The Minnesota Vikings may not have a strong overall record, but their quarterback is playing exceptionally well. This has led to speculation about a possible separation in the future.
Kirk Cousins is in the final year of his existing contract, which also includes a no-trade clause. He could waive such a clause if he wants a fresh start with a better team elsewhere, and could also grant the Vikings an opportunity to receive a return on the signal-caller who has manned their starting job since 2018.
However, Cousins doesn’t seem too keen on considering such a future, at least not at this time.
“When asked about the possibility of waiving his no-trade clause on Wednesday, Cousins responded, ‘My primary focus is on the Bears and achieving a 1-0 victory this week. I consider anything else as not worthy of my time, energy, or attention.”
The Vikings (1-4) face the host Chicago Bears (1-4) on Sunday, with Cousins and Co. (sans Justin Jefferson) looking to emerge from last place in the NFC North.
Cousins is second in the NFL for passing yards (1,498), holds a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 13-4, and is seventh in passer rating (101.7). Apart from his initial turnover problems and his teammates’ ongoing issues in this area, Cousins’ performance surpasses his team’s record. At the age of 35, he undeniably deserves better.
As the Vikings are now losing close games, contrary to their winning streak that earned them the NFC North title last year, chatter about Cousins’ future will only grow louder as the NFL’s Oct. 31 trade deadline nears. For now, he’s choosing to ignore it, relying on his social media-free flip phone to keep him insulated.
Cousins stated, “I’m genuinely ignorant, and it’s blissful. I intentionally limit my information access. I have a few high school friends who share what they’re reading with me, and I respond. However, I’d rather stay uninformed, so I’d prefer to stop receiving texts.”
Besides that, I’m truly uncertain about what’s happening. There have been moments where my lack of exposure has led to naivety and even a bit of stupidity. However, I prefer that over being overwhelmed by information which can distract you from what’s truly important and beneficial for your performance. That’s essentially my approach.
Cousins’ focus on football seems to be yielding positive results so far. However, the rest of the Vikings aren’t faring as well, frequently losing possession early in the game due to a league-high 12 giveaways. They also lack the firepower to recover from these self-inflicted early deficits.
We’ll find out if the Vikings comprehend that this isn’t their season and trade Cousins to another team for what should be a substantial return. If not, Cousins will carry on as normal — using his T9 Word function to text his friends.
