How Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. navigates dynamic with Kirk Cousins | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

Mike Florio and Chris Simms examine how Michael Penix Jr. needs to be ready because no one knows how Kirk Cousins will recover from his injury and how the rookie is approaching the situation. #NBCSports #NFL #AtlantaFalcons
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Mike Florio, creator of the industry-leading Profootballtalk.com, offers his NFL insight alongside regular guests, including former NFL athletes such as Chris Simms. Pro Football Talk informs and entertains with the most up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the topical NFL stories of the day.
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How Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. navigates dynamic with Kirk Cousins | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC
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[@Anti-Ignorance]

This little guy really has a problem with Atlanta! LMAO😂🤣😂

[@szn1580]

Bruh they are beating the hell out of this storyline it’s so desperate and pathetic lmao “Wah wah wah they chose a QB 8th overall falcons are doomed wah wah wha wha wha!!!”😭😭😭😭

[@BreakHerBank]

😂😂getting a generational quarterback at pick 8 and having him sit 2 years MAX behind Kirk is not a bad thing whatsoever

[@szn1580]

@@BreakHerBanktell that to the puppet brained sheep media😂😂😂

[@PsychoWooolf47]

Even as a Bucs fan, I LOVE this pick for Atlanta. Penix is a dawg

[@bears653]

@@BreakHerBankgenerational quarterback?

[@terrestrialextra4790]

It's because it wasn't the pick they wanted Atlanta to pick and wasn't the storyline they wanted Penix to have. They wanted him to go to Vegas and it shows. Florio said "from what we've seen Love should have been starting all along" Comments like this show he's full of shit and blowing hot air filled with O2 and agendas. Love only looked as good as he did last season because he sat behind Aaron, improved his game, learned how a HOF approaches the game and then got his shot.

[@oaklandtraphouse]

Florio is making it a bigger deal than it is Kirks the perfect guy to handle this same with Penix , Kirk doesnt come off as a a hole at all he's a real leader i think he'll take Penix under his wing genuinely

[@billjohnson1111]

Kirk may say nice things but he can’t handle performance based pressure. That’s why he’s always so good at 1pm games but so bad in prime time. He will melt with a credible threat looking over his shoulder …

[@bunjidogg]

Until they name Penix starter later this year.

[@user-iq6cc3df3l]

Man, I hate run-on sentences.

[@Quentiligence]

When sports "analysts" try to become psychoanalyst...

[@rashadellison9593]

Just thinking like once Analyst get to wat the athlete is thinking or feeling , I just tune out.. They have no relationship with the person n their guess on how this person feels is as good as my guess on how he feels..

[@allensaunders449]

That's what we all do nothing knew

[@drew388]

i thought the same thing 😂😂.

[@chrisconnor8086]

99% of people who know the game understand this was a stupid pick. But go ahead atlanta

[@rzawistowski33]

Florida is a lawyer with a psychological background, and Simms played the position

[@Cjhilly]

Not a falcon fan, but I kind of love this situation for him. Long track record of successful qbs sitting. I know Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett, Trey Lance, etc. all wish they didn’t learn from trial by fire. Penix will be great for them

[@chrisstowe3448]

Yeah that would make more sense if he wasn’t already 24.

[@Dnasty0118]

@@chrisstowe344824 isn’t old! Yall just repeat what other people say

[@solomonbeauchan2256]

@@chrisstowe3448if he starts in 2 years he’s only gonna be 26😅 is that not prime?

[@chrisstowe3448]

@@solomonbeauchan2256 he won’t be starting in 2 years tho unless Kirk is absolutely terrible. Kirk has too much guaranteed money these next 2 seasons.

[@2423jt]

Uh no. He absolutely will be starting after 2 seasons. In year 3 Kirk can be cut. And will be. Most of his guaranteed money is in the first two years.

[@James-xt1qy]

Kid is special and Mike is still but hurt over his cousin kirk..

[@MrLivermore90]

If I was an athlete I’d keep touching my face just to mess with Florio. Touching your face does not equate to an automatic tell lmao

[@brandontoygamertv750]

Takes one injury to change the narrative. One of the biggest balls move in NFL draft history.

[@dodu8281]

the only way i can understand this pick is that the owner forced the gm and the coach to sign kirk. so that the gm and coach said , ok screw u, lets find a way to rationalize this pick to arthur so that we can get our guy.

[@brandontoygamertv750]

When Penix starts winning games just remember all your idiotic comments our being recorded. 🤣

[@ksandersc5]

That part

[@alexamerling79]

Then why give Cousins $100 million?

[@jonhanna8651]

Florio constantly dogging the Falcons is just sad at this point. He's so desperately trying to prove that he's right that he constantly puts words in other people's mouths. I'm takin Penix at his word that he's happy to be in the NFL, in Atlanta, and he's happy to be working with Cousins. Florio telling us what Penix "really" thinks is just sad.

[@joeross3741]

Nothing but negativity from you two about the falcons all the way around! Yall broke down penix and saying what he feels off what you heard from him. From hearing from you to conversations and body language last past weeks my thoughts are it’s personal with yall two with the falcons. The hate for that organization is real! 😎

[@kingwein89]

Maybe because we've never seen a team on the precipice of success and then they F it up as much as the Falcons. The Falcons are a meme for this

[@James-xt1qy]

I feel u I am s broncos fan over nix. People hating cuz the kids a beast.

[@mattc.8887]

All Kirk needs to know, is if he performs like he can like before the injury, he has nothing to worry about. But the truth is, every seemingly starter every starting qb got hurt last year. I think this move could turn out to be genius gamble by Atlanta

[@bstny98]

I love the OG guy still rocking a pen and notepad

[@jordanhaworth105]

Having to sit the bench and make millions what a horrible existence

[@James-xt1qy]

😂😂 so right

[@James-xt1qy]

😂😂 feel so bad for him

[@masterroshi1338]

PFT should replace Florio. He's still bringing up this MPJ angle.

[@jpm.06]

Michael Penix might not like it now, but in a few years when he eventually gets the job, he'll be more ready than everyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years 4 out of the 6 QBs drafted this year find themselves on a different team traded for a bag of peanuts because they were thrown in a dumpster fire, just like the 2021 draft class. Penix will have the chance to play 10-15 years, im not worried by a year or two delay to his NFL career

[@AntonioPittman02]

WTH are y’all talking about “he scratched his face when he said he was blessed”… Are y’all Dr. Phill or something….

[@user-sd4ft8oo5v]

We all see that if you can’t talk bad about the falcons you won’t cover them at all

[@TruStatementNetwork]

This is facts!

[@mike-te7qd]

"This creates an akward reality for both quarterbacks." Jeez, move on already Florio.

[@YouTubeChan.-gv8pt]

he started getting obsessed over kirk a year ago...for five years before that he didn't give a f about kirk...it is kind weird

[@YouTubeChan.-gv8pt]

if Michael wasn't there... florio would still be talking about kirk everyday

[@jtb14465]

At the end of the day they are both professionals, we went from the worst QB situation to one of the best. $100M is a lot of money but that's the going rate for a starting QB, no matter what happens Kirk plays for 2 years or he doesn't, if we are getting high caliber play from the most important position in the game, I don't care how they made it happen.

[@hipman21]

Florio is just salty lollllll

[@Fourwedge]

This is where we find out his true character. Nothing wrong with sitting a year behind a smart quarterback like Mahomes did!

[@rhyankaze5564]

Florio needs to move on. Dude saw Kirk go down last year and the Vikings get completely screwed because of it.

[@702TifosiGambler]

As a Raider fan we wanted Penix all along however there’s a scenario where Kirk isn’t ready Week1, Penix plays great and we can trade for Kirk for say a 3rd. All is well in Raider Nation 🏴‍☠️

[@sharonreel8678]

I echo the comments about beating the hell out of this storyline. Good lord shuh duh fuh cup already 🙄

[@TruStatementNetwork]

😂😂😂😂

[@Toastyyjone]

Florio is always gonna have a lil hate he’s lifelong viking fan. Cause he wanted to resign kirk. And the falcons stole penix from viking in the draft 😅

[@deepwaterwalk]

The absurdity continues. I keep clicking on Florio hoping he will relax, but man, he just doesn't. Michael Penix Jr. is NOT in a tough place. These fools act like this is the first cat to come into the league and sit behind a vet QB. Good grief.

[@Mafi_Turner-Diaz]

The whole media is tripping so hard on this...

[@kirkangel525]

yeah, it was an odd move in the draft, but it's you media guys that keep dragging it on. you're one play away from starting in the NFL. I think Penix is in a fantastic situation. making that #8 pick contract $, getting to train and workout in world class facilities, sit and learn from a savvy veteran, no pressure to be thrown in the fire with expectations of CJ Stroud in year 1. hopefully, when his time comes, he'll be able to step up. I look forward to seeing what happens in the future

[@mickcarter3613]

Atl was thinking ahead when they drafted penix say what you want but I understand why they drafted him now yeah it probably hurt some feelings but o we'll it a business just like bye a car why want till the car u drive blows up before buying another 1 smart business an alt is thinking if they R as good as they hoped 2 B then they won't or should have a high pk in the future

[@belosworld7077]

I have never seen the Falcons in the spotlight so much. Let’s say Pennix went to Dallas or the Chiefs. Will we be seeing these videos?

[@TruStatementNetwork]

We haven’t been in the spotlight like this honestly since Vick. Hell even our 2016 Super Bowl year they didn’t cover us much. I love it when we are under the radar if this is what being on the map means

[@henrim9348]

F to rio ... Leave Penix alone.

[@Scat_man72]

There's so many hypotheticals coming out of Florios mouth to push a narrative that comes from negativity, and anger he has against Atlanta for taking cousins from his crappy football team.

[@mazzi.ozborne]

why would someone not wanna be drafted by someone that is willing to pay him to learn and develop and then let that investment have the franchise for the next 10 yrs after?

[@johnchedsey1306]

There's only one way Cousins is still on the team in a year: they either made the superbowl or NFC championship game. If they miss the playoffs again, he's gone. Penix, on the other, may look like a genius move if in, say, 5 years he's the one leading them to another superbowl appearance. Or he's got them as a perennial playoff team.

[@chrisedwards5447]

Based off of florio's "body language", I can't tell that he's salty lol

[@seth101-hv4st]

When you’re in the offseason and you have nothing else to talk about.

[@kennyj204]

They beat the drum saying the quarterback is the most important position in professional sports. Then they ridicule a franchise for drafting the “best player available” and having two starting quarterbacks on the roster.

[@TruStatementNetwork]

Especially just last year when we didn’t make an attempt to get Lamar Falcons didn’t want to win and we were stupid and blah blah blah.

[@elgringosolo5738]

Wow, these guys still complaining about Atlanta drafting Penix? Stop trying to push your anti-Atlanta rhetoric and simply report on the facts or at least mix it up a little bit, play devils advocate for once and try speculating on the potential upside to a club finally bringing stability and security to the QB position for the present and the future.

[@mykofreder1682]

Cousins is not Roger or even close, if he is the 12th QB the next 2 years that will be a win for him and maybe the Falcons. If Penix looks top 15 sooner rather than later, Cousins probably will not get a 2nd year because there is little separation between the 2 in that case. The Falcons hope Cousins plays well but and is gone next year because that means they chose right and have 4 cheap years.

[@pfoxworth7]

I wonder what the success is for first round draft pick quarterbacks who start right out of the gate verses those who have the ability to learn behind another QB. There have been lots of first round pick failures.

[@pete6705]

He’ll get his chance as soon as Kirk gets injured. If Kirk doesn’t get injured for 4 years, he’s kind of screwed though

[@Trinison7]

He's not in the tuff spot you all want him to be

[@alexisstrozier3346]

They both are a piece of work 🤣🤣

[@nitehawk_100]

Why would Penix not want to be top 10 pick where it's millions more money vs where the talking heads had him going late first round? The media said J.J McCarthy was going QB 4 in the draft and they were wrong. Falcons believed in when everyone said he was a second round pick and no one would pick him in first early first round. Now he getting 10s of millions more his rookie year.

