When the Atlanta Falcons signed Kirk Cousins in free agency, former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was one of the first to publicly criticize what he believed was a massive mistake by the franchise.
Newton, who last played in the NFL in 2021, revealed his biggest concern with the Cousins deal was the fact that the ex-Minnesota Vikings quarterback only has one playoff win in his decade-plus NFL career.
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“It is extremely alarming that he only had one playoff win in 12 years,” Newton said on his webshow, 4th & 1. “He’s coming off of an injury. Why didn’t they get Justin Fields? I can’t make it about me, but if I were to make it about me, it’s like, I’m in Atlanta.”
Cam Newton's HARSH response to Atlanta paying Kirk Cousins $400 Million
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On Monday, Cousins and Atlanta agreed to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed. As Newton correctly points out, Cousins only has one playoff win, which came in the 2019 season. when the Vikings beat the New Orleans Saints, 26–20, in the wild-card round.
However, Newton calling Cousins out for his lack of postseason success could be construed as a classic example of the pot calling the kettle black. Over his 11-year career, Newton picked up just three playoff wins in 2014 and ‘15. During those two postseason stretches, Newton recorded a combined total of seven touchdowns against five interceptions.
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While Cousins may not have much playoff glory to show for his time in the league (and his over $300 million in projected career earnings), the four-time Pro Bowler remains a decorated signal-caller in his own right. Before suffering his season-ending Achilles injury in 2023, Cousins recorded a 69.5% pass completion rate and threw 18 touchdowns against five interceptions. His 270 touchdowns and 39,471 passing yards respectively rank 20th and 24th all time.
Cousins has accrued plenty of respect over the years for his consistent quarterback play—just not from a former NFC South heavyweight, it seems.
