Woody Paige: Kirk Cousins returns to Mile High, with not-so-fond memories of his first visit

By Woody Paige November 16, 2024 | updated 8 months ago

Captain Kirk boldly goes Sunday to where he would rather forget he has gone before.

To Kirk Cousins, playing @Mile High is “an adverse situation’,’ he said this week.

You like that?

In his 13-season career Cousins has played one regular-season game in Denver for 4 minutes, 11 seconds and two interceptions.

No wonder Kirk has never signed with the Broncos or vacationed in Colorado.

There was a moment there, though.

Late in the 2017 season, when the Broncos were struggling to only their third losing season in this century, John Elway, the franchise’s Exec VP and GM, seriously contemplated replacing rookie head coach Vance Joseph with former head coach Mike Shanahan. In top-secret conversations between the two former close friends whose relationship had strained, Cousin’s name was discussed prominently.

Shanahan — as the Washington NFL team’s head coach — selected Cousins in the fourth round (102nd) of the 2012 draft even though Washington had traded for the second overall choice and taken Robert Griffin III. Other quarterbacks also picked that year included Andrew Luck (No. 1 by the Colts), Brock Osweiler (37th) and Russell Wilson (75th). Shanahan actually preferred Cousins to Griffin, but owner Dan Snyder made the ultimate decision, then fired Shanahan Dec. 30, 2013, from his last job in the league. Shanahan’s legacy lives on with head and assistant coaches scattered throughout the NFL, and “Mastermind” Mike soon will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Elway wanted Shanahan to return to Denver before the 2018 season, and both men were interested in Cousins, who would become an unrestricted free agent. However, the proposed plan broke down. Broncos president Joe Ellis, who assumed control from owner Pat Bowlen and had favored Mike’s son Kyle Shanahan over Joseph, said Elway would have to go through the league’s hiring policy process before moving on Mike. Elway slept on his idea and postponed dumping Joseph, who was fired after the following season.

But Elway still was enthralled with Cousins. When Kirk officially became a free agent, Elway would be the first to reach out to Cousins’ representative Mike McCartney, the son of long-time ex-Colorado coach Bill McCartney. Elway was informed Cousins wanted to be the highest-paid quarterback (which Elway himself was three separate times in his 16 seasons), and the contract must be fully guaranteed.

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Elway did not call again. Cousins agreed with the Vikings on a three-year, fully guaranteed contract for $84 million. Elway signed former Vikings quarterback Case Keenum.

Shanahan had returned to Denver with Washington Oct. 27, 2013, and the two-time Super Bowl winning-coach, who had been fired by the Broncos on the last day of 2008, was honored by 77,031 orange-clad folks. Shanahan didn’t get long to celebrate. The Broncos crushed Washington with 38 consecutive points in a comeback blowout behind quarterback Peyton Manning. Although Manning had four turnovers (three interceptions and a lost fumble), two Washington quarterbacks suffered four picks. Griffen threw two, then left late with a knee injury.

Cousins came on for the first time in seven games and was picked twice, the second a 75-yard touchdown with two minutes remaining, to end the scoring at 45-21. Cousins wouldn’t be on the field for the next five games, but was Shanahan’s final quarterback.

Kirk hasn’t been back to Denver for a regular-season game.

But he won over the Broncos in Maryland and Minneapolis.

In the opening exhibition @Mile High between the Broncos and the Vikings in 2018 Cousins played one series and threw a 7-yard touchdown. He did not play at all in the last Vikings preseason game in Denver.

Cousins and Minnesota were scheduled against the Broncos here last November, but the quarterback tore his right Achilles three games before and was out the rest of the season and finished with the Vikings.

He signed with the Falcons in the off-season for $160 million over four years, recovered from the severe injury and has started all 10 Atlanta games, compiling a 6-4 record that includes a loss in New Orleans last Sunday after three prior road victories at Philadelphia, Carolina and Tampa Bay. The Broncos also beat the Bucs in Tampa.

It seemed possible that Cousins would miss another game in Denver. He sat out Wednesday with right shoulder and elbow problems, but practiced Thursday and is cleared to play.

Hello, Cap Kirk. Meet Bo Nix.

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Woody Paige: Kirk Cousins returns to Mile High, with not-so-fond memories of his first visit

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