Cousins tagged by Washington again
Kirk Cousins will be the first quarterback in NFL history to play consecutive seasons on the franchise tag.
Cousins and Washington 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 Washington’s 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 secondmost 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.”
In 46 games, including 41 starts, Cousins has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 12,113 yards, 72 touchdowns and 42 interceptions.
NO DEAL FOR BELL: The Pittsburgh Steelers and 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.
PANTHERS TURMOIL: Just over a week before training camp opens, the Carolina Panthers have no general manager. And no president. The team that faded from a Super Bowl spot to a losing season in 2016 fired Dave Gettleman, eight days before the Panthers get down to preseason business. They already were without a team president after Danny Morrison resigned in February. —AP