Should the Falcons Have Benched Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr. Weeks Ago? | The Rich Eisen Show

[@Chris-yr6io]

Michael Penix Jr. is literally the exact same age as me, same birthday and birth year. Hearing everyone call him an older rookie makes me feel unreasonably old 🥲

[@Adkb123]

@@Chris-yr6io it’s a lot of fun when every player getting drafted is younger than you

[@joshmatlock1020]

The criticism wasn't in drafting Penix at 8 it was "Why did you pay Kirk Cousin's $180 million if you were going to draft Penix at 8?"

[@sirtavion20]

Exactly!

[@ryanblosser6081]

They didn't. He has a 2 year deal

[@StewMain6]

Precisely. It’s a headscratcher

[@blackmike79]

It was worth the risk figuring all their skilled players are on rookie contracts. Cousins contract will be up by the time they have to sign, Robinson, London, Pitts. But I understand where you're coming from tho.

[@herrguru4264]

Well the reason is because the idiot GM pretended and claimed that he saw Michael Penix Jr for the first time in February 2o24. Now... if thats true, then he`s either a liar or (even worse) completely incompetent.

[@ZachDahlen23]

Rich was soooooo hell bent that there’s no way Cousins would be benched. Brockman was right and rich made it seem like Brockman was crazy 😂

[@ThePettiestOfficer_Juan117]

This is not an overreaction.

[@barrettloweshow]

Rich will treat the most obvious take as an insane one 😭 unless it’s Russell Wilson or someone he doesn’t like

[@awdimmick]

That’s Rich for ya. I love this show, but sometimes he doubles down on very bad takes and is somehow stunned when he’s wrong.

[@ZachDahlen23]

@@awdimmick 100% agree

[@randomstuff3201]

How Brockman was able to contain an "I told you so" is beyond me.

[@Loggie20]

I thought they were crazy to give cousins $100 mil guaranteed at this point in his career.

[@Fiasco962]

I was psyched as a packer fan to have him out of division, yet here we are with the darnold resurrection.

[@mattcarberry368]

that's what happens when old billionaire owners get desperate and impatient good thing Terry Fontenot knew better and still planned for the future

[@Loggie20]

@@Fiasco962I thought Darnold would flame out midseason. Definitely got that prediction wrong lol

[@dannyc.9161]

Kirkelton is not gonna go hungry

[@Oni1975]

The money is one thing. The no-trade clause is the completely bonkers part. How did Kirk's agent convince the Falcons to agree to a no-trade clause for a 36 year old QB coming off an achilles injury and only one playoff win?

[@Adkb123]

Hindsight is 20/20. He had pretty good games against the Bucs and cowboys, then the wheels fell off. You weren’t gonna bench him against Minnesota so the earliest would’ve been against the Raiders. So maybe a week too late, but this was an evolving situation, not week one obvious.

[@treysonmcgrady4750]

Exactly. It’s been a stretch of extremely poor play but it certainly wasn’t that way the whole season.

[@kylemucerino2558]

everybody has had good games against the Bucs & Cowboys. 2 of the worst defenses in the league

[@jimsheppard3166]

Nailed it. 👏

[@lynnerose7891]

Nobody denies that. I think the point is that Rich was wrong about the situation from draft night until now. Anyone who watched BFL football knew the Falcons were actually smart. Rodgers waited 3 YEARS behind Favre. Rich was apoplectic that tbe Falcons planned to do the same Steve Young waited 3 YEARS before he became THE STARTER (due to Montana’s elbow surgery. So it’s not like this hasn’t happened before; Rich just decided to make this an issue for entirely no reason.

[@jimsheppard3166]

@ The jury is still out on how smart the Falcons were. They could have not signed Kirk Cousins and still drafted Michael Penix.

[@Icien1]

I never understood why people were so confused about drafting Penix. The QB is the most important position on a team and you need one to be successful. Also, the best QBs right now all sat behind a guy.

