Washington Redskins: Bruce Allen all but ensures Kirk Cousins’ exit

For the second-straight season, the Washington Redskins and quarterback Kirk Cousins couldn’t agree to a long-term deal, paving the way for his exit after 2017.

The NFL deadline for franchised players to agree to long-term deals came and went Monday afternoon with no action. That means the Washington Redskins and quarterback Kirk Cousins, once again, fail to come to terms on a long-term deal.

Fortunately, Adam Schefter prepared everyone on Sunday that a deal was not likely.

Now, while that was expected, Washington’s reaction wasn’t. Immediately after the deadline, team president Bruce Allen gathered in front of the assembled media, read a statement — probably prepared by team stooge and play-by-play man Larry Michael — and refused to take questions.

In this statement, Allen tossed out the numbers Washington offered Cousins on May 2. According to Allen, the Redskins offered Cousins $53 million guaranteed upon signing and $72 million for injury. Those numbers sound gaudy, but a closer look makes it clear why Cousins balked.

Cousins is set to make $24 million alone from the franchise tag alone in 2017. With the transition tag in place for 2018, that would be a little over $28 million guaranteed. That equals the total guarantees Washington offered Cousins on the proposed long-term deal. Beyond that, no guarantees.

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Interestingly enough, those were the only numbers Allen read. He didn’t discuss how many years the deal was for, or if it was a deal structured for the Redskins to get out of with ease after two years if the quarterback struggled. That’s something Cousins and his agent, Mike McCartney, have made a priority in their dealings with Allen and owner Daniel Snyder.

So, instead of Allen staying away from the media or press releases, he drives an even bigger wedge between Cousins and the team by leaking any information on the negotiations. Allen’s hope is to rally Washington’s fan base to his side. That ship has sailed.

You think Cousins is happy about Allen’s statement? It further validates his likely opinions on a long-term future in Washington as long as Allen is in charge. What Allen should have done was release a statement about how the team was disappointed it couldn’t agree to terms with Cousins and that he remains the team’s future at quarterback and he’s hopeful of reaching a deal after the conclusion of the season. Nope. Pride and foolishness wouldn’t allow that.

The biggest dig Allen took at Cousins was saying he “prefers to play on a year-to-year basis.”

Well, Bruce, that’s because you didn’t put an offer in front of him to tempt him. Therein lies the issue, Allen didn’t offer a tempting deal to Cousins because he was afraid he would accept it. The entire offseason has been about making Cousins feel like he was Washington’s guy. As with most things that come out of Allen’s mouth, you can take it with a grain of salt.

Last offseason, McCartney and Cousins presented the Redskins with a three-year deal worth $19 million annually with high guarantees. The Redskins didn’t even respond. Think Snyder regrets that now? You certainly won’t hear Allen express regrets.

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Allen’s foolishness continues to torture the Redskins. Now, Washington fans will be treated to another year of Cousins playing under lame-duck status. For Cousins, he deserves better. Much better. And whether it’s 2018 or 2019, he will find better.

Cousins will be on Washington D.C. radio station 106.7 The Fan on Tuesday. He will say all the right things about being excited for the upcoming season and his future. Cousins is too nice of a guy to tell us what he really thinks and too smart to tip his hand about where he wants to be in the future.

Allen’s buffoonery continued in his brief presser as he mispronounced Cousins’ first name on at least six occasions, referring to him as Kurt. Or is it Curt? This is all while reading from a prepared statement that correctly spelled the quarterback’s first name.

In defense of Allen, perhaps he had too many Coors Lights before he read this.

The Redskins — specifically Allen — have botched these negotiations for two years now. Instead of realizing the team established the negotiating parameters with the franchise tag, Allen wanted to operate as if this were a typical negotiation. It isn’t. The franchise tag is where you negotiate from. Not millions below it.

Where does Washington turn now? Well, fortunately, the season is almost upon us and perhaps Cousins and the Redskins have a good season and that makes him realize D.C. is where he belongs. However, there’s just too much water under the bridge and Monday’s developments didn’t help things.

While no one thinks Cousins is an elite passer, he’s good. In today’s NFL, you pay through the nose for good. Allen and the Redskins apparently refuse to embrace the quarterback market and that stubbornness will likely cost them the best quarterback they’ve had in at least 25 years.

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For Allen, these negotiations are personal. This is bigger than trying to keep Cousins in town for the foreseeable future. It’s about winning the negotiation. And only Bruce Allen is the one who thinks he can actually “win” this negotiation.

Sorry, Bruce, that isn’t happening.