The Atlanta Falcons are making the exit they obviously didn’t need to assemble โ changing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins with rookie Michael Penix Jr. foundation in an instant.
Falcons head lecturer Raheem Morris announced the decision Tuesday evening in a observation exempt via the crew.
โAfter review we have made the decision Michael Penix Jr. will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,โ the observation learn. โThis was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sundayโs game against the New York Giants.โ
That observation got here not up to 4 hours upcoming Morris had hinted at the move right through a ceaselessly scheduled information convention the era upcoming the Falcons stepped forward to 7-7 via beating the Raiders 15-9 in Las Vegas.
โWe didnโt play particularly well at the quarterback position,โ Morris stated. โThatโs the thing thatโs got to be addressed.โ
Penix was once drafted 8th via the Falcons in April. It was once a miracle exit on the age taking into consideration the group had signed Cousins to a four-year free-agency do business in the former pace that assured the 13-year veteran $90 million in wage the primary two seasons and had a complete possible importance of $180 million.
The plan on the age was once to sit down Penix at the back of Cousins for a minimum of a 12 months, and Morris were protecting out hope as just lately as closing date that he may keep on with that plan. The top lecturer, who was once rented in January, time and again referred to Penix as โthe futureโ and stated the Falcons have been dedicated to their โplanโ on the place.
โYou can look at organizations that have put young guys out there too early, and itโs gone terrible and I donโt want to be that guy,โ Morris stated closing date. โI do know the plan that I have and what I want to do for that young man.โ
Then again, Cousinsโ closing 5 video games satisfied the Falcons they might not stick with the plan. He threw 9 interceptions and one landing in that span and ranked thirty third within the league in anticipated issues added in step with dropback (minus-.14). When the quarterback was once informed Monday evening that Morris stated he had to play games higher, Cousins spoke back, โItโs stating the obvious.โ
โI donโt think thatโs a mystery,โ he stated upcoming passing for 112 yards. โEvery week you go through your process and plan to go out there and play the very best you can. This week will be no different.โ
Morris stated Tuesday that he didnโt realize any bodily problems with Cousins that โjump off the page.โ The 36-year-old returned this season from a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his 2023 season upcoming 8 video games.
โSome of it is natural progress of erosion through a football season,โ Morris stated of Cousinsโ look within the patch.
The begin to Cousinsโ season made it seem like Atlantaโs long-term plan was once committing to paintings. He was once fourth within the league in passing yards (2,328) and touchdowns (17) and 7th in EPA in step with dropback (.15) via Date 9, and the Falcons raced to a two-game supremacy within the NFC South.
From there, regardless that, Atlanta misplaced 4 immediately and fell at the back of Tampa Bay (8-6) within the section as Cousins floundered. Consistent with The Athleticโs projections, the Falcons now have a 23 % prospect to win the section and a 31 % prospect to assemble the playoffs.
โKirk got us into a point of contention,โ Morris stated closing date. โYou have to have the resolve to stay steady-handed with a guy you believe in. I donโt want to be like some organizations that make harsh decisions on your people when they make their mistakes. Itโs our job and my job to back him at the highest level of certainty to get him to get out there and play better. Heโs going to come out of this thing, and heโs going to go on a run here.โ
He didnโt, regardless that, and now the Falcons are turning to Penix, the previous College of Washington quarterback who led the Huskies to the nationwide name match closing season and two times was once a Heisman Trophy finalist. How the Falcons deal with Cousins from this is an seen query. It might price them $65 million in lifeless cash in the event that they exempt him upcoming this season, in step with Over the Cap. In the event that they retain directly to him throughout the 2025 season both in a go back to the foundation function or as a spare, they might decrease him upcoming that season and incur just a $25 million lifeless cap collision.
The Falcons may additionally struggle to industry Cousins this offseason. The Raiders, Titans and Giants are anticipated to draft a quarterback however may also be fascinated about bringing in a veteran to aid the transition. The Saints, Panthers, and Jets may additionally assemble adjustments.
Cousinsโ monitor file of luck will give him some worth at the industry marketplace regardless of this season, through which he stands seventeenth in EPA in step with dropback (minus-.05). Then again, his age results in Atlanta, this isn’t how someone envisioned it.
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(Photograph: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photographs)
