prepared for this type of meeting. Apparently, he had been taking notes all season long and laid it all out. I guess the guys were like ‘Damn, this is a guy that we can ride with that’s going to have our backs at all times.'”
Nobody is questioning Cousins’s level of preparation – especially after watching the Quarterback documentary – but the Vikings may question other areas such as his tendency to worry about the worst possible outcome and his playoff track record where he has yet to advance past the divisional round.
This has Cousins playing out the final year of his deal as opposed to signing an extension, and his contract status will be a key storyline until something happens.
