Redskins, Cousins fail to sign deal
Kirk Cousins will be the first quarterback in NFL history to play consecutive seasons on the franchise tag.
Cousins and the Washington Redskins didn’t sign a long-term deal by the deadline Monday. He will make $23.94 million on the franchise tag in 2017 after earning $19.95 million last year.
Team president Bruce Allen said in a prepared statement that the Redskins’ goal was to sign Cousins to a long-term contract and offered him $53 million guaranteed or $72 million in the event of injury. That would have been the second-most fully guaranteed money given to a QB behind Aaron Rodgers’ $54 million.
“Despite our repeated attempts, we have not received any offer from Kirk’s agent this year,” Allen said. “Kirk has made it clear that he prefers to play on a year-to-year basis. While we would have liked to work out a long-term contract before this season, we accept his decision.”
Cousins’ agent, Mike Mccartney, declined an interview request made before Allen issued his statement. Allen said the team’s offer was made May 2 and that he met with Cousins face to face over the weekend.
The 28-year-old Michigan State product is going into his third full season as Washington’s starter. Cousins set franchise records with 4,166 and 4,917 yards the past two seasons, but has yet to win a playoff game.
Oakland’s Derek Carr signed a deal last month that guarantees him $40 million.
Carr has also not won a playoff game, but has played only three pro seasons, Cousins will head into his sixth NFL campaign and was a backup to Robert Griffin III to start his career.
In 46 games, including 41 starts, Cousins has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 12,113 yards, 72 touchdowns and 42 interceptions.
Pittsburgh and star running back Le’veon Bell failed to reach an agreement on a long-term contract, meaning Bell will play on a one-year tender this season.
Pittsburgh placed the franchise tag on Bell in March and had until Monday afternoon to work out a new deal. Bell instead will make $12.1 million this season, the average of the five highest-paid running backs in the league.
Bell could become an unrestricted free agent next spring or the Steelers could place the franchise tag on him a second time. General manager Kevin Colbert says the team will “resume its efforts” to re-sign Bell next offseason.
The 25-year-old Bell ran for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns and caught another 75 passes in 12 games for Pittsburgh in 2016.
Carolina fired general manager Dave Gettleman less than two weeks before the opening of training camp.
Team owner Jerry Richardson said in a statement he made the decision after a long evaluation of the team’s football operations.
Gettleman had been Carolina’s general manager since 2013. The Panthers were 6-10 last season a year after reaching Super Bowl 50, where they lost to Denver. Carolina reached the postseason in Gettleman’s first three years at the helm.
Gettleman is the second NFL GM to be fired in less than a month. Kansas City fired John Dorsey on June
23.
Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott was involved in a latenight altercation at a Dallas bar.
A Dallas Police Department spokesperson told Mike Fisher of 105.3 FM The Fan in Dallas and ESPN’S Adam Schefter that no arrests were made in connection with the incident, which took place at the Clutch Bar and Restaurant on Sunday night.
Elliott, 21, and a bouncer reportedly were involved in the incident.
Officers were dispatched to the bar around 9:40 p.m. and a 30-yearold man said he was physically assaulted but could not identify who assaulted him, according to Dallas police. The man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Steelers: Panthers: Cowboys: