Football coaches from time immemorial have cautioned their players not to antagonize upcoming opponents with comments that could become motivational fare for the proverbial team message board.
Apparently no one ever told Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Brown because he had this to say about Kirk Cousins prior to playing the Vikings.
Eagles head coach Doug Peterson was like
Cousins, of course, had the last laugh by throwing for 22 completions for 333 yards, and four touchdowns in the Vikings 38.20 victory over the Eagles.
To add insult to injury, Cousins wasn’t even aware of Brown’s provocative comments until after the Vikings demolished Brown’s team. Skor North’s Judd Zulgad has Cousin’s reaction:
I just found out about (Brown’s comments) about 20 minutes ago…(An ESPN reporter) talked to me on the field and mentioned it. I didn’t even know what (Brown) said. I really do stay in here and not read anything and that’s for my best interest. Zach was a teammate in Washington, he’s one of the better linebackers I played with or against. I have a lot of respect for him. If you’re trying to write a story about how it was a motivator this week, it wasn’t because I didn’t know about it. Ignorance is bliss. I just put my head down and work and prepare the same way every week and not try to ride the roller coaster.
Zulgad: One for the money: Kirk Cousins quiets critics with four touchdown day
Peterson was clearly not laughing because the Eagles released Zach Brown this week.
And Kirk Cousins was like
And the Vikings were like
And I was like
It couldn’tve happened to a more deserving group of fans.