Tuesday night, the Atlanta Falcons introduced rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will begin Sunday’s recreation towards the New York Giants. The choice got here after 5 weeks of underwhelming play from their $180,000,000 quarterback, Kirk Cousins.
Within the final 5 video games, Cousins has thrown just one landing in comparison with 9 interceptions. The Falcons have gone 1-4 and misplaced management of their playoff future after being within the drivers seat within the NFC South. Cousins leads the NFL with 16 interceptions.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris stated after Monday night time’s win towards the Las Vegas Raiders he’d consider all the pieces.
“We’ll get all of the coordinators within the room,” Morris stated. “We’ll speak with everyone. We obtained to play higher on the quarterback place.”
After these conferences, it was determined the very best path in direction of victory, a minimum of for this week, is to begin Michael Penix Jr. Throughout the Tuesday press convention, Morris was largely non-committal concerning Cousins’s rapid future.
“After overview now we have made the choice Michael Penix would be the Atlanta Falcons beginning quarterback shifting ahead,” Morris stated, by way of a press release launched by the Falcons. “This was a soccer choice and we’re absolutely targeted on getting ready the group for Sunday’s recreation towards the New York Giants.”
The Ramifications
Penix was complimentary of Cousins after getting chosen eighth total in the course of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“He’s been within the league,” Penix stated of Cousins in a cellphone name with the press. “He’s been in there for some time. He’s performed plenty of soccer. I really feel like I’m gonna are available and I’m gonna study. I’m gonna study from him.”
Cousins’s in-season earnings in 2024 ($12.5 million) and 2025 ($27.5 million) are absolutely assured. If the Falcons have been to launch Cousins after the 2024 season, they’d be on the hook for $65 million in lifeless cash and value themselves $25 million in internet cap house. If the Falcons minimize Cousins after June 1, 2025, the transfer would go away Atlanta with $40 million in lifeless cap on their books, putting the group in cap Hell.
Kirk Cousins has a no-trade clause in his contract.
Associated