Richmond, Virginia — Kirk Cousins’ past will help guide him, once again, during a season in which his long-term status remains uncertain.

The Washington Redskins quarterback said that’s not just because he played on a one-year deal last season, but because most of his career has had the same feel: a player always having to prove himself.

“The lesson I learned was the same lesson I learned as a senior in high school when I played my high school senior year with zero scholarship offers,” Cousins said, “and the same thing I learned my senior year of college when I played with wondering if I could go to the NFL.

“If you win football games, everything else takes care of itself, and that’s a beautiful thing. If you do that there is going to be plenty of opportunities down the road. So my focus never really has to change from that standpoint.”

Cousins is one of 12 key starters or backups playing on a one-year deal. But none have garnered headlines like Cousins’s situation. The Redskins used the franchise tag on him for a second season and failed to reach a long-term deal by the July 17 deadline. His future remains murky in Washington, but the same was true last season. He still threw for 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as Washington finished 8-7-1.

Every footballer on the planet has blemishes – weaknesses in their game they wish didn’t exist. But what if they didn’t? What would the ideal player look like in every position? Plucking specific traits from various superstars, theScore is diving into the lab to build the perfect footballer.

Complete series:

In the fourth installment of our seven-part series, we’re assembling the perfect central midfielder. Basically, think Luka Modric on steroids.

Mind: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)

Sergio Busquets isn’t fast. He isn’t particularly strong. He lacks the dynamism typically associated with central midfield superstars. And yet, he’s been the bedrock of Barcelona’s wildly successful spell over the last decade. Anchoring the midfield, the Spaniard acts as both a shield for the backline and a hub that the team’s possession-based system flows through. He’s one of the smartest midfielders in the game, using his brain to consistently outwit superior athletes.

Stamina: N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

N’Golo Kante is the real-life embodiment of the Energizer Bunny. He just never. stops. running. He’s more talented, technically, than some give him credit for, but there’s no denying his greatest attribute is his stamina. The indefatigable Frenchman covers ground like nobody else in the game, his energy never waning and his ability to be in all places at all times defying logic. It’s no coincidence that the last two Premier League champions, Leicester City and Chelsea, were powered by the Kante engine in midfield.

Tackling: Casemiro (Real Madrid)

Casemiro isn’t Real Madrid’s best player – which is nothing to be ashamed about, of course – but he is one of the club’s most vital. The Brazilian tackling machine led all central midfielders in Europe with an incredible 5.4 successful tackles per 90 minutes last season, and provides balance to the ultra-attacking Champions League kingpin. Zinedine Zidane has championed Casemiro since taking over as Madrid manager, a decision that’s paid off handsomely.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Passing: Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich) and Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

These two are the ultimate pass masters. It’s impossible to pick between them, so you get both. Deal with it.

Composure: Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Regardless of where he is on the pitch, Marco Verratti is willing to try things that are more commonly seen in a video game. The diminutive Italian superstar is supremely confident in his abilities – which are, in fairness, spectacular. In a position so hectic, where players converge quickly, Verratti’s calm, collected nature with the ball at his feet is vital. A central midfielder simply can’t afford to be rattled by the frenzy around him.

Long-range shooting: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

The most expensive player in history is unfairly targeted by critics who seem to take joy from nitpicking his every move, but despite their efforts to discredit him, Paul Pogba is objectively one of the best midfielders alive. He’s a physical marvel who combines vision and passing ability with a flair for the dramatic, but arguably his greatest strength is his ability to unleash vicious strikes from outside the penalty area. He may get carried away sometimes, sure, but the #Pogboom campaign didn’t come out of nowhere. Look for the Manchester United stud to find the net with regularity this coming season.

Dribbling: Naby Keita (RB Leipzig)

Players who can dribble like Naby Keita don’t usually play central midfield, which is one of the reasons Liverpool’s been told its €75-million bid for his services won’t suffice. Even for a gargantuan fee, RB Leipzig doesn’t want to lose one of the most unique midfielders in the world. Nobody out there can replicate what the Guinean provides.

Decision-making: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

“Decision-making” is, admittedly, something of a cop-out, but Luka Modric does everything at such an elite level that it’s the most fitting catchall for the brilliance of Real Madrid’s focal point. All the preceding players are superstars in their own right with a discernible marquee skill; Modric may not dribble at Keita’s level, tackle at Casemiro’s, or show off tricks and flicks like Pogba, but he can do all of it. He is, simply, the best.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images, unless otherwise stated)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis is “extremely irked” about reports that general manager Dave Gettleman’s firing was linked to negotiations for extensions for him and tight end Greg Olsen.

