Michigan native Cousins offers condolences to Sharp family
Detroit -- Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins had just lost a game in crushing, last-minute fashion.
But when he stepped up to the press-conference podium Sunday at Ford Field moments after the 20-17 loss to the Lions, Cousins didn't want to talk football.
Instead, he paid tribute to late Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp, who died Friday at age 56.
"Before we get going, I just want to send my condolences to the Sharp family," Cousins said. "Drew covered us at Michigan State, and he was a good man. Did a great job, loved what he did, and he was an 'equal opportunity offender,' we liked to call it.
"Just a good reminder of how fragile life is and to make every day count.
"My heart goes out to them and everybody at the Free Press."
Cousins is a Holland, Mich., native and starred at Michigan State before being drafted by Washington.
The Free Press, meanwhile, has announced visitation and funeral details.
A visitation will be Wednesday, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Desmond Funeral Home in Royal Oak.
A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills.
Sharp died suddenly Friday morning. An autopsy revealed hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Sharp had two open-heart surgeries as a young boy.
He joined the Free Press out of college in 1983, and never worked for another paper.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
Twitter @tonypaul1984