[@Mexicanlovesyou]

Falcons ownership is bad even though penix isn't a poor pick . They gonna ruin that poor man

[@qaxcgyujm]

It's not the fact they drafted him. It's the fact they drafted him while signing a 90 mil guaranteed QB in the same off-season.. if you want a bridge QB way cheaper options were available..

[@jtfike]

It makes very little sense. There are other positions they could have improved to help their qb to win.

[@Icien1]

​@qaxcgyujm how much were the Packers paying Rodgers when they draften Love? We've seen Sean Payton bail on Russel with a big contract and draft a guy. How's that working out?

[@Icien1]

​@@jtfikethe QB is the most important position and teams will gladly overpay to get a guy of the future.

[@jimsheppard3166]

Kirk played really well for 2 months, including some outstanding games against Tampa Bay. You're not benching a veteran QB, who makes $40 million per season, and is coming off of few spectacular starts bc he has a bad week, or two bad weeks, or even 3 bad weeks. You can argue that Penix should have started this past Monday against Las Vegas, but any earlier than that is just hindsight-coaching.

[@Al_Coholic88]

The Chargers game was awful and that loss is totally on Cousins. I would have played Penix vs the Raiders. He needs the experience. If the Falcons didn't have Penix there wouldn't be any calls to bench Cousins.

[@TheSnake2339]

Cousins agent definitely a genius, every Athlete should sign him

[@Ramonez02]

Rich Eisen wrong again. Love it.

[@CramStoker]

Rich adding 30 qualifiers to a stat just so he can say “ZERO!”

[@eMCEe131]

YOU LIKE THAT RiCH! - Kirk. lol

[@ArikYoung]

Vikings look like geniuses

[@Crobin008]

Cousins was cooked after the lost to the Giants in the playoffs

[@fordyman]

No, the Falcons look like… the Falcons

[@diggitus]

Kinda, but they also paid Cousins a fortune themselves

[@josephdaly2041]

@@diggitusthey paid him during the prime of his career not when he was 36 coming off of an Achilles tear.

[@diggitus]

@josephdaly2041 absolutely, and that makes a big difference. But he was still a disappointment there.

[@closer2theheart684]

Kirk Cousins has been gifted millions upon millions upon millions of dollars and has ONE playoff win.

[@joeymendez9814]

Kirk Cousins is EVERYTHING y’all tried to tell us Russell Wilson was!

[@colemantechnologyinc9889]

Great and accurate take…in fact your take is better than the ones people get paid to make….

[@herrguru4264]

Sports Analysis in 2o24 has become strange agenda driven propaganda. I remember - *2o23 Russ was throwing 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his last 8 games with the Broncos:* people saying: "Russ is washed, Russ is garbage. He doesnt deserve $45Million a year". - *2o24 Brock Purdy is throwing 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his last 10 games with the 49ers:* with people saying: "Purdy is the future. He needs to be paid $55 Million a year like Trevor Lawrence". And I`m thinking to myself... what the f*ck is going on???

[@CaseyWinehouse]

@@herrguru4264Is your 0 key broken?

[@evandh1989]

The Falcons were smart to draft Penix when he fell to them in the draft. The mistake they made was signing Cousins to a $180M deal the month before.

[@polohenry4666]

But they couldn't have known he would fall

[@tengille]

Context matters. The QB market when Cousins was available was slim. There was really nobody else that you could start as a veteran QB / known quantity available, in the NFL as a free agent, and be confident in their ability. And the Falcons NEEDED a QB. Plus, he just came off a good year. Supply versus demand is like, economics 101. I do think a 4 year deal wasn't wise and a 2+1 or just straight 3 year deal would have been better but shout out to Kirk's agent I guess.

[@britaddict]

Flacco was available wasn't he? There are others I'm sure.

[@M0mzSpagheti]

Rich sounds like a person who get angry and gets sassy when he’s wrong. Has thin skin. People who raise their voice in a conversation is usually the wrong person. And they know they were/are wrong.

