Vikings: Deion Sanders takes clear shot at Kirk Cousins
It’s safe to say Deion Sanders isn’t crazy about Kirk Cousins.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is one of the most polarizing signal-callers in the NFL, and that’s saying something considering how many players are under scrutiny while playing the most-scrutinized position in professional sports.
Legendary NFL cornerback Deion Sanders recently had some kind words for one of Cousins’ two superstar wide receivers, Justin Jefferson, following a ridiculous rookie season. But while he praised Jefferson, he did not have kind words to say about Cousins in the very same breath.
According to SKOR North, Sanders said the following about Cousins to Jefferson:
“I knew you were good, I didn’t know you were going to put in that kind of work this year and I’m not crazy about your quarterback. I know his game. I’m not crazy about your quarterback but your head coach is one of my best friends. I ain’t crazy about your quarterback and you put in work.”
Yikes. Sanders isn’t the biggest fan of Cousins, huh?
It’s hard to say that Sanders is being unfair, though. There probably aren’t too many Vikings fans who are “crazy” about Cousins either. He’s capable of putting up some big numbers, sure. But there’s a reason Stefon Diggs is so happy he got out of Minnesota. And he ended up reaching the AFC Championship Game in his first season with the Buffalo Bills, receiving an upgrade in the downfield passing department with Josh Allen as his quarterback.
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Still, Diggs did put up some big numbers with Cousins in Minnesota, and Jefferson is doing the same. In his first season in the NFL, Jefferson was fourth in the NFL in receiving yards, hitting exactly 1,400. He averaged nearly 16 yards per reception despite also catching about 70 percent of his passes, leading to a jaw-dropping 11.2 yards per target average that was, likewise, fourth in the NFL.
So, clearly, Sanders’ high praise for Jefferson, who was the youngest player in the league to reach 1,000 receiving yards at the age of 21, is not unwarranted.
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His criticisms of Cousins? Considering the former Washington quarterback has won 10 games in his career just once, Sanders has a point. Defenders of Cousins, though, will point to him ranking eighth in the league in QB Rating this season. With players like Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, and Adam Thielen around him, though, Cousins’ individual stats carry less weight when legends and fans alike criticize him for not getting the job done when it matters most. It just might be time for them to find a true franchise quarterback in 2021.