FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has voiced his opinion on a misinterpreted viral clip of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., calling the situation a “joke” that “disappoints” how people act online. In the clip from his Wednesday press conference, Penix talks about his fiancée and his former coaches as people who support him. Some who shared the segment interpreted in the caption that Penix has no one on the coaching staff or on the Falcons’ roster to support him, an insinuation that spread on social media over the past few days.
Morris added: “I just feel bad for the kid. I don’t want him to have to deal with things that don’t matter or aren’t real… Let his problems be his problems, like third attempts. Let’s fix that. Don’t invent [something] that doesn’t exist.” Penix was asked on Friday to clarify what he meant during the press conference, but he refused, saying that everyone at the Falcons facility knows the truth. Morris said he and Penix joked about the situation in practice this week. Morris mentioned that Penix has offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams, offensive passing game coordinator/receivers coach T.J. Yates, and senior offensive assistant Ken Zampese at his disposal. Robinson, Williams, and Yates all played quarterback. Morris also highlighted the contributions of the experienced quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is backing up Penix. Williams said he talks to Penix and the other Falcons quarterbacks more than he talks to his children. He said he didn’t need to have a conversation with Penix about the viral clip. “I don’t even pay attention to it, to be honest,” Williams said. “As long as we know. I mean, everything else is just elevator music.” Penix has had a full first season with ups and downs as the Falcons’ starting quarterback. He is completing 58.8% of his passes for 1,807 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Penix’s QBR of 53.6 is 19th in the NFL. The Falcons (3-6) have lost four straight games before a home game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson said he talks to Penix “every day.” He has discussed with Penix how the media can take a clip and “blow it out of proportion.”“Stop looking for things in a young man,” Morris said on Friday. “He doesn’t need these things. He is what he is. But all those things that people do, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t affect this team.”
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons Coach
“Everyone is here to help,” Robinson said. “Everyone wants you to succeed at the end of the day. So for us, everyone on this team, we support each other. That’s why I tell everyone, the outside world, the external world, is going to try to divide us and strive. So we have to keep our faith high, and that will drive us.”
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons Running Back
