The Washington Redskins failed to reach a long-term contract with starting quarterback Kirk Cousins before the NFL’s deadline to do so at 4 p.m. Friday.

‘You Don’t Like That’: Cousins, Redskins Fail To Reach Long-Term Agreement

As a result, Cousins will be the second quarterback in NFL history to play a season under the franchise tag. Drew Brees played one year as the franchise player for the San Diego Chargers back in 2005, before signing an offseason deal with the New Orleans Saints.

Brees would go on to bring a Super Bowl back to the Bayou.

Most insiders expected Washington and Cousins would not be able to come to terms given the other high-priced assets on the roster including wide receiver DeSean Jackson, tight end Jordan Reed and the addition of free agent signing, cornerback Josh Norman.

“I would love to do a long-term deal with Kirk,” Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan said a couple months back, “but I’m not going to ruin the organization financially to do it.”

Cousins didn’t seemed too concerned about the negotiations in May.

The former Michigan State Spartan, despite his viral ‘You like that’ video taking the internet and television by storm, was adamant that he would prefer not to discuss the issue.

KIRK COUSINS GOES NUTS AFTER COMEBACK WIN: “YOU LIKE THAT”

Cousins wanted to let his performance speak for him.

“I’ll let my play do the talking,” the Redskin signal caller said in May. “Nothing in this league is promised to you. Whether it’s a one-year deal or a 10-year deal, I have to prove myself every game and every year. I feel very established in my role and excited to take advantage of the opportunity, which is a phenomenal opportunity.”

According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, the terms of the contract haven’t budged since Washington extended an offer to Cousins at the NFL Combine back in February.

That offer was said to be in the $16 million per year range, with $24 million in guarantees. Neither side has moved the needle since, according to Garafolo.

On the bright side, it’s not like Cousins will be setting up shop in the poor house in 2016. His franchise tender will net him close to $20 million for the season.

Cousins and his representation were lobbying for $20 million per season at the floor and it appears the ‘Skins were not having it.

KIRK COUSINS 2015-2016 HIGHLIGHT REEL

Now 27, Cousins was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft as an insurance policy for then-superstar Robert Griffin III. Since, he has outperformed every barometer set for him.

It took until training camp last year for Cousins to finally wrestle the starting role away from Griffin, after sitting behind RGIII for three seasons. The Barrington, Illinois native, remained patient, taking advantage of the opportunities he was given when Griffin was injured and he finally took off when head coach Jay Gruden handed him the keys to the offense in 2015.

Cousins completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in his first year as a starter, throwing for, a team-record, 4,144 yards and 29 touchdowns to just 11 intercepts. He also dispelled the rumor that he was immobile, rushing for five more scores and leading the Redskins to the playoffs for the first time in two years.

“I never played football thinking about money,” Cousins told ESPN’s Jim Trotter. “And going forward I never want to play football thinking about money.”

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III‘s tenure with the Washington Redskins is over.

RGIII Could Choose From ‘A Couple Teams’ In Free Agency

Team President Bruce Allen said that much during an interview on The Mighty 1090 in San Diego on Tuesday.

This means RGIII is now officially a free agent, and his next move is a fork in the road. Allen also stated that the QB will be able to choose from a few different teams.

“I see Robert getting an opportunity with another team,” Allen said. “We’ve heard from some teams that are interested. I think he’s going to have a choice of a couple teams that will let him excel in the future.”

Griffin was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2012 and hasn’t started a single game since the 2014 season finale. He will officially become a free agent on March 9.

Allen did not say which specific teams are interested in the QB, although according to Troy Aikman, he could be headed to the Dallas Cowboys, Aikman’s former team.

Finally, Allen added that RGIII will be an appealing free agent for virtually any team because of his personality.

“From the very beginning Robert has handled himself as a professional,” Allen said. “He’s been a good teammate and a good guy. I know some people on the outside always like to be critical, but his teammates like him, his coaches like him and he does have some special talents. We wish him well.”

Despite constant rumors of a riff between Robert Griffin III and head coach Jay Gruden, it appears the two have finally made up as the Washington coach told reporters that he has named RGIII the starting QB. This is quite surprising after his comments following Washington’s final loss: “I’d like to pick one as soon as I could, so we could try to work and grind on him and develop him. But until that position is earned, you have to have a competition. I anticipate us having a competition at a lot of spots, and quarterback is no different next year.”

However, it seems Gruden has changed his tune. “We’ll go into the season with Robert as our No. 1 guy,” he said. “It’s up to Robert to continue to grow and mature as a quarterback and as a person. Moving forward we want to see improvement. It’s up to us as a staff to get more out of him.” Many expected RGIII to start because of the team’s significant investment made into him three years ago, but everyone also expected some pushback from the head coach: stubborn is such a negative word, yet it boldly fits Gruden.

Over the season, Griffin dislocated his ankle in week two, which resulted in what some deemed the savior, Kirk Cousins, starting. But as the old expression goes, when “a team is playing bad, everyone’s best friend is the back-up QB.”  Cousins proved why he does not start, throwing ten touchdowns and nine interceptions — four of which came against the Giants in week four.