[@MarloSoBalJr]

Ditto. I know firsthand

[@Rosewood393]

Instead of Salty Tua we now get Salty Rich. Week after week of Brockman saying to start Penix and Rich being so defiant that it can’t and won’t happen. He sounds more mad his take was wrong than happy about this being the right move for Atlanta.

[@Mexicanlovesyou]

The only right move for the falcons is selling the team

[@rpcallahan27]

I’ll take the Penix Mightier for $200 Rich

[@AAKFILMPRODUCTIONS]

Russell Wilson the only one from the older QBS playing at a competitive level

[@herrguru4264]

Sports Analysis in 2o24 has become strange agenda driven propaganda. I remember - *2o23 Russ was throwing 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his last 8 games with the Broncos:* people saying: "Russ is washed, Russ is garbage. He doesnt deserve $45Million a year". - *2o24 Brock Purdy is throwing 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his last 10 games with the 49ers:* with people saying: "Purdy is the future. He needs to be paid $55 Million a year like Trevor Lawrence". And I`m thinking to myself... what the f*ck is going on???

[@TheWillman34]

Chris was right on over reaction Tuesday

[@wesfountain3212]

LEAVE YOUR GLASSES ON AND WATCH FILM ON KIRK, YOU ACT LIKE THEY HAD A CHOICE

[@ethanhickle2929]

As a Vikings fan I hate that the Falcons took the 2 QBs I wanted but it’s working out so far

[@Puma4986]

When JJ is playing next year and lighting it up and Penix in injured again you’ll be even happier 🔥

[@ethanhickle2929]

@ I’m excited!

[@Puma4986]

@@ethanhickle2929 same man, Sam’s been great but just thinking about the juggernaut we could build with another $80M in cap space is just too good to pass up 🔥 I think Kwesi feels the same way

[@susan2299]

The Falcons are 100% not making the playoffs with Cousins, you could make a pretty convincing argument they won’t win another game with Cousins. Rich’s twisting of this situation to make it seem like the Falcons expect Penix to now lead them to the playoffs is absurd. The Falcons are going to Penix to A. Save the locker room who all know Cousins is trash. B. End the rot of the Cousins era. C. Get Penix 3 game of experience under his belt. And D. The only shot in hell the Falcons have of making the playoffs is with Penix so let’s just go see what he can do. But Rich acting like the Falcons will somehow view these 3 games as a failure is Penix doesn’t produce is such nasty spin to hurt the rookie, Rich is more and more not the person I thought he was

[@Texas_Cruiser]

Do you think they beat the Giants?

[@Keepitpush99]

He's a talking head his job is to stir the pot

[@susan2299]

@@Texas_Cruiser with Penix? Yeah I think Penix can beat the Giants. The Commanders? It’d take something real special so I doubt it. As a Falcons fan, I just want to see signs from Oenix that we have a franchise QB for years to come, that’s all I want

[@JangaLangaBanga]

I was agreeing with everything you were saying and almost liked your comment. Holy cow, glad I waited.

[@susan2299]

@@JangaLangaBanga what did I say at the end to lose you?

[@Oceanz08]

That's not true Rich, the ravens were 4-5 when Lamar started in 2018.

[@toof987]

thats why he said week 10 or later, to exclude lamar lol

[@jamesscott8705]

Kirk should start a business with Boogie Cousins. Cousins and Cousins.

[@judykhaleck8034]

What do you mean by this? 🤔

[@Oni1975]

Cuzz Cuts

[@karenhardie1132]

Cousins has one playoff win in 13 years. He fleeced every team he played for. Great agent. 😂

[@Strato5Fear]

Lolol not one person came on this program and said the Falcons were drafting Penix. I want receipts

[@CommittedMan]

Penix will ball out just watch

[@ericw23]

I’m happy we picked penix. Thank you Kirk for showing us we have weapons. If we didn’t have penix we would be stuck with Kirk. We win 7-9 games then we couldn’t pick a Qb again. Rise up.

[@schroedericeman7200]

Kwesi Adofo Mensa GM of the year

[@gkelley77]

As a Lions fan, I was so disappointed when Minnesota got rid of Cousins.

