Kirk Cousins's toughness snubbed by ESPN panel of quarterbacks
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins showed the world the physical pain he put himself through in 2022 in Netflix's documentary Quarterback, but that wasn't enough for ESPN's analysts to consider him one of the toughest QBs in the game. .
In an article ranking quarterbacks by traits, Cousins missed the top 10 in the "Compete level and toughness" category, according to ESPN's NFL Quarterback Council, which is a group of former QBs (from different levels) including Tim Hasselbeck and Dan Orlovsky, among others.
The description for the "Compete level and toughness' category:
Who has the most desire to win? Toughness rolls into it, and our analysts looked at each quarterback's bounce-back ability and resilience here, along with how well they can take a hit. Physicality is a big trait in this section, too. Compete level also speaks to a quarterback's command of his offense, leadership qualities and ability to deliver in the clutch. Simply put, you can never count out the players who made this top 10.
Somehow, despite all of that sounding like 2022 Kirk Cousins, he didn't make the cut.
- Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
- Josh Allen (Bills)
- Joe Burrow (Bengals)
- Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
- Justin Herbert (Chargers)
- Matthew Stafford (Rams)
- Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
- Aaron Rodgers (Jets)
- Justin Fields (Bears)
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens) / Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars)
Tell us you didn't watch Quarterback without telling us you didn't watch Quarterback.
Cousins was the first QB listed in the 'others receiving votes' category, so he wasn't far off, but putting Stafford, Prescott and Fields over Cousins, who hasn't missed a game due to injury since he took over as a starter in Washington in 2015, is questionable.
Stafford is on the list because he is a warrior, but he only played in nine games last season. Are we rewarding career feats or recent toughness? Prescott bounced back from a nasty ankle injury but he missed five games in 2022. And what makes Fields tougher than Cousins?
Cousins led the league in QB hits taken last season with 84. The next closest was Herbert's 72. Cousins's 46 sacks taken was second behind the 55 times Russell Wilson and Fields were sacked.
Not only did Cousins get beat up behind a suspect offensive line, he had eight fourth-quarter comebacks, including the greatest comeback in NFL history as the Vikings rallied from a 33-0 hole to beat the Colts.
Fields went 3-12 as the Bears starter last season. That's delivering in the clutch?
Yes, Cousins threw short on fourth-and-eight with the season on the line, but he deserves a bit more credit than being placed behind Fields on a list that awards compete level and toughness.
Cousins is the guy who connects electrodes to his head after long days at the office in order to test his focus when fatigued. That's compete level at its finest.
How about the bounce-back wins after shellackings by Philadelphia and Dallas? Yes, that was Cousins leading the Vikings after miserable efforts on national television.
If Cousins proved anything last year, it's that he's as tough as they come in the NFL.
