That's exactly right Kel. And I'll take it one step further - Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, *insert supposed perfect QB name here*, all throw INTs, have passes tipped and intercepted, fumble and make other mistakes. Only Redskins fans seem to believe that only OUR QB has those kinds of negative plays occur.
I think with our guys, the problem is that we aren't good enough to have those things happen and still consistently overcome them. The margin of error for the Redskins is small. We might've been in the game last night with 1 or 2 of those errors. But 4, 5, or 6 of them? No way.
My thoughts summed up.
I feel like we judge Cousins as a finished article at QB, when he's really not. This is his 3rd true season holding the reins.
His first couple of years were spent sitting on the bench behind RGIII. Learning alongside a fellow rookie.
Compare to Rodgers. He's been in the League 13 years now. It took him 6 years to get to the Superbowl.
His first 3 years were spent sitting on the bench behind Brett Favre. Learning from one of the best in the game.
For better or worse Cousins is still learning. Maybe his rise isn't as meteoric as others, but he's constantly showing signs of growth. You may not like stats, but his are always in the top 5 to 10 of QB's. Maybe he can't elevate a team like Rodgers or Brady can, but then... not many QB's can.
And how many QB's have we seen start their careers strong and flame out. Prescott is not the same without Elliott. Kapernick went to a Superbowl and is now unemployable. WE know this better than most, we watched RGIII go from the most exciting player int he league to out of the league in just a few years.
Bearing that in mind I'd rather have a good solid competent QB who strives to take steps every year to move forwards. I think at this point we're pretty sure he's not going to be a flame out QB.
And it's not him dictating the money he's being paid... it's a confluence of circumstances that he's totally playing to his advantage. ANYONE would do exactly the same thing ESPECIALLY in a career where one bad tackle could paralyse you for life. I don't blame him, or hold it against him one iota. In the same position I'd do the same thing.
As a parallel think of what happened to former F1 Champion Michael Schumacher. He earned hundreds of millions in salary and then a skiing accident injured him so badly he'd burning through money at a huge rate on medical bills.
Football players take those risks everytime they step onto a field.
If we can surround him with a good solid healthy team, a team with a solid defense and a good running game, he'll produce. The Skins will win.
This is a team in a transition phase. Getting younger and more talented. Without injuries I do believe we'd have seen a massive step forward this year, I think we were already seeing it early on until the football Gods saw fit to bludgeon us with the injury hammer.
There's no guarantee's in football. Maybe next year the league figures Wentz out and the Eagles crash to earth. A couple of years ago Newton and the Panthers looked unstoppable. Things change.
Maybe next year the injury Gods smile on us and we can see the TRUE potential of this team and whatever we add in the off season.
I think that's why I love this sport, indeed sport in general. It's a sport of what ifs.
Sometimes they suck (What if the Saints come back from 15 points down with 6 mins to play) but sometimes they can be amazing (see beating Seattle at home!).