Atlanta Falcons bench Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr. | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

[@jarretthicks1980]

Pick a side guys. You clearly have an issue with the Falcons (Belichick related). They stuck with Kirk as long as possible. They see this guy in practice and made a decision. Let’s go Penix!

[@hstclair103]

Florio hates belichick 🤣 what are u on about?

[@wayne5913]

@@hstclair103 Florio is a no talent fraud .

[@buddybarlow9604]

Penix v Jayden on sunday night football for the playoffs is must-see TV

[@GatorShawn]

I commented to my son that every time they showed Penix on the sidelines he had his helmet on and was ready to go. It seemed inevitable to me then.

[@dreamsoflorien8237]

GIMME THAT BIG PENIX ENERGY

[@EJByrd]

Pause

[@dreamsoflorien8237]

@EJByrd yes preferably in me

[@vb72517]

😂😂 I see what you did there lol

[@matchpoint14]

I knew Morris would wait until it is too late. The chances for them to catch the Bucs is very very slim. Bucs are looking very strong. He should have pulled him 3 games ago.

[@YuriiSaiko]

Yeah, but right now he has an excuse: it’s on rookie

[@Drewswaggy]

You can’t pull him when ownership is paying him 100 million dollars….. he prob wanted to but you can’t when you’re paying someone that much.

[@G0Chiefs]

Just need to tie the buccs at the end and win the division.

[@bmxbobby1]

Yep!!!

[@terrylinellc5550]

Exactly what I'm telling folks... he definitely waited late, should've been made the change weeks ago against the Chargers

[@UtterlyRandom-q7e]

Glad to see they are NOT making the same mistake as the Browns, who refuse to own their mistakes and shift accordingly.

[@hoagsmash4188]

At some point, the football minds overthink stuff like this... QB1 playing like absolute sh*t several games, sit him and play QB2. Boom, simple lol

[@matchpoint14]

that is exactly right. they use zero commons sense

[@itsakadoozie8642]

True

[@trae1smooth63]

They are attaching it to the monetary side of the issue, who cares how much money they make if you suck and are costing your team games you have to be benched. Plain and simple turnovers are the easiest way to get benched and he had plenty of them lol

[@hoagsmash4188]

@@trae1smooth63 Agreed!

[@larrybaxter7771]

The decision to get both just never computed in my head. For it to have been a great idea, they would have had to have went on a deep run with Cousins for 2 years.. and then Penix would have had to step in & be elite immediately

[@samuelwallace2782]

It made sense the way drafting Jordan Love eventually made sense. If your older qb is great, no problem. You sit your prospect behind him and let him learn and develop. Then in a few years, he's ready to start. If your vet falls apart, at least you have someone to step up. Everyone criticizing drafting Penix correctly pointed out that the Falcons needed help on defense. But it turns out that a pass rusher wouldn't have saved cousins.

[@ryanblosser6081]

It was a good idea, so long as you thought he was healthy. I mean, a months ago they were 6-3. You can't just say "see Kirk was bad this was dumb" He threw for 500 yards. Looked smart

[@joeperry2065]

Gettng both was dumb. Penix was thought to be the most day 1 ready and everyone knew he'd be there at 8. They could have used that 45 mil a year to get more talent around Penix.

[@tb2704]

@@samuelwallace2782 The end goal was the same, yes, but the situations are different. Love was considered a project QB. Penix was a pro ready prospect. Rodgers had been there for years, and the Packers were a perennial playoff team with him, so you knew what you were getting. .. plus he only had 2 years left of guaranteed money. Cousins was brought in as a free agent on a 4 year deal with $100 mill guaranteed. Way more uncertainty. It’s different. The Love pick made more sense

[@tb2704]

@@joeperry2065 Exactly.. plus the Love situation is different

[@jimbo92107]

Kirk-O's arm has pooped out, along with his feet. It ain't coming back this season, soooooo... Time for Michael Penix. Penix is smart, tall, fast, and has an arm like a sniper rifle. Cousins is smart. I better stop there.

[@tropics8407]

Would someone pls apologize for criticizing the falcons for drafting Penix. Thank you

[@Chalk89]

No apology needed, it was horrible business no matter how you slice it. Signing a QB to that contract then replacing him in year one is disastrous. You can’t brag to the owner when in reality you wasted $180M.

[@757Bricksquad]

Why would they? The criticism is that they signed Kirk and Drafted Penix. In hindsight, they should have never signed Cousins. Also, we haven’t watched Penix take a single snap in the nfl. For all we know, he’s no better than Cousins.

