It might be time for Kirk Cousins to quit Twitter
With his recent attempts to engage Vikings fans on Twitter, it may be time for Kirk Cousins to quit that social media platform.
In today’s world, like the general public, pro athletes can offer a window into their lives via social media. Instagram, Twitter and the like are a double-edged sword for public figures though, as responses can come unabated and turn harsh quickly. If he didn’t realize the negative side of social media before, Kirk Cousins is finding it out now.
After the Minnesota Vikings went 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game in 2017, Cousins was signed a three-year, $84 million contract as expectations remained high.
But that faded into a 8-7-1 season, as the Vikings missed the playoffs and Cousins fell short in every important game against a good team.
Cousins’ salary is an easy crutch for criticism, but it will remain the chief narrative for disappointed fans over the next two seasons if he and the team continues to fall short.
No one is saying he has to be a hermit, or stay in the frozen and snow-bound tundra of Minnesota during the offseason. But his recent vacation tweets did not play well with local fans.
https://twitter.com/KirkCousins8/status/1093293120991780864
Just swam with some stingrays in the ocean. Would you ever get in the water with a sting ray?
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) February 8, 2019
May not have @stefondiggs & @athielen19 around, but gotta throw all off-season to keep the arm strong. pic.twitter.com/SVVZc2mteG
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) February 9, 2019
This is the ultimate dad move. Excessive sunscreen on the nose. Pretty sure only @KyleBrandt can appreciate this. pic.twitter.com/oAUPixlzuO
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) February 11, 2019
Inviting fan engagement on Twitter is not a bad thing, but it is a slippery slope. And Cousins put some grease on that slipper slope with a giveaway poll on Tuesday.
The season feels so far away, so I want to do a giveaway to keep all you @Vikings fans excited! What do you want me to giveaway?
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) February 12, 2019
The responses were not hard to see coming, even with “Other” only pulling in 11 percent of the final tally. A fair sampling of that 11 percent appears to have registered a snarky comment along with their vote.
This is not gonna end well for you
— ig: will_etc (@will_etc) February 12, 2019
Give yourself away to another team!
— Austin (@ajbjerkaas) February 13, 2019
Some of that CAP SPACE
— Ricky Buckets (@ErikStuder) February 13, 2019
Half of your guaranteed contract so the team can sign a quality tackle to protect you
— Coach Conlin (@ThatConlinKid) February 13, 2019
How about a win against a team with a winning record
— Trevor Maciejeski (@trevormac10) February 13, 2019
One guy just wants better on-field production from Cousins.
3rd and 7.......throw it for 8 yards, not 6!
— Basketball Jones (@dcsportz) February 13, 2019
In the end 71 percent of vote called for Cousins to give away a signed jersey and it’s assumed a winner will be randomly picked at some point soon.
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Self awareness is not a strong suit for a lot of athletes. Cousins means well in trying to engage and share with Vikings fans, but he has to see he’s inviting negative response, right? Or maybe, through a smiling face, he’s being defiant, can ignore it and just flat doesn’t care what anyone says about him on Twitter.