[@psharp66]

It’s really astonishing how guys like Florio and even Eisen - can look at the Penix/Cousins/Falcons situation and can only see the negatives. How is it possible that if they truly believe Cousins is good vet and Penix is a good rookie - that the only takes they can come up with is negative and that Falcons are idiots? QB is the hardest position in all of sports and there aren’t many good ones.

[@GiftedGentleman87]

1:00 False Narrative Jordan Love didn't WASTE his life, he needed to be slowly introduced to the game... and so does Michael Penix. Player development is more crucial now than ever. Give guys an opportunity to learn... and you'll have a better productive player. Stop throwing guys into the lions den so quickly.

[@ericw23]

The show is a good. I listen daily. This is a way you can look at it. But Penix is happy to live out his childhood dream. Lifted 2 unknown college teams . his turn is coming as soon as he is better than kirk .. money is not a problem .. our GM and coach are great. QB is too important.. 5:17

[@DD-sr9xm]

The Cousins contract is a bear but with QB salaries rising fast, it’s not unmovable. There will be a qb-needy team mid-season and Atlanta will trade him.

[@adrixx116]

It's clear that the Falcons saved everybody from the 1 guy who could beat anybody who will one day be starting for the Atlanta Falcons. This is what it's like to be put on notice. A bottle on ice. We wait...

[@psharp66]

Florio has a hard on to smash the Falcons. Dumbest position in all of sports right now is ripping the Falcons for taking Penix. Kirk Cousins deal is effectively a 2yr deal and Falcons can start Penix in 2025 if they think he’s ready. Kirk would be expensive “clipboard holder” backup QB for 1 yr. So Cousins overpaid for one year and Penix sits for 1 to 1.5yrs - but F’ng deal. Franchise QB most important position in sports and the most talented guys can play into their late 30s. SHADDUP FLORIO!

[@nytayewright8047]

What if kirk get hurt and penix come In and lead them to the NFC championship and lose what do the falcons do after that

[@bu11dogmike69]

Mike Flores has become one of the most unwatchable sports shows on the internet. He has turned into Dr Phil. What a shame

[@crhoads13]

He’s not sitting 2 years

[@CrashMusic-sd3nd]

See how narratives work... Florio just mentioned how Green Bay wasted Jordan Love, then everyone expects the same to be done to Penix...let the kid play Cousins is not a winner

[@kennysquance6689]

Penix is better than cousins dude vision decision making locker room present dude has it all and his arm off the chain

[@user-mp6dl7wc9z]

How do you justify trading Kirk if he is playing at a Pro Bowl Level after 2 years for a QB who you won't know if he is Zach Wilson or Josh Allen until he plays for a half year at least. Imagine trading Pro Bowl Kirk who continues Kicking Ass in NFL and then Pienix BUSTS which 80 percent of 1st round QBs do!

[@willbullard654]

Falcons fan…say you know one more time lmao

[@chrisedwards5447]

Lol florio still just made we took cousins from him and got a better QB than the vikings did in the draft lol. Just salty

[@Smartriide]

Time to create a storyline that doesn’t involve the truth.

[@ronniewilliams9169]

It’s funny nobody a had penix going in the top ten now he’s all of a sudden this nfl ready player lol.

[@christopherglenn290]

Atlanta fans happy but y’all not lmao

[@jamarworthy4065]

Mike is creating a narrative that isn’t evident

[@Chris-zi3xn]

I was all for them drafting a QB but I think they picked the wrong project.

[@Dnasty0118]

Project? What the hell you talking about

[@brucereid7165]

Flo is such a drama Queen. Leave it alone.

[@cornerboytv]

Yall just hater Atlanta yall probally hater the hawks got the first pick

[@jamesmickelson8981]

Kirk don't like competition.

[@DreJunglez]

Such a bad take lol he wants the narrative to be drama so bad only because Kirk left his Vikings and he’s been trashing the falcons franchise sense.. Penix is in a great situation learning behind cousins and not Josh Dobbs

[@ronniewilliams9169]

It’s better to sit behind a veteran had jordan love not sat ya’ll would have did him like everybody did justin fields. Who’s in a better situation now?

