The leverage of free agency in his prime brought Kirk Cousins the market-setting contract with Minnesota.

Now the Vikings have their latest franchise quarterback to try to secure that elusive first Super Bowl victory with.

The Vikings wrapped up their welcome party with an $84 million [url=http://www.lionscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-ameer-abdullah-jersey]Ameer Abdullah Jersey[/url] , three-year contract for Cousins on Thursday afternoon, banking big time on the late-blooming former Washington Redskins prospect to finally stabilize a critical position that’s been infamously problematic.

”The contract, it is what it is,” Cousins said. ”But what my wife and I are thrilled about is the organization we are walking into.”

The money for Cousins is fully guaranteed, the largest such figure in NFL history, at least until the next mega quarterback contract comes along, according to figures tracked by the pro sports financial website spotrac.com . His annual average of $28 million is also, for now, the biggest in the league, at least until the next mega quarterback contract comes along.

Team owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf were willing to approve the investment, hopeful that Cousins can be the keystone to a championship squad.

”If anybody in this city or this state has a question about their commitment, I think this contract shows that they’re all in,” Cousins said. ”It’s a tremendous amount of belief in me as a person and as a player, and I’m humbled and honored to get the OK on that.”

The guarantee of the full value of the deal is unprecedented in the NFL, where a variety of complex factors have kept players from receiving sure-thing contracts like their professional baseball, basketball and hockey peers.

His agent [url=http://www.bearscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-aaron-lynch-jersey]Aaron Lynch Jersey[/url] , Mike McCartney, began talking to Cousins about the potential for such a groundbreaking deal more than two years ago with the assumption he’d eventually arrive at free agency because of the noncommittal Redskins.

”There’s nothing I can pave unless people come after me,” Cousins said at his introductory news conference at the team’s sparkling and still-under construction suburban headquarters. ”I guess history will probably write that.”

Cousins will represent the fourth primary quarterback the Vikings have had in as many seasons. As long as he stays healthy throughout the summer, Cousins will also represent the eighth starting quarterback for a season opener in the past nine years.

Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford and Case Keenum all became free agents this week and signed with other teams, so the Vikings didn’t have much of a backup plan if Cousins balked at their offer.

But as a team with a star-laden defense and plenty of dynamic skill-position players on offense that reached the NFC championship game last season, the Vikings also represented quite the destination for Cousins.

”I came here because of the chance to win,” he said. ”I felt like it was probably the best chance.”

Cousins started 57 games over his six seasons with Washington, which drafted him in the fourth round in 2012 behind second overall draft pick Robert Griffin III. RG3’s star faded quickly, though, and Cousins, who was lightly recruited out of Holland Christian High School before landing at Michigan State, worked his way up the depth chart. He topped 4,000 passing yards over each of the past three years.

The Redskins appeared in only one postseason game with Cousins at the helm, and his career record as a starter is just 26-30-1. Rarely does a rising quarterback reach free agency before turning 30, though [url=http://www.coltscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-t.j.-green-jersey]T.J. Green Jersey[/url] , so after playing for about $20 million in 2016 and about $24 million in 2017 on consecutive franchise tags with Washington, Cousins reached his opportunity to truly cash in after the Redskins acquired Alex Smith in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.

”He bet on himself several times and won, and those things are really important to me,” coach Mike Zimmer said. ”He’s always played with a chip on his shoulder. We’re just really excited to have him.”

Realizing he was headed for the open market, Cousins began scouring the Twin Cities area while in town for promotional appearances the week of the Super Bowl. Just two days into his visit, the Smith deal went down. Upon phoning home to his wife, Julie, he gave a glowing scouting report of the region.

”This is a lifetime deal. That’s the goal,” Cousins said. ”Yes, it’s a three-year deal, but the expectation from both sides is that we raise our kids here and if everything goes as planned, we’re here for a long time.”

The Vikings began the day $50 million under their salary cap , according to NFL Players Association data, and the deal with Cousins will take up almost half of that with the prospect of expensive extensions looming in the coming year for players such as linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

They still have space to make more improvements this month, though and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was already at the new facility on Thursday for a visit. Richardson, a first-round pick by the New York Jets in the 2013 draft [url=http://www.billscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-stephen-hauschka-jersey]Stephen Hauschka Jersey[/url] , was traded to the Seattle Seahawks prior to last season.

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Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams injured his leg during the fourth practice of training camp Tuesday, potentially dealing another blow to Los Angeles‘ depth in the defensive secondary.

But coach Anthony Lynn is cautiously optimistic that his team’s latest injury isn’t serious.

Williams was hurt while defending receiver Mike Williams in a red zone drill. Trevor Williams had to be helped off the field by teammate Jahleel Addae.

After getting attention from the training staff, he left Jack Hammett Sports Complex on crutches with his left foot in a walking boot.

The injury and Williams’ reaction to it were foreboding, but Lynn was hopeful he hasn’t lost his starting cornerback for an extended period.

”You’re holding your breath there,” Lynn said. ”I think he sprained his ankle, but I don’t think it’s bad. I mean, it’s the fourth day of training camp. Hell, we have coaches around here limping. Coaches are sore, so I can’t imagine how the players feel.”

After the Chargers’ history with catastrophic injuries in the past few seasons, Lynn won’t exhale until Williams undergoes further tests.

The Chargers are a popular pick to earn a playoff spot this fall, but they already incurred serious injuries to two potential key contributors before training camp even began.

Los Angeles lost starting tight end Hunter Henry to a knee injury on a non-contact drill in May. The Chargers then lost long-injured former Pro Bowl cornerback Jason Verrett to a torn Achilles tendon during a conditioning test last week.

Verrett’s most recent injury occurred at the brink of his comeback after missing most of the past two seasons. His newest setback ”broke a lot of our hearts,” Pro Bowl cornerback Casey Hayward said.

But Verrett’s absence wasn’t a disaster for the Chargers last season because of the surprising emergence of Williams, who stepped into a key role after catching on with the Chargers in 2016 as an undrafted free agent from Penn State.

Williams started five games as a rookie, and he started 15 more games last season opposite Hayward in the Chargers’ opportunistic defensive secondary. He made the first two interceptions of his career along with 56 tackles and generally provided outstanding coverage.

”He’ll bounce back,” defensive tackle Brandon Mebane said of Williams. ”Trevor is a great professional, and you know he’s going to do whatever he can to get right back on the field. We’re just going to wait on him and be patient.”

The Bolts have been forced to do that quite a bit during Mebane’s tenure. They lost a staggering number of man-games to injuries in San Diego during their final two seasons [url=http://www.billscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-vontae-davis-jersey]Vontae Davis Jersey[/url] , which were also the worst two seasons of Philip Rivers‘ 12-year tenure as their starting quarterback. Fans who followed the Chargers from San Diego to LA already know the Bolts went 5-11 in 2016 after losing Verrett, cornerback Brandon Flowers, linebacker Manti Te’o, receivers Keenan Allen and Stevie Johnson and running back Danny Woodhead for extended periods.

Even after losing Verrett last week, the Chargers’ secondary is fairly well stocked. Desmond King played extensively as a rookie last season, primarily as a nickel back, while first-round pick Derwin James is expected to be an immediate contributor at safety alongside Addae, who started all 16 games last season.

”If Trevor’s ankle is bad, then I would be concerned about the depth there,” Lynn said. ”But I’m also confident in those young guys behind him. They’re stepping up and making plays in practice, and there’s going to be a nice competition in that group.”

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