Why Teddy (Not Kirk) Should Have Been the Chosen One
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
If you’ve been a fan of the Vikings or an observer of the Vikings franchise over the past 10 years, you most likely fall into one of two camps: Those who believed in Kirk Cousins and those who would have preferred an octogenarian Fran Tarkenton under center.
For some reason, Kirk seemed to strike a passionate chord more than most, so let’s talk cold, hard numbers. Over his six years as a Vikings starter, Cousins was able to amass 23,265 yards passing, threw 171 touchdowns against 55 interceptions, lost 24 fumbles, and accumulated a record of 50-37-1.
To anyone that’s been paying attention to Kirk Cousins’ career, these numbers should come as no surprise. On paper, Kirk puts up solid numbers by almost any measuring stick. This is why Kirk garnered so much attention during the 2017 offseason, which ultimately saw the Vikings sign him to (at the time) a very lucrative contract.
I’m not here to debate whether or not Kirk can or cannot accumulate stats. That’s one nice thing about numbers: they are what they are. I have never had an issue with giving Cousins his due when it comes what he can look like on paper, and he should earn some respect for what he’s been able to accomplish. But my issue with Kirk runs deeper than numbers and is more nuanced than a stat sheet.
As a quick summary: Cousins came to the Vikings to become the newest answer at quarterback in 2018. This was due to some perceived instability at the position, even though the Vikings were coming off of a historic season led mostly by journeyman Case Keenum and rising stars in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. The Vikings had just lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, and were looking to finally break through.
Prior to Keenum, Minnesota looked to the injury-prone Bengay enthusiast Sam Bradford, who came to the team via trade at the beginning of the 2016 season. That trade was a response to a gruesome knee injury that was sustained by Teddy Bridgewater during a non-contact drill during the 2016 Preseason. A.K.A., the moment that changed everything.
Bridgewater had been drafted by the Vikings in 2014 and earned a starting role in his first two seasons. For many fans in and out of Minnesota, Teddy seemed to be the real deal: The quarterback that would lead the franchise for many years to come. Before Teddy’s knee almost fell off, he amassed 6,150 yards passing, threw 28 touchdowns against 21 interceptions, lost two fumbles, and accumulated a record of 17-11.
So why am I re-hashing old history? Clearly, on paper, Kirk looks to be a far superior player to Teddy in their respective times in Minnesota. I think if all it took to analyze player performance was running Madden simulations, than yeah, Kirk probably would’ve won some more Simulation Bowls. The problem is that the NFL and player performance is much more nuanced than that. To perform at a consistently high level in the NFL, it takes not only physical gifts, but mental gifts as well.
Here’s the other thing: Every NFL player is a superstar, or at least, was at some point. Even the last guy to make a 53-man roster was an absolute baller at high school, and probably college before joining an NFL team. So every player is talented and has the ability to play at a high level. What separates the poor, to good, to elite is the mental aspect of the game. The preparation, the football IQ, the grit, the confidence in your own abilities to succeed against all others.
This is where Kirk lost me. It’s no secret that he has had issues playing in prime time games and in pressure situations. As with any player, you and I could point to single points in time where Kirk displayed the “ability” to play well in these situations, but after 12 years in the NFL, Kirk is who he is.
It’s certainly been long enough for patterns to emerge and confirm themselves. This is why Kirk was never going to win a Super Bowl in Minnesota and why Kirk probably won’t win a Super Bowl in Atlanta, except perhaps as a Drew Bledsoe to Michael Penix, Jr.’s Tom Brady.
Kirk simply lacks the thing that separates good quarterbacks from great ones. That extra gear when the game is on the line. The confidence that says “I don’t think I’m going to win, I KNOW I’m going to win”. This is what Bridgewater brought to the table and why I still believe Teddy, had his knee not exploded at Winter Park, would have given the Vikings a better chance of ultimately securing their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Teddy may not have been as gifted as Kirk, but he had the heart of a lion. When the chips were down and the weight was placed on his shoulders, he always rose to the occasion. He played his best football when it mattered, in the 3rd and 4th quarters. As a fan, I never felt as if the Vikings were out of a game going into the 4th quarter. I’m a firm believer that if you were to take Cousins’ natural gifts, a healthy knee, and Teddy’s mind, you’d have Tom Brady. We’ll never know what could have been, but I’d stand toe to toe with anyone who’d argue against this. Let’s hope we can see a little more “Teddy” and a little less “Kirk” in JJ McCarthy’s future.
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