WASHINGTON - With his days clearly numbered in Washington, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said farewell in his own words to his fans. Earlier this month, the team opted not to use the franchise tag on Cousins, which was expected after they agreed to acquire Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs.
That move effectively pushed Cousins into free agency after six years with the team that drafted him.
"As I'm about to make one of the bigger decisions of my life, I'll be saying goodbye to my familiar life as a Redskin," Cousins wrote in a blog post on his website, which was released Monday afternoon. "After calling Washington home for the past six years, the team has decided to move on to another option and, in turn, my family and I will be moving on as well."
Cousins wrote about his roots in the D.C. area and what leaving will mean to him. He tweeted a link to the post on Monday afternoon.
"Just like you never fully leave your hometown -- you never fully leave your first NFL team, especially after six seasons," he wrote. "My family and I will always have a piece of Washington deep in our hearts. I arrived as a single, 23-year-old from the Midwest -- with a lot to learn and prove. I now leave as a husband of four years to my wife, Julie, and a father to my son, Cooper -- but still with lots to learn and prove.
There is no way I would be where I am today without the leadership of the Redskins organization … Coach Gruden, Bruce Allen, Dan Snyder. Thank you all for the opportunity you gave me. When Cooper someday asks: "Hey Dad, what was it like playing for the Redskins?" I'll proudly tell him it was a dream come true.
Thanks for having me, Washington, and thanks for making me into the player I am today!"
While it's not clear where Cousins will land when he leaves D.C., his post may have provided a hint. In the tags below the text, the words "Vikings" and "Jets" were both included-- but a few minutes later, "Vikings" and "Jets" were removed from the post.