[@chrislewis1288]

No good quarterbacks till 2 good quarterbacks make it make sense. Analysts control, you guys mind so sad.

[@James-xt1qy]

Send him (Kirk) a get well card that says: Get Well Soon bud! (CUZ IF YOU DONT U FINNA RIDE D PINE). signed raheem morris

[@jasontye3307]

The travesty between you two is nauseating.

[@marquezchapman2395]

No matter how much you complain about it Kirk is not going back to the Vikings 😂😂😂 get over it

[@kingofallmediums2123]

No, I don’t know! 😆 😆 😆 😆 😲 😲 😲 😲

[@TommieGun71]

Slow news day!

[@themoneyman1752]

If Jordan Love would have played right away he would have been TRASH aka a bust

[@ATLfalcons808]

Vikings will be in a tuff spot when cause JJ will be a bust😂 and Justin J will want out cause Kirk cousins is the main reason they were even relevant 😂😂 ATL backup better then Vikings starter 😂😂

[@IceCubE4425]

Sam Darnold is the starter on week 1 and he was doing fine in San Fran, otherwise the Broncos wouldn't have been in a bidding war with the Vikings to get him. People who put Emojis instead of Full-stops seemingly have dumb opinions.

[@TruStatementNetwork]

😂😂😂😂 MIKE STOP IT MAN THIS IS GETTING EMBARRASSING NOW! Now you give psychoanalysis now? Man I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ANALYST CRY SO MUCH ABOUT ONE TEAM. WE get it you’re a Vikings fan and we took Kirk from you. Florio is literally terrified that Kirk may just win a Super Bowl with us. He so invested in us he holding Chris hostage with this bs every week. HEY SIMMS BLINK TWICE IF YOUR IN DANGER BRO😂🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@jboogie_209]

Florio is 🚮 at his “job”

[@dominiquedupree7406]

Why would he have a workout with them if he didn’t want to be drafted by them buddy on the left just don’t like the falcons for some reason

[@Slimdulla87]

Boy they are trying to get blood from a turnip here. They are trying to juice this made-up QB controversy as much as possible. Let it go

[@Ralphdawg]

Yooo this is childish af man who cares

[@user-pp8xo6gc3q]

Stay out of falcons business … haters

[@mrgannon]

I am just blown the Falcons are such a big story in the offseason. Hasn't been this way since that Superbowl game and we haven't gotten regular offseason coverage since that unfortunate business with the dogs in Virginia. I'll take this over those days anytime.

[@paulanderson724]

Kirk’s just an overpaid bridge!

[@mikesmithh]

One dummy who never talk about anything important. Florio always talking about nothing. Who said if he went later in the draft if he was going to start year one? Please follow another story because this is not one.

[@martyvimislik813]

It cracks me up how many TROLLS come on here just to whine about hating Florio!! It’s off season and it’s a FOOTBALL show. They have to talk about any and all football news. Go watch Cowturd’s show!

[@ethanlculver]

You take Penix, you gotta go all in on Penix. Cousins is done. Falcons need to elevate Penix now that they took him.

[@tejshdesai5031]

Florio is a joke lol

[@chrisclark2747]

I love how it's assumed by just about everyone, including the Falcons, that Penix will be good in the NFL. There's more faith in Penix than there is in Daniels or Maye. What if he's not good? What if he keeps getting hurt? Penix isn't the present, because Cousins is, but he may not be the future either.

[@chrisclark2747]

@Gman333g What are you even trying to say? In one hand, you're agreeing that there's a chance Penix isn't good (something that Florio and, especially, Simms rarely acknowledge), and in the other hand you're saying that's why they have scouts, as if that makes any difference on whether or not the player might not be good in the pros. The point is that Simms keeps saying that Penix is going to come in and wow at practice and it will add pressure on Cousins, and the players are going to want Penix to start. He says it like it's for sure going to happen, but it's not.

[@SunniMerlot]

I hate athletes cliche answers all the time

[@brandontoygamertv750]

Takes one injury to change the narrative. One of the biggest balls move in NFL draft history.