Kirk Cousins has an edge to his personality that was previously unseen.

Cousins has always come across as the nice guy who is known for his team-first and selfless attitude. The ego-driven demeanor that is modeled by so many NFL starting quarterbacks seemed to be absent from Cousins’ day to day behavior

That part of Cousins’ personality is not missing. It has just been hidden for a very long time, and a few hints of it have come out in front of the cameras on the enlightening Netflix NFLX “Quarterback” series featuring Cousins, Patrick Mahomes and Marcus Mariota.

Make no mistake about it, Cousins has had a successful career in the NFL as he prepares to embark on Year 12. Does he have the same swag that Patrick Mahomes carries with him? Does he have that indomitable attitude that screams he will find a way when the game or the season is on the line with skill, talent, inventiveness or athleticism?

No he does not.

But does he far exceed Marcus Mariota, who appeared to be a brilliant prospect when he was drafted out of Oregon in 2015 by the Tennessee Titans but has basically failed in each of his opportunities and is now hoping to hang on as a backup in Philadelphia.

He certainly does.

But aside from his let’s get it done for the team attitude, Cousins has shown he has tremendous pride when it comes to mastering the nuances of the Minnesota playbook. The intellectual capacity he has to understand all aspects of what each offensive player is supposed to do on every play is something he has demonstrated regularly and takes great pride in.

He doesn’t minimize the requirements of the position and he does not take a backseat to his peers in his ability to understand and prepare to do the job.

His ability to take a physical pounding and come back each week now that he is days away from reaching the age of 35 is another factor that shows he has the drive to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. He knows what his body needs to withstand the rigors of an NFL season and he does not take any shortcuts.

But it’s the drive to succeed when he endures a failure or hears the oft-repeated criticisms from the media and fans that is the indicator that there may be a lot more hunger and drive fueling Cousins than was previously thought.

After he has thrown an interception – whether his fault or the receiver’s – there is no talking to Cousins immediately. Head coach Kevin O’Connell may want to talk about the issue right after it happens, but he knows that Cousins is not likely to be ready and won’t be able to converse dispassionately about it.

He’s too emotional or angry at the time the mistake is made. This is s sign of ego, and one that many thought may have been missing. He differs from Mahomes because that leader knows he will come through later in the game and reverse course. He differs from Mariota, because that quarterback is too bogged down by past failures to regain real confidence.

Cousins carries the weight of past successes and failure with him. His ego is bruised after a bad play and he needs time to get over it. O’Connell understands that.

Cousins has also taken issue with those who say he can’t win prime time games. He led the Vikings to a win over the Patriots on Thanksgiving night four days after his team had been obliterated by Dallas. He pointed to all the game balls he has won after prime time games as an indication that he is a successful prime time performer even if his record in those games is 11-18.

Cousins has pointed this out himself. Of course he has the home life to balance out his football responsibilities, but he knows he has to lead his team and he has to win.

If he does not, the end of his Vikings career could be coming. He knows the rules of engagement in the NFL, and he has enough of an ego to push through barriers he has not crossed to this point.