Cousins' Stand, Johnson's Goals, Daniels' Dispute: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

From players taking a stand to coaches shooting for the stars and star quarterbacks feuding with their alma mater, the NFL never runs short on the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

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The Good: You Gotta Fight

As California Post staffer Vinny Bonsignore framed it: "The image of Kirk Cousins as the ultimate Goody Two-shoes preceded his arrival in Las Vegas."

But he showed another side last Friday.

Maybe it's the fact that he now plays for the Raiders. Maybe, Bonsignore suggested, Sin City is rubbing off on him.

Whatever the reason, Cousins hit the ground in Vegas with more attitude than we've seen from him. 

He showed it by picking a fight with the most menacing Raider possible: Maxx Crosby.

The veteran quarterback lit into Crosby after the defensive end hit his throwing arm twice during practice. 

Cousins let the first one slide. 

Not the second.

Immediately after Crosby made contact again, Cousins charged toward him, delivered a shove to the chest, and backed it up with some choice words and a stern warning to knock it off.

Bonsignore noted that Crosby is a big believer in the notion that respect isn't given; it's earned. 

Feelings may have been hurt in the moment, but once things cooled down, Bonsignore believes Crosby likely appreciated what Cousins had just shown him. 

Bonsignore added that after years of leading every fight he and the Raiders got into, Crosby saw someone else willing to square his shoulders, plant his feet, and refuse to give an inch -- and not against some rookie or fringe player. Against Crosby himself.

That's why Bonsignore believes Friday's confrontation may have carried more weight than a typical training-camp dustup. Crosby now has evidence that he may not have to be the only Raider willing to pick a fight when something needs defending. 

And that's a good thing. 

The best part?

Rookie Fernando Mendoza got a front-row seat to what it looks like when a quarterback takes ownership of his team.

The Bad: Don't Tell Me, Show Me