[@ahmadanderson7788]

@@757Bricksquad when teams get desperate for a starting QB they make weird decisions. Drafting penix after signing kirk was them hedging their bet

[@CpuGc]

If you believe in a qb you draft him. Penix is the best passing qb in the draft. What the funk is a d lineman gonna do for a franchise in comparison to a qb. The roi isn’t even close. “Horrible business” it’s good business to like he said hedge your bets f the money

[@CpuGc]

@@757Bricksquadif you watched a game of penix in college you’d know he’s better than Jayden daniels, nix all the guys lighting it up

[@bannedxxlee5139]

They should play 7 on 7 kirk and mike!!!!

[@jvanek8512]

08:00 yes because Florio has all this experience playing in the NFL.

[@shanelljones1091]

Devin McCourty actually agreed tho...

[@Affirmativo]

Good thing we have Penix instead of a Pass rusher 😅

[@Rik3n]

Except a pass rusher would improve the defense and not destroy your relationship with your starting quarterback less than a month after you sign him and put more pressure on him before you've even played a game.

[@mattyghost3409]

​@@Rik3nExcept your vet QB plays like the worst QB with rookies included...Leads with 16 ints leads with 13fumbles...I mean he leads in both ints and fumbles...How da fawk is that even possible with a veteran QB....It means his body isn't capable of performing...

[@vb72517]

​​@@mattyghost3409 strangely ironic how I'm getting used to the facts you just stated. First this was the case with Ridder, and now the following season, kirk. Both were terrible between their TD/INT/fumble stats

[@mattyghost3409]

​@@vb72517Senile Arthur Blank wanted an old washed QB that wasn't Terry although Terry has done some whiffing also like Judon and Kyle Pitts

[@Rik3n]

@@mattyghost3409 and all the stuff I mentioned probably contributes to it. Better defense means you don't need to throw the ball around as much and can rely on your run game more. Jalen Hurts isn't having a great year as a passer, but he can rely on his defense and running game to support him.

[@James-w8x1q]

This season shows that it is not always about the QB and that the Coach matters! Rodgers goes to terrible team and coach and look how he performed. Cousins with a good coach and team with the Vikings and now look at him now in Atlanta with a HC who was fired before. Now look at Darnold who was on bad teams and coaches at the Panthers and Jets, now look at him with the Vikings and a great coach! Also look at Baker who suffered through sever teams with bad coaches and look at him now with the Bucs!

[@mattyghost3409]

Except those other QBs don't have a nagging injury.. He's old injured past his prime..He's worse than Desmond Ridder ....16ints 13 fumbles leads in both categories...His physical abilities are no longer available to him....What a waste of a contract

[@jvanek8512]

10:52 I was half expecting Simms to say "oh oh oh ozempic"

[@MrBossuporbowout]

Kirk is playing worse than Ridder last year so I don't care if Penix is a rookie or not. There's no way that Kirk could out play Penix at this point

[@nickjacques6087]

Nice analysis and discussion again. Thank you.

[@Fury421]

Raheem Morris is the Jameis Winston of coaching. Says all the right things, makes many questionable decisions that dont pan out. Better hope Penix is ready to go.

[@Affirmativo]

😂

[@mattyghost3409]

Better someone thar leads in both ints 16 and fumbles with 13. Old and washed up

[@Fury421]

@@mattyghost3409 I dont think its just the quarterback. Drake London looks like the second coming of Mike Evans, and early in his career he was used as a decoy when he should be fed early and often. Rah should know this. Im a Bucs and Saints fan, but I feel bad for Mr Blank (who had to write that big check), and the fans that continue to pull for them Dirty Birds.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Vikings fans tried to tell you

[@flacko_jody2130]

The saints game wasnt "flukey" lol. The saints dominated the falcons basically both games and the falcons made it close at the end. Dude on the left dont watch games

[@immortangamer]

Penix will cook

[@wayne5913]

Have you two been watching the games and or tapes . No Velocity , No mobility , Indecisiveness , no down field throws , interceptions and could have been more except for defensive player Drops . Does not look comfortable in the offensive scheme . And the offensive game plan looks the coaching staff has lost confidence in Kirk . And even the players have not given him any vote of confidence lately . Both of you have had this guy way overrated . And i believe there is some injury hangover .I have No problem with the switch to Michael Penix Jr. The team definitely needs a shot of adrenaline . Hopefully Michael Penix Jr. can give it to them .

[@cit96AdizeroVapor]

I’m glad to see Penix get a chance, but in the middle of a playoff chase is a tough spot and it’s so awkward to see what’s happened to Cousins 😬

[@robertjohnston9459]

It's not about the benching. It's about what the benching represents!

