The Falcons’ signing of Kirk Cousins has been met with polarizing opinions.
Some recognize the going rate for a top 10 quarterback on the open market, watched Atlanta’s quarterback play last season, and understood the organization’s aggressiveness in getting a deal done with the veteran.
Others cannot get over the $180 million price tag, along with Cousins’ Achilles injury, his age, and lack of postseason success.
Like everything in sports and life, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. However, if you ever needed proof you are on the right or wrong side of an argument, let me present Skip Bayless.
The man who made debate shows a significant facet of the billion-dollar sports economy with the help of Stephen A. Smith has become synonymous with hot takes and jinxes.
Falcons fans should know better than any. Bayless tweeted at halftime of the Falcons vs. Patriots Super Bowl that it was over. Obviously, jinxes aren’t real, and Tom Brady’s incredible comeback didn’t happen because of a tweet from Bayless, but some fans truly do believe his vote of confidence is also a mark of death.
On a recent episode of his podcast, Skip Bayless was asked whether he thought the Cowboys should’ve signed Kirk Cousins to replace Prescott. The Dallas superfan went on to praise Baker Mayfield instead.
“I know you [Falcons] were desperate and had to plunge,” Skip said, via the Pewter Plank. “I offer my condolences.”
Bayless would go on to say that Mayfield beat Cousins in Minnesota last season, even going as far as to say that Prescott is inferior to Mayfield.
“Baker Mayfield played so much better last year than Kirk Cousins did,” Bayless said, via the PewterPlank. “Think about what Baker did last year, he opened up the season by beating Kirk Cousins [at Minnesota]. Week 4 he went to New Orleans against their archrival that [Tom] Brady couldn’t deal with … Baker did a number on [the Saints].”
In Week 1 of last season, the Buccaneers and Mayfield topped the Vikings and Cousins. Tampa’s signal caller finished with 173 yards and two scores on 21-of-34 passing compared to 344 yards and two touchdowns with an interception on 33-of-44 passing for Minnesota’s quarterback.
In literally every single passing metric, Cousins played better than Mayfield last year, along with every other season they’ve been in the league. He only started eight games, but Cousins was on pace to eclipse Mayfield in yards, touchdowns, yards per attempt, passer rating, QBR, completion percentage, touchdown-interception ratio, interception percentage, and more.
I love Baker Mayfield as much as the next guy, but let’s not get ridiculous; he’s not better than Kirk Cousins or Dak Prescott.
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