Davis, 34, began negotiating an extension before Gettleman was fired on July 17, eight days before players reported to training camp at Wofford College.

He said negotiations are ongoing with interim general manager Marty Hurney, who was the general manager with Carolina from 2002 through the sixth game of the 2012 season.

Davis said at no point were negotiations with Gettleman combative. Gettleman had a reputation for talks with some veteran players getting difficult in the past.

The most recent was last year when Gettleman rescinded the franchise tag of Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman, whose departure to Washington played a role in last year’s 6-10 season.

Every footballer on the planet has blemishes – weaknesses in their game they wish didn’t exist. But what if they didn’t? What would the ideal player look like in every position? Plucking specific traits from various superstars, theScore is diving into the lab to build the perfect footballer.

Complete series:

In the third installment of our seven-part series, we’re assembling the perfect full-back, building an athlete that runs like the wind, tackles like N’Golo Kante, and gets forward to provide attacking impetus from a position that was long overlooked.

Versatility: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Cesar Azpilicueta is a manager’s dream. The Spaniard, affectionately known as Dave by Chelsea supporters, is steady as they come; Antonio Conte can jot his name down on the team sheet in any position across the backline, knowing the 27-year-old will provide solid service wherever he’s asked to deputise. A right-back by trade, he can slot in on the opposite side, or, as he proved all of last season, in central defence.

Positioning: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)

Playing opposite the best full-back on the planet can be a thankless job, but it’s possible that Dani Carvajal has, rather quietly, developed into the most consistently impressive right-back in the game today. Often tasked with playing more conservatively to compensate for Marcelo’s desire to rush forward, Carvajal has been vital in helping an attack-heavy Real Madrid side maintain balance. Not to say that he can’t get forward himself, of course. (See his spectacular 2016 UEFA Super Cup tally, which showcased absolutely everything you want to see out of a full-back).

Pace: Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

Meep meep. Raw pace is the great equaliser, and Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin has it in spades. The young Spanish right-back can take chances going forward, knowing that his absurd straight-line speed allows him to make up the distance and race back into defensive position. The ideal full-back needs to be a speed demon, and that description is consistently attached to the 22-year-old.

Stamina: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)

Antonio Valencia is a physical marvel. The converted winger has blossomed into a dominant force at full-back for Manchester United, with his blend of power, pace, and stamina making the Ecuadorian international an unrelenting presence down the right flank for the Red Devils. Spending all that time playing at altitude for his country seems to have turned Valencia into an indefatigable machine.

Dribbling: Alex Sandro (Juventus)

It’s no accident that Chelsea’s been sniffing around Juventus in a bid to make Alex Sandro the most expensive defender in football history. The 26-year-old, who begins our run on excellent left-footed Brazilians, has been one of the Bianconeri’s key attacking cogs since ripping the starting job away from Patrice Evra and solidifying himself as one of the first names on Massimiliano Allegri’s team sheet. He’s not a particularly flashy dribbler – he favours feints and clever jukes over fancy stepovers – but he’s certainly effective.

Tackling: Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid)

If you’re going to play for Diego Simeone, especially in a position like full-back, you’d better be capable of delivering a crunching tackle that will both leave your opponent on his backside and result in a turnover that can launch a quick counter-attack. Few are better at doing just that than Filipe Luis. Now 31, the Brazilian remains a superb, if sometimes unnecessarily ferocious, tackler. Among full-backs who made at least 24 appearances last season across Europe’s top five leagues, only one player (Benjamin Henrichs) made more tackles per 90 minutes than Luis’ 3.5.

Attacking flair: Marcelo (Real Madrid)

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Simply the best. Essentially a No. 10 who happens to play left-back, Marcelo is equally likely to pop up in a central attacking spot as he is down the wing, the hyperactive star always looking to drive forward and link up with his attackers. His first step is deadly, creating space for crosses, slick passes, and shots, and, in true Brazilian fashion, he’s delightful as they come with the ball at his feet.

Crossing: Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City)

Manchester City splashed a reported record €57.5-million fee to pry Benjamin Mendy from AS Monaco, and as a result, Citizens everywhere will be treated to watching one of the game’s elite crossers at the Etihad. The Frenchman, 23, completed 1.6 crosses per 90 minutes last season, one of the top marks across Europe for full-backs who made at least 24 appearances. Even as teams continue to use advanced metrics to shift toward more efficient attacking methods, having a full-back who can deliver a perfect cross remains a key element of the sport.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images, unless stated otherwise)