If Kirk Cousins ​​had gotten No. 8, someone would have had to buy Kyle Pitts jerseys

Kirk Cousins ​​is coming to Atlanta. He leaves his favorite shirt behind.

The Falcons announced Monday that Cousins ​​will wear No. 18. Kyle Pitts will keep No. 8.

I first reported two weeks ago that Cousins ​​and Betts were talking about potentially handing Betts the number. At the time, Bates acted as if it was fake news. Cousins, in his introductory press conference, He said otherwise.

He confirmed that Bates led the charge in recruiting Cousins ​​from Minnesota. He said they talked about No. 8. The cousins ​​added a caveat to the conversation.

“I think he's bigger than me and Kyle,” Cousins ​​said. “I think the league will start talking about things, and we'll see how it goes.”

The league's position, in general, is that players cannot suddenly change numbers without taking into account the current inventory of jerseys bearing their current numbers.

“Without getting into any specific player(s), there is a long-standing policy in the NFL where a player can change his jersey but will have to purchase current inventory if he wants to make the switch before next season,” NFL chief spokesman Brian said. McCarthy said via email. “There is no such condition if a player says he wants to change the following year and will wear his current number for next season.”

So it would be possible for Betts to give Cousins ​​the No. 8 if everyone made it clear that right now, Cousins ​​will wear No. 18 and Betts will wear No. 8. However, who would buy Cousins' jersey or that Betts jersey? year, if they plan to change their numbers in 2025?

Three years ago, former Vikings cornerback Dalvin Cook considered changing from No. 33 to No. 4, once the rules were changed to allow running backs to wear one number. Once you know the cost It will be in seven figuresHe decided to keep the number 33 for the year 2021 and switch to fourth place in 2022.

It's not clear what it will cost to purchase the current inventory of Pitts jerseys. Presumably the cousins ​​would have paid the price. He clearly wasn't interested in doing that.

The rule is still stupid. Did the Bears have to buy Justin Fields' current jerseys when they traded him? Did the Steelers get billing for Kenny Pickett jerseys? Should the Broncos pay for Russell Wilson jerseys?

In this case, perhaps it should have been part of the negotiations. If Cousins ​​had asked the Falcons to foot the bill for Betts' current jerseys, would the Falcons have said no?