[@HoPeFuLCheWBaCCa]

I just hope that Penix crushes it in his debut because now I got to rely on him for Fantasy since I had Cousins and TLaw to start the year.

[@marvinshenk]

I believe there will be a team dumb enough to sign or trade for Cousins in 2025 if the Falcons don't want him. At 36, Cousins could still milk 1 or 2 more big money deals from stupid teams.

[@eddienash2095]

LOL Youre obviously a Failcons fan hoping to dump the contract...Not happening...

[@Matttaylor016]

Should've started the second half against San Diego.

[@DM-bx1zv]

Well first of all, free agency comes before the draft. If they could have drafted Penix before free agency the you can bet they wouldn’t have overpaid for Cousins. So if you don’t like the Falcons drafting an insurance policy the change the timing of free agency and draft.

[@bigge3021]

I will never understand why Falcons signed Cousins with that $180 million ($100 guaranteed) contract and then gone on to draft Penix with their first pick instead of signing a cheaper veteran quarterback to along with Penix. Now they have to eat crow as Cousins will surely want the Falcons to pay by giving him the rest of his guarantee money.

[@randomstuff3201]

Penix is in a no-lose situation. If he struggles (as history suggests he will), well, what else did you expect? If he has even decent success and they make the playoffs, he's the savior.

[@jteague5051]

Kirk and his family are terrific people. I’m sorry this happened. The games he had vs Tampa were a thing of beauty, especially the last one. Of course, you are the smartest guy in the room. 😂

[@televisionsupervision]

Never got a single jab let alone six of them Jesus

[@stevegass3224]

It's a great move by the Falcons .. Atlanta making the playoffs or not .. wouldn't make any noise

[@d.weathers]

Good thing ATL drafted him at 8… everyone was crying like Cousins was this magnificent QB before the injury. I didn’t understand why people was so confused on the draft pick

[@mattcarberry368]

Falcons ownership forced a desperate splash move, so don't bother counting Arthur Blank's money, he's got plenty lol and what they spent on Kirk is already gone no matter what good thing Falcons management didn't let that cloud their long term vision, even though Rich spent 5 months complaining about it lol it was obvious from day 1 that the Cousins "4 year deal" was a 2 year commitment, and could EASILY get out after one if they wanted.... i said Cousins starts year 1, backs up year 2, cut before year 3, and even that might have been too generous

[@nortorioustxc4359]

Said damn near the exact same thing. Only thing they should of done is offer a 3 yr deal for less money. Cousins agent need to go to the HOF though lol

[@tjayd1225]

Rich called this from the very moment Penix was drafted, if you were gonna draft him why would you ever give Kirk cousins 100 million dollars. Why not pay for a cheap bridge qb where benching or cutting him doesn’t come with financial ramifications

[@ryanblosser6081]

Because there was a chance that Cousins was good (assuming they did their due diligence). A bridge QB that they didn't think could win doesn't make sense And for 9 games they were right. Then Cousins became terrible.

[@herrguru4264]

Well the reason is because the idiot GM pretended and claimed that he saw Michael Penix Jr for the first time in February 2o24. Now... if thats true, then he`s either a liar or (even worse) completely incompetent.

[@jteague5051]

I’m glad Arthur Blank was willing to do whatever it takes to solve the QB situation. That was a courageous decision. I also support this decision, there wasn’t much choice.

[@paulbunyar1289]

I think the Falcons were smart. Pay a veteran to come in and set things up. And they got a young gun to take over. Lest we forget that the Chiefs already had their veteran when they drafted Mahomes. Alex Smith knew his time was going to be short. He got one season. Cousins - because of his play - has gotten less than a season. Here’s hoping that Penix is seasoned enough to take over.

