Michael Penix Jr. Says He, Falcons’ Kirk Cousins Spoke, Had ‘Very Very finest Conversation’
Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire by potential of Getty Photography
The Atlanta Falcons terrorized the NFL world on Thursday night, selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 total lift despite previously signing ancient Kirk Cousins to a four-yr, $180 million contract this offseason.
Cousins used to be greatly bowled over by the lift, but Penix suggested newshounds on Friday that the ancient quarterback touched sinful with his rookie counterpart.
Mike Garafolo @MikeGarafolo
From Kirk Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney on the #Falcons‘ selecting QB Michael Penix Jr. eighth total. pic.twitter.com/XpIpOQn1ua
“He did attain out. We had a in point of fact factual conversation. He reached out final night,” Penix acknowledged. “I will preserve it sexy between me and him correct now, but it used to be certainly a factual conversation, and I’m natty angry to work with him, and he acknowledged he used to be the same with me.”
Overall manager Terry Fontenot suggested newshounds the dedication used to be about having every immediate- and prolonged-duration of time choices at quarterback.
“Cousins is our quarterback,” he acknowledged. “We’re very Kirk. We’re very this crew. Penix is… we’re talking regarding the prolonged hurry. You indulge in a look at the prolonged hurry. You indulge in a look at the gargantuan listing. We’re very that quarterback room, and again, Kirk is our quarterback. But adding Penix is the prolonged hurry.”
Head coach Raheem Morris added that the assumption used to be that adding Cousins would lead to rapid success for the Falcons, which could presumably form drafting a expertise on Penix’s level procedure more complicated—if no longer no longer doable—going forward.
“We were lucky enough to gaze Matt Ryan play 14 years… with the Atlanta Falcons,” he added. “One day, you indulge in bought to search out a style to indulge in that succession belief in attach. It sexy so came about it equipped itself tonight.”
These explanations form sense to a level, however the pure counterpoint is that surrounding the 35-yr-long-established Cousins with as a lot expertise as doable—which a definite player at No. 8 would indulge in accomplished—made procedure more sense after committing rather a lot money to the quarterback field.
And if the Falcons steadily knew they preferred Penix, why no longer adding a stopgap option for a yr or two sooner than letting Penix lift the reins?
Art Stapleton @art_stapleton
Line of the yr from @TomPelissero on @gmfb when talking about Atlanta drafting Michael Penix whereas sexy signing Kirk Cousins: “This is never if truth be told a relationship that is long gone south. That is dishonest on your wife on the honeymoon.”
Pete Prisco @PriscoCBS
Kirk Cousins can even be upset all he needs, but he bought paid and sexy depart notify you are better. Cease of myth. Falcons attach no longer need signed him in the occasion that they preferred Penix. That is the challenge. Cousins can roll round in his money whereas complaining.
The Cousins signing and Penix dedication exist on two very separate crew-constructing timelines. It is miles no longer sensible to sit a first-rate-round lift for doubtlessly as a lot as four seasons (in particular one who’s already 23 years long-established). Likewise, it is no longer sensible to pay a ancient quarterback $180 million when you happen to don’t demand him to be your starter all the procedure by the contract.
It all sexy raises so many questions.
Were there varied vitality-brokers in the group with varied visions for blueprint the field this offseason, and a blueprint or the other all people managed to salvage their man? Did the Falcons in the beginning indulge in Penix could perchance no longer drop to No. 8, so they signed Cousins, but once he did they preferred him too a lot to pass him by? Are the Falcons worried that Cousins could perchance strive in opposition to with accidents going forward or precipitously decline, so they hedged their bets with Penix? But when that is the case, why be aware Cousins to that contract in the main attach?
Time will present a dedication of solutions. In the duration in-between, the remainder of the NFL world is left puzzled, and the Falcons will indulge in to belief a belief for managing a pair of quarterbacks who every will rightfully indulge in they need playing time.
