Redskins can’t resist quarterback Cousins
The Washington Redskins were serenading the arrival of Robert Griffin III at a draft-day party at FedEx Field when they surprised the football world by drafting another quarterback.
Coach Mike Shanahan, however, quickly deflected talk of a possible quarterback controversy, saying Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins was taken in the fourth round on Saturday as a long-term insurance policy.
“Any time you get a quarterback like Robert with the second pick of a draft, he’s your franchise quarterback,” Shanahan said. “He’s going to be your quarterback for the next decade. (Kirk) knows he’s going to be a backup. But there (are) injuries. I thought it was a steal for us.”
Cousins, who won 27 games as a three-year starter in college, was a little surprised to be picked himself.
“I was trying to forecast which teams would be looking at a quarterback and I didn’t see the Redskins thinking along those lines,” Cousins said.
Washington was the first team to select two quarterbacks during the first four rounds since Green Bay in 1989 (Anthony Dilweg and Jeff Graham).
GOOD COMPANY
If B.J. Coleman winds up becoming a viable quarterback in Green Bay, the Packers just might owe some thanks to their old buddy Brett Favre.
Green Bay took Coleman with one of two seventh-round compensatory picks toward the end of the draft. Coleman, who played three seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga after transferring from Tennessee, is expected to compete for a spot as the No. 3 quarterback.
In preparation for the draft, Coleman said he spent part of January and February working out with Favre in Hattiesburg, Miss.
HE’S IRRELEVANT
Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish is the new Mr. Irrelevant.
The Colts took the Mid-American Conference offensive player of the year with the final pick in this weekend’s draft, No. 253 overall. It’s the first time since 1967 that a non-expansion team has had both the first and last pick in the draft. Indy opened the draft by taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall choice Thursday night.
Harnish, an Indiana native, will be the feature attraction at Irrelevant Week, June 30 through July 2, in Newport Beach, Calif., where he’ll receive the Lowsman Award for his final-pick distinction, which started in 1976.
GOOD BYE, BROWN
The St. Louis Rams plan to release kicker Josh Brown after drafting a potential replacement in the sixth round.
Brown, who turns 33 today, is entering the final year of a five-year, $14.2 million deal he signed after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Seahawks.
The Rams selected Greg Zuerlein of Missouri Western, who set an NCAA Division II record with 21 consecutive field goals last season and missed once in 24 attempts overall.
VIKINGS RB ARRESTED
Minnesota running back Caleb King was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault in the beating of another man outside a birthday party, authorities said.
King, who signed with the Vikings as a rookie free agent last year but didn’t play in a game, was jailed but hasn’t been charged.