[@archerfire77]

The NFC this year is insane

[@calebcruz3287]

Kevin oconell is a HELL of a coach

[@CalobAdamsInfamous913]

This is why I love the NFL. Storylines like this being told by a legendary Storyteller in Rich Eisen. Hindsight 2020: MPJ should have started day 1 due to his experience and the Falcons should have built up their defense. But the NFC just got even more interesting along with the 2024 Draft class. Can’t wait till Sunday to see Penix’s debut

[@HadesZander-q6z]

As a vikings fan I'm thankful we moved on from him before it was too late now we are winning with Sam Darnold and a bright future ahead SKOL

[@CrudPig12]

As a Vikings fan, they should've moved on from Cousins once his original deal was up.

[@HadesZander-q6z]

@CrudPig12 well he was still doing well after his first contract with us was up i agree the extension wasn't probably what should of happened but it's not like Atlanta paying him 100 guranteed after a torn Achilles

[@MissingMyPeeps]

I thought I liked your atyle and thought provoking questions....I can honestly admit i was right. I definitely appreciated your interview withTerry McLaurin as well

[@Skyvernius]

Firstly, in that four game stretch that cousins threw 0 touchdowns and only picks for Atlanta, Darnold threw only touchdowns and no picks for Minnesota. Secondly, I have a feeling Kirk's play has fallen off a cliff because his Achilles has started getting tight or not feeling right again.

[@JasonALyons]

I would love to see this kid ball out and get them to the playoffs just to watch the storm.... and I am a Baker fan, but man it would be cool.

[@OvSpP]

Looking forward to the Giants, jets, Browns, and even Titans or Saints to make a boneheaded trade for him to either 'be their savior' or do this all over again grooming a youngster. This offseason's first domino may have already fallen.

[@archerfire77]

People need to just clap for Penix the rest of the year and see what he's like next year. Hopefully we can have a Hail Mary battle between him and Russell

[@chedbeckford8067]

Even before they drafted Penix I knew this was a bad move. Made sense to just go for a rookie QB from the jump and sign a cheap veteran QB that is serviceable. Kirk wasn't getting any better, he just came off an Achilles injury. Made zero sense. The Falcons dropped the ball.

[@donnafarmer111]

Brock Purdy was a rookie who had to start late in the season and took his team to the playoffs (NFC championship).

[@joshMitchell-xt7pu]

Remember it’s not about being benched it’s about what being benched represents lol

[@patricksalazar6949]

I understand playing a rookie late in the season might be pointless but there are rookies starting and learning. Russell was a rookie when he went to the playoffs. Some guys just have it. Penix has the opportunity like Russell did to outplay a contract given to someone else.

[@toddthibodeau6811]

Cousins: 83-74-2 with a playoff record of 1-3 no Super Bowl wins,,an over paid 500 QB

[@RedWingFan1340]

Kirk is obviously going through some injury issues and is not 100%. They're still in the playoff hunt and need a healthy and competent QB. It's a no brainer for Penix to start, the rest is just media narrative BS.

[@cryptoniteblack7563]

Hes going to bring that big Penix energy back to that organization.

[@reptonplaya]

That was a five and half minute monologue into the main subject. Lol

[@Nola229]

Kirk Cousin is the new version of noddle arm😂😅

[@scottle6]

Cousins is 7th in yards…. turnovers are definitely a problem but thinking that it’s cousins fault they are 7-7 is wild…they’re one game back in division… defense is at best 15th in the league but more like bottom ten and Jesus Christ that defense can’t stop anybody on 3rd down (31st in the league) Unless penix comes in and lights the offense on fire, the defense still isn’t gonna be able to stop anybody and they’re still gonna get outscored And yes, I’m aware that he had a horrible five game stretch… But that defense isn’t stopping anybody… When the offense isn’t playing great then you need to be able to rely on the defense… And they cannot do that

[@JCJacket09]

Our biggest problem this second half of the season has been the QB play. The defense has made some strides in pass rushing and holding teams to limited points. We literally have lost 2 games this year where the opposing team did not score an offensive touchdown. Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. We were 6-3 with a comfortable division lead and we pissed it away. Mostly because Cousins was turning the ball over more than Desmond Ridder last year. And we’re now 1.5 games out of first with the team we swept leading the division! The defense has underperformed for sure especially in the passing game but Cousins, for as much as I like him and was hoping it would work, played so bad that he looked like he was a hurt rookie who doesn’t have confidence. Penix may not light it up but I have reason to believe it can’t be much worse than what we’ve seen out of Kirk. The playoffs are a pipe dream to me personally at this point, so might as well like MP get legit playing time

