The Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles may be heated division rivals, but there is one link connecting the two teams: their starting quarterbacks this week.
Kirk Cousins, filling in for the injured Robert Griffin III, and Nick Foles were both freshman quarterbacks enrolled at Michigan State in 2007. Zach Berman of Philly.com writes that Foles was "a big, strong-armed Texan who was a late addition to the Spartans' class. Cousins was a brainy in-state recruit who was not considered a top prospect."
Both quarterbacks have found varying levels of success during their brief NFL careers. Foles is firmly entrenched as Philadelphia's starter of the present, while Cousins has the opportunity to showcase his skills in Griffin's absence. Despite the short time they spent together, the pair is fond of one another.
"We got to know each other well," Cousins said. "We've followed each other for a distance ever since. I hold Nick in high regard. I think a lot of him. I think a lot of his family. His success has been no surprise to me or to the people at Michigan State who knew him. He's talented. The right kind of person, the right kind of leader."
The two spent their freshman years behind Brian Hoyer on MSU's depth chart before Foles made the decision to transfer to Arizona.
"It had nothing to do with football," Foles said. "It had to do with my decision as a young man trying to decide what was best. I was going to have the opportunity to compete, but I had to trust my gut. If I didn't have that year, I would not be sitting here right now."
Coincidentally, all three quarterbacks led their teams to victories in week two.
At Arizona, Foles became one the best college quarterbacks in the country. Cousins took over the starting duties at Michigan State and turned the Spartans into one of the Big Ten's best teams.
Both college careers caught the attention of the Eagles, who were determined to draft a quarterback in 2012. Foles, Cousins and Russell Wilson were all on Philly's radar. The Eagles ended up selecting Foles when Wilson was taken 13 picks prior, with Cousins heading to Washington one round later.
On Sunday, their paths will cross once again and the friendly competition will continue.