[@silenttoxic707]

If anyone trades for a guy who is supposedly known for his decision making, who has thrown 1 TD and 9 picks in the last 5 games. You fire those people 😂

[@alestev24]

Shanahan: "Hold my beer!" 😅

[@brucearmitage9893]

Forewarned is forearmed is the quote

[@moustiebeaubeau]

Falcons are gonna Falcon lmao

[@joemama560]

HE DONT LIKE KIRK'A D'COUSINS?!

[@dasdguy7606]

😂

[@9etherb87]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@joshbradfield629]

Never watch the Falcons offseason without stocking up on popcorn and soda’s

[@skkti]

Pay Kirk! Pay Kirk! The media was screaming at the Vikings in the offseason. Pffff. Kwesi and KOC are on a different planet when it comes to contracts and getting the best out of there players.

[@leftisbest7173]

4 arm fire alarm. 😂

[@JBullock54]

Teams will trade valuable picks for Cousins, so they basically just bought those picks with his contract. Plus, they had a good QB for Penix to learn behind.

[@tb2704]

Not anymore they won’t. $100 mill guaranteed doesn’t equal a 6th round pick or the value of a vet teaching a pro ready prospect for 14 games lol

[@WackoMac]

Kirk is back up type, way to up tight personality. You gotta be a cool cucumber to be a back up qb.

[@zone5breezy]

LOL no team is trading valuable picks for Cousins, 9/10 he'll just wind up released and Falcons will have to bite the bullet like Raiders did with Carr and Broncos did with DangeRuss

[@tedmich]

Two wrongs don't make a right (three if you count Morris !)

[@Jimbobirkbeck]

Are you sure it's not a forearm fire alarm? One with really thick glass that you have to smash Jack Tatum style?

[@richardoconnell3214]

Kirk Cousins jerseys shouldn't even be worth a dollar at a rummage sale. Bum.

[@WackoMac]

Lol

[@stevewhitney7782]

You know who's getting a free pass in all this QB mess? Zac Robinson, the OC. Have you watched the plays he's calling? It's possible that his play calling caused Kirk to lose his confidence. We'll see how Penix performs, at least he can move when there are no open receivers. I expect Penix will be running more than he wants to.

[@mattyghost3409]

Maybe because Kirk can't get under center, can't do bootlegs,can't roll out of the pocket, can't throw passes down the field past 30 yards or has the arm strength to throw sideline to sideline...He's old injured no mobility

[@dawonplace]

Kirk deserves to be benched. 1td vs 9ints in last 4 games. Mike was spot on ayer with this. Good job bro. Chris deserves a Bengals segment. 😂😂. I love bro. Jk. God bless you

[@HarambetheWhite]

If I'm KOC I would have a cigar in one hand and a glass of aged scotch in the other and I would be saying I made Kirk play the best ball in his career.

[@Pete_Finch]

Peeenix

[@deathmachineusa2689]

Kirk is trade Bait!!!!

[@KenHeying]

It would have been better to say, all hands on deck.

[@theshogunblaze3656]

they gave cousins more than enough games to justify the cost

[@marioalexmario]

kirkcember is over time for pencember and penuary

[@KenHeying]

It a four alarm fire alarm.

[@antoniopadilla6343]

I hope Seattle or New Orleans would trade for him. I would give up anything

[@chundrellwalton]

Those 2 hate ATL no matter what they do

[@real-ishstraighttruthnocha1687]

I think Kirk should begin to retire and consider becoming a QB coach. He could teach the new guys how to read a defense and process the field properly.

[@Affirmativo]

He should be the bucs QB coach so we can Win the division 😅

[@cornileusweatherford1910]

1 playoff win in 13 years, 1td-9int in the last 5 games. What processing and reading of a defense can he teach? This Kirk Cousin is so smart narrative is silly.

[@real-ishstraighttruthnocha1687]

@@cornileusweatherford1910 I didn't say he was great. I said he could teach others how to see the field and read defenses quickly. He may have lost, but losses aren't just on the QB ordinarily. I think those teams he was on so take some blame too.

[@deathmachineusa2689]

Lol!! Mike Glenon and Justin Fields the Sequel! Ryan Pace move! 😂😂😂😂😂 What waste of contract!!

[@loafman8]

Kirk sucks fellas, terrible take. EXCELLENT decision by the coaches, FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD

[@chefty3825]

RUN PFT

[@RonnySwanson]

Bye bye o kurt a cousins lol 🤣🤣🤣

[@bobbybands1957]

28-3

[@packersauburneric3625]

Lmao 🤣

[@leftisbest7173]

Good point

[@James-w8x1q]

There is a REASON for the long standing saying: Never change horses in mid stream!

[@JackThomas-t4m]

What a bunch of fools - at least they make the Bears look good