The Washington Redskins and star quarterback Kirk Cousins are not expected to be able to work out a deal before today's deadline for franchise tagged players. However, he has hinted that he would be open to a long-term contract once the 2017-18 NFL season ends. There was also the shocking news that the Carolina Panthers had parted ways with general manager Dave Gettleman.
Cousins says he is open to staying with Redskins long-term
Barring a huge last minute push by the Washington Redskins before the 4 p.m. deadline, quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to play under the franchise tag for the upcoming season.
This will be the second year in a row the Pro Bowl quarterback will play under the tag, which will pay him $23.9 million. However, sources familiar with the negotiations have told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Cousins would be open to trying to work out a long-term deal with the team after the 2017-18 season.
Sources say that talks between both sides have been positive recently, but Cousins wants to wait until after the season to talk. Cousins is the first quarterback in NFL history to be tagged in consecutive seasons and he knows that the better he plays the more leverage he will have to get a long-term deal. If he is tagged a third time it will cost the Redskins $34.4 million or they could transition tag him for $28.7 million.
Panthers shocking part ways with general manager
The Carolina Panthers made the shocking announcement today that they have fired general manager Dave Gettleman effective immediately. This decision comes only nine days before training camp, with the team giving no immediate response as to why they fired Gettleman. During Gettleman's four year tenure the Panthers went 40-23-1, making the playoffs three times and going 3-3.
Only four other teams (Broncos, Packers, Patriots, and Seahawks) won more playoff games in this span. They also made it to Super Bowl 50, losing to the Denver Broncos 24-10.
His time with the Panthers was controversial for long tenured and notable Panthers, as under Gettleman's watch the team parted ways with veterans DeAngelo Willimas, Steve Smith and Josh Norman.
His firing comes as two key veterans and Pro Bowlers, Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen, are both seeking contract extensions with the team. Whoever the Panthers hire will be the third general manager that Ron Rivera has worked with as he enters his seventh season as the team's head coach.
