Key Takeaways:
– Kirk Cousins signed a substantial contract with the Atlanta Falcons worth $180 million.
– During a crucial Week 14 NFL game, Cousins, a former Viking, will return to play against the Minnesota Vikings.
– In his final days as a Viking, Cousins shared the organization’s treatment and desired contract structure.
– The Quarterback sold his Minnesota home for over $1 million.
– For Cousins, the shift to the Falcons means increased job security, something he craved in Minnesota.
High-Stakes: Falcons’ Cousins Connects with Emotions Ahead of Minnesota Return
As the 2024 NFL schedule rolls out, all eyes are setting on Week 14 where Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons’ recent signing with an eye-watering $180 million contract, aims to justify his hefty paycheck. A particularly emotional game awaits Cousins as he returns to his old stomping ground, facing off against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins, now a Falcon, Faced with Turbulent Emotions
The new Falcons quarterback expressed an array of emotions during an interview on ESPN’s “NFL Live”. He spoke of the unique experience it would be to go up against his former team and the vast array of familiar faces he once shared the locker room with. He anticipates a whirlwind of emotions – from touching down in Minnesota, to entering the U.S. Bank Stadium not as a homeowner, but as a visiting player.
Reason for Departure: Contract Structure and Long-Term Security
In a candid revelation on the podcast “Bussin with the Boys”, Cousins spoke about his departure from Minnesota. The Vikings always treated him well, but the lack of multi-year guarantees pushed him towards free agency. Cousins emphasized that having a stable, long-term contract structure was a key factor influencing his decision to sign with the Falcons. He reflected on the Vikings propensity for a year-to-year basis approach, which was not the path he preferred at this precipice of his career.
New Beginnings: Cousins Sells Minnesota Home and Embraces the Future
Cousins’ home in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, which he purchased for $738,000 back in 2018, sold recently for an impressive $1.25 million. The property, featured in Netflix’s “Quarterback” docuseries, was a mere 12-minute drive from the Vikings’ training facility. A sale of this stature signals not just a profitable exit, but a symbolic shift away from his past and towards a future with the Atlanta Falcons.
The stakes are heightened, the stage is set, and the drama unfolds in Week 14 as Kirk Cousins prepares to justify the Falcons’ massive investment in him. Moreover, as he returns to a city that holds countless memories for him, Minnesota and the Vikings will assess whether they let go of a star or dodged a hefty paycheck.