Kirk Cousins explains his 'How you like me now?' celebration

Travis Durkee

Kirk Cousins explains his 'How you like me now?' celebration image

Redskins quarterback and catchphrase-coiner extraordinaire Kirk Cousins was at it again Sunday after beating Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, 42-24. While celebrating on the field, Cousins shouted into general manager Scot McCloughan’s ear, "How you like me now?"

While some thought it was Cousins’ way of boasting to a man who refused to give him a long-term deal last offseason, the QB claims that wasn’t the case.

"I was just excited coming off the field with emotion,” Cousins told 106.7 The Fan (via ESPN.com). “I would prefer for that to happen with no cameras and no microphones. But I ran into him on the field where there were cameras and microphones. We're both competitors who want to win desperately and both feeling great in that moment.

"Scot has done a phenomenal job bringing in the right people ... that have made a big difference in the success of this team. A big reason we are where we are and part of the reason we enjoy being here is because of the team Scot assembled."

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Cousins asked for $20 million per year during contract negotiations after last season, but McCloughan and the Redskins never went higher than $16 million. Cousins eventually got the franchise tag, which is worth $19.95 million for just this one season.

The fifth-year quarterback has led Washington to a 6-3-1 record and has his team slotted for a return trip to the playoffs if the season ended today. His effort to lock down a long-term deal continues Thanksgiving Day against the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys.

Travis Durkee