Kirk Cousins angry with Texans: ‘I might as well take red jersey off’

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Key points

• A version of that scene played out again Tuesday during the Raiders' joint practice with the Texans.
• HOUSTON – The red jersey might scream "hands off, " but Kirk Cousins has a surprisingly liberal policy regarding how much contact he'll tolerate in practice.
• And, frustratingly for Cousins, one that has been violated multiple times during Raiders training camp.
• To Cousins, it was regarding protecting the most notable piece of equipment the Raiders have entrusted to him.
• "You can touch me anywhere you want, just don't touch my arm, " Cousins remarked.

Hit him in the ribs. Bang him in the hips. Bump him around enough to create playing quarterback feel reasonably authentic. Just stay the hell away from his throwing arm.

It's a simple rule. And, frustratingly for Cousins, one that has been violated multiple times during Raiders training camp.

Notably, the most memorable instance involved some not-so-friendly fire from Maxx Crosby. After Crosby created contact with Cousins, the quarterback took exception, the two Raiders leaders exchanged shoves and angry words, and both were ultimately banned from the team's next practice.

Notably, a version of that scene played out again Tuesday during the Raiders' joint practice with the Texans.

After a couple of Houston defenders created contact with Cousins' throwing arm, he immediately went into attack mode, barking at the Texans in a tirade that echoed throughout Houston's practice facility. The reaction might have seemed excessive from a distance.

When quarterbacks are fair game, they are essentially off-limits during practice, unlike actual games. Even the joint practice variety. That's the entire point of the red jerseys they wear.

It will never create quarterbacks completely foolproof. After all, and asking 250-pound men to fly around at full speed before suddenly remembering the quarterback is wearing the equivalent of a DO NOT TOUCH sign isn't exactly a perfect science, this is football. He just draws the line at his throwing arm.

"You can touch me anywhere you want, just don't touch my arm, " Cousins remarked. "You want to bump me in the ribs. I think if anything, you know, hit me in the hips or the ribs is actually good since it simulates what I need to feel." But that's where the invitation ends.

"'The elbow and the shoulders are where I could sprain something pretty easily, " Cousins remarked. "So, if you could just help me, I've got some scars from some hits in real games where helmets go into armpits and things, and it ruins your season." That was the message Cousins delivered to the Texans on Tuesday. Albeit at a considerably higher volume.

"I was just asking them to just stay off the arm and had to remind the Texans as well. You can hit me anywhere you want, " Cousins remarked.

In Cousins' mind, there is additionally a larger point. The red jersey only works if everyone agrees on what it means. Otherwise, there isn't much sense wearing it.

"I might as well just take the red jersey off, " Cousins remarked. "Because you're playing with sometimes an understood rule that if it's not understood, then what are we doing?" For Cousins, the understanding couldn't be much simpler.

Taken together, the developments around kirk Cousins angry with Texans: 'I might as well take red jersey point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.