Kirk Cousins Reveals Feelings After Penix Jr. Selection by the Falcons
Seasoned quarterback Kirk Cousins has shared his true emotions regarding the Atlanta Falcons’ decision to select Michael Penix Jr. in the 2024 draft. These statements were made in the premiere of the Netflix series “Quarterback”. Cousins, who signed with the Falcons with a guaranteed contract of at least $100 million, expressed feeling “a little deceived” after the team’s selection of Penix Jr. The Falcons had assured Cousins as their quarterback for the 2024 season and beyond.The player admitted that he did not expect the Falcons to select a quarterback so high in the draft. Cousins was not informed about the Penix pick until he received a call from offensive coordinator Zac Robinson while the team was on the clock. Cousins, who led the Falcons to a 6-3 season start, suffered an arm injury in week 10. The impact of the Saints’ defensive player Payton Turner affected his performance, and subsequently, the team experienced a decline in their performance. After the season, Cousins acknowledged that his injury was more serious than he thought at the time. In the series, he admitted that he didn’t want to give up his position and give Penix the opportunity, as he wasn’t sure he would get his spot back.If I had had the information during free agency, it certainly would have affected my decision.
Kirk Cousins
The Falcons finally benched Cousins in week 16, where Penix Jr. took over the position. Despite his performance, the team had a 1-2 record in those games and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Although the Falcons were expected to release Cousins this offseason, this did not happen. The team chose to pay him a $10 million bonus in March and he currently remains on the roster for training camp. The internal strategy suggests that Cousins is more valuable to the team as Penix Jr.’s backup than playing for another team, especially considering that the Falcons must pay $27.5 million of his salary this season. The team would be open to hearing trade offers. Cousins expressed that, although it was difficult, he understood the situation: “It hurts to go to work, but you have to be an adult. You have to be a mature man and handle it with maturity. I feel sorry for myself and it’s hard to do, but that’s what you have to do. And that’s where my attention was focused.”You know if you sit out in week 10 and take two or three weeks or more to recover, you might never get your job back.
Kirk Cousins