This resulted in Colt McCoy getting some time before Griffin’s eventual return in week nine, but the former Browns QB took back the starting spot in late November — a decision that many networks deemed the end of the RGIII era in Washington.  Yet he quickly came back following an injury to McCoy: finishing the year with a 68.7 completion percentage, 1,694 passing yards, five total touchdowns, six interceptions and nine fumbles in seven games started (nine total played).

To help with last season’s problems, Washington has brought in quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh. He has spent time with the Bears, Jets and won Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens. On top of this, Griffin plans to work with Terry Shea, he previously worked with him prior to the 2012 draft and last offseason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM1f30MYy2c

Everyone will just has to wait and see how Washington pans out next season: they have only made the playoffs three out of the last 15 seasons and have also had eight head coaches in that time span.

It appears after going through a social media blackout for the remainder of the 2014 season, RGIII is back on Instagram to fight with critics about his image. The Instagram post in question is of Robert Griffin III singing Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” while on his way to a training session.

Well a particular Instagram user called @cperezrn took exception to this video and stated, “This is why you will be cut after next year in Washington. Why you weren’t even mentioned as the future. You are a ‘QB’. Act like one.” When another fan asked him to clarify his statements, the critic exclaimed, “[V]ery simple. He cares more about his brand, social media than working in his craft… Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Manning don’t act this way. Very simple observation.”

And the famous Washington first round pick, who has not been able to handle criticism in the past, took to Instagram to defend himself.

@rgiii: @cperezrn If giving back to the community and training for football at the same time is frowned upon…..then what would you say I do Sir? Not give back or Train? Honest Question

Oh wait…and should I not enjoy a classic song with others who Love MJ? I’m just asking for your wisdom here.

@cperezrn: It’s about the image @rgiii. Whether or not you are training trying to get better it’s all about how you present yourself. Your coach, owner doesn’t want to see you present yourself in this matter. Think about it for a minute. You grew up in a military family. I am also a military man. Ask your father, mother it’s how you present yourself.

@rgii: And I’m presenting myself in a negative way by doing…..what exactly?

@cperezrn: Never said you were presenting yourself in a “negative” way. Just seems that you care more about your social media, commercial’s and brand than football. That’s all bud. Good luck next year. @rgiii. Hope you prove your fans wrong.

@rgiii: And what or who makes it seem that way? The fans are the ones who support not the ones I have to prove wrong.

After plenty of fan support for RGIII, the little squabble continued.

@rgiii: No need to act like a leader, just gonna be one as always. The case you tried to make isn’t supported by anything I have done. Fun loving, motivation & football based commercials? Motivation and family related social media post?

@rgiii: Community events and gear going towards helping the community?

@cperezrn: If you were the leader of your team, why weren’t you mentioned as the future the other day. I’m not talking about your community involvement. Not criticizing that. I’m talking to you about the way you present yourself and many of your critics feel that you care more about your brand than football. That is ALL that I’m saying. I can be 100% wrong, even your teammates have said they aren’t sure about you. Think you have too much “DIVA” in you. Anyways I’m wrong you are right.”

@rgiii: Military families have class, dignity & loyalty. I will maintain mine. You have not shown any of those. I will keep it that way and let you go right off my page God Bless

Needless to say, this escalated fairly quickly: and as players have shown with their social media fights, these athletes are just as immature as the trolls in the first place. The important thing — as hard as it is — is to ignore all of these comments: yes, even though it sounds good to answer online critics, most of the time it will result in this — a pointless spat over basically nothing.

As the fan has pointed out, RGIII has more important things to worry about: he should be anxious about his future with  Washington because his contract expires after the 2015 season.

H/T: Washington Post

CSN Washington has reported that a fight between Washington wide receiver Andre Roberts and cornerback Bashaud Breeland broke out during the team’s Wednesday morning practice. Reporter Tarik El-Bashir stated that in the previous play — which cannot be seen in the video — “Breeland had been in tight coverage of Roberts on a deep pass from Colt McCoy. Roberts did not hold onto the ball, and both players tumbled to the turf.”

As the two players returned to the sideline, Roberts confronted Breeland, which led to the two dropping their helmets and wildly swinging at each other. After the players were separated, it took awhile for practice to begin again; but before it did, all media personal was asked to vacate the practice facility. As Tarik El-Bashir points out, this was the first fight witnessed by the media since training camp — where fights and scuffles are usually commonplace.

Yet a fight this bad and this visible possibly shows a team that is in deep turmoil: with a head coach who perhaps does not have control over the locker room. Now, the only thing the media can do is speculate, however, the situation with RGIII mixed with constant losing cannot be good for moral. Either way, Washington, who sits in last place of the NFC East at an abysmal 3-10, play an inconsistent New York Giants on Sunday: can they get their crap together or are they truly one of the worst teams in the league? One thing is for certain, from a statistical standpoint the skins are far from the worst — they actually rank tenth in total defense and twelfth in total defense: but like all bad franchises, they consistently find a way to lose.