Kirk Cousins wants a chance to compete for a starting job, and is unsure if he'll have that opportunity in Washington. Reports are emerging that he would like to be traded if the team names Robert Griffin III starting quarterback for the 2015 season.
Kirk Cousins wants to be traded if RG3 remains Washington’s starter
The backup quarterback wants a chance to compete, which could lead him to find a new team.
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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
When Cousins was asked to go on the record to discuss his trade request he stated, “Isn’t it obvious I couldn’t stay here?” He went on to say that if there was no quarterback competition, there would be no point in staying, reiterating that he would approach the 2015 season as a 16-game waiting period before free agency.
Cousins struggled in five starts this year, leading Washington to a 1-4 record. Two successful early-season outings were quickly met with a sharp downturn, and he finished the year throwing for 1,710 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. RGIII hasn’t much better, slightly edging Cousins in passer rating, but also struggling to win and throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.
Teammate DeAngelo Hall had a sharply pointed message for Cousins after learning the news:
@KirkCousins8 focus on what you have control over. Gods plan is always perfect. None of us played good enough in 2014 to demand anything...
— DeAngelo Hall (@DeAngeloHall23) December 29, 2014 While Cousins didn’t directly demand a trade, Hall didn’t like that anybody inside the organization would make public claims one day after Washington lost its 12th game of the season and cemented a Top-five draft choice:
@NBCdianna I don't think anything needed to be said. We all competing for a job. No one is safe after the season we had. Even myself
— DeAngelo Hall (@DeAngeloHall23) December 29, 2014 The word “demand” has become a semantic argument in Washington with Hall interpreting Cousins’ potential request as a line in the sand, while the quarterback told Mike Jones of The Washington Post that he’s under contract and will not demand a trade. Neither the team nor the coaching staff has issued a statement on their quarterback situation at this time.
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