ASHBURN, Va. – After practice Tuesday, two familiar faces greeted him with proud smiles.
Don and MaryAnn Cousins were on the sidelines watching their son and rookie quarterback, Kirk Cousins, demonstrate his skill and poise.
He completed passes to tight-end Fred Davis in the last team practice before the
Redskins head to New York to play the Buffalo Bills in the first preseason game on Thursday.
“I’m sure that all of us in our family are excited and nervous,” Cousins said. “I think it’s exciting for them, as it is for me, to be out here… to see this because they were the ones who dropped me off to practice when I was in the fourth grade.”
The Washington Redskins held a closed practice to the public to give a unique opportunity to the friends and family of the players, and staff, to enjoy an afternoon at Redskins Park cheering on their favorite player.
“When they see me out here now with the Redskins’ logo, playing in an NFL training camp practice I think that they, more than anyone, are saying, ‘woah’,”
Cousins said.
Veteran quarterback Rex Grossman said Cousins “is like the perfect person. He doesn’t curse or anything.”
The rookie said he credits his upbringing for that, “I’ve always tried to be a positive person and just be who I am. I’ve always tried to be the same when no one is watching and operate with character.”
Head coach Mike Shanahan said it is great to have family day before the preseason actually starts because it gives the families a chance to get to know one another.
“A lot of times they go to the games and they don’t know anybody,” Shanahan said. “Especially, [the families of] the rookies or sometimes the first year players.”
The giant blow up slides, balloon animals and tables full of catered food are a good distraction for the players, especially the bouncy slides Shanahan said.
“I’m not sure which one of those slides I am going to go down, but I am going to pick one of them so they can laugh at me,” he joked.
But it all comes down to the game on Thursday for Cousins.
“You realize it’s a game week for the first time since my last game…my bowl game. It’s been awhile,” Cousins said. “You realize practice is important, but a game is that much more important. Even though it is an exhibition game, for a guy like me who will start the season as a back-up, I think it is important to make these opportunities count.”
Kirk Cousins gets a chance to make it count with some playing time against the
Bills. He’ll get to play after rookie Robert Griffin III and veteran Rex Grossman take a pre-determined number of snaps.
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