Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. The Redskins won 41-21. Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
If Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline passes with no long-term contract, Cousins is open to doing a deal with the Redskins after this season, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Redskins could make a last-minute push to get a deal done with Cousins, who was franchised for the second consecutive year. Cousins, who turns 29 on Aug. 19, wants to play this season under his $23.94 million franchise tag.
Cousins threw for 4,917 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2016. His 12,113 yards in five seasons ranks sixth on the franchise passing yards list.
— No deals reportedly are close for Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell and Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, the other two franchised players besides Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins who have yet to agree to long-term contracts.
Johnson ($16.74 million) signed his one-year tender, but Bell has not. If no long-term contract is reached by Monday’s deadline, Bell will have no choice but to sign his $12.12 million tender.
— Houston Texans rookie running back D’Onta Foreman was arrested early Sunday morning in Austin, Texas, and charged with marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Foreman, the third-round pick from the University of Texas, was arrested around 3 a.m. Sunday by the campus police department. The University of Texas Police Department said officers initially responded to a call at 12:24 a.m. about marijuana smell coming from three cars parked outside a residence hall.
The drug charge carries a $1,000 bond and the bond for unlawful carrying of a weapon is $3,500. Foreman was released around noon on Sunday.
Foreman won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back after rushing for 2,028 yards as a junior at Texas last season.
— Troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel is “really hopeful” for a second chance in the NFL.
The 24-year-old sat out the 2016 season after being cut by the Cleveland Browns, but he said he had a few conversations with teams about returning to the league.
“I know the situation that I put myself in,” Manziel told The Dallas Morning News on Saturday at a fantasy football convention in Dallas. “I know the year I took off and obviously the mistakes that I made. Right now, I’m hopeful. I’m really hopeful. I think that I made some progress in that regard. But we’ll see. Whenever I get a call, I’ll do whatever I can to make the most of it.”
Manziel was the 22nd overall pick by the Browns in 2014 and he eventually wore out his welcome. The Browns let him go in March 2016 after just two seasons due to a multitude of incidents, overall boorish behavior and a lack of commitment to football.