[@douglasbeckman162]

Thank god we drafted a qb. Just wish cousins had at least a year left in him

[@kingdavid5525]

To lose 4 in a row is one thing but to have Zero TD’s and 8 INT’s during that stretch is another. 9 INT’s in 5 games and 1 TD isn’t a good look on a playoff run that puts you at #2 in division. There is no wild card for the south

[@DanH-u3f]

Kirk is now a very expensive backup.

[@Ironman79]

I rather watch Penix struggle as a rookie than continue watching 36 year old Cousins stink it up on the field.

[@ColonialImpactWrestling83]

As a Bucs fan Kirk Cousins being anything other than a one-off is our fault. He says “Ya Like That” years ago after a 20-something point comeback when he played in Washington and then the entire league brainwashed themselves into thinking Kirk was top tier. Our bad 🤷

[@brandonannisette6023]

His stats are good for his career he’s in a historically bad stretch

[@gabritigner5092]

Kirk was playing like now is the future 💀 😂

[@kentsawatzky4252]

Atlanta had a plan if Kirk worked out for a couple years they could sit panics and let him figure it out. If Kurt got hurt again or couldn't function with the recovering Achilles they would have a young man they could bring in as soon as they needed to. The Broncos have proven that dead camp money doesn't mean crap if you work at the right way

[@James-w8x1q]

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

[@blackmike79]

This goes without saying. Cousins played his way to the bench.

[@UnconventionalSpark]

Who in their right mind, other than the Atlanta Falcons, thought signing Cousins to that deal would be a good idea?! 😂

[@bryanjones4444]

Not calling play action passes is just one of many of the perplexing decisions made by OC Zach Robinson. Another is not throwing on 1st or 2nd down unless there has been a penalty to set them behind the chains. If you wait until you have to throw to throw the ball you are in deep ..... If the Falcons would just mix their plays Cousins would be right behind Burrow statistically. He was third in the league in yards going into last week and was on a pace to break his own record for most receptions by 4 different receivers and was close to a pace to be the first quarterback to have 5 receivers catch 50 balls. Even when prorated to the 17 game schedule only Fran Tarkenton in 1978 was on a pace to do that. He was also on a pace to be the only quarterback in the league with two 1,000 yard receivers. He was doing all that in a run and then run again first offense who rarely threw the ball unless it was absolutely necessary. Overall he has done a great job under the circumstances that the coaching staff has put him in.

[@circletrianglesquaremusic]

Just crazy. But they did play the long game. A1

[@dougschmitt5741]

The curse of Matt Ryan. He had similar results in Indy, a complete meltdown.

[@kelseykjarsgaard5774]

This is pretty wild. Had drop mooney in both leagues. pick is looking smart

[@xConceptz1]

Why’d i get 2 covid ads the second Rich said about Pfizer?? Love the content Rich, agree to disagree. That was weird tho

[@Dogwalkingmom22]

The rookie hasn’t played at all this year. How can he be granted savior status when he’s been on the bench? Who will get faulted if Penix does not lead the Falcons to any victory? (If he doesn’t you can’t blame the rookie) Aren’t the Falcons still in the running for a playoff spot? Yet doesnt Cousins still get paid despite getting benched? How much help has Cousin really had on his O Line? Not a smart decision.

[@DD-sr9xm]

They have been looking for any excuse to go to Penix, and Cousins has given it to them. They want to preserve whatever trade value is left for Cousins by not playing him. So this is the best pathway to their best case scenario, starting Penix and trading Cousins.

[@snoworicehockey]

No one is going to give up a pick and/or take on that Cousins contract … why on earth would you take on a player with that injury at his age with this year’s result!? He’s done.

[@smiley3303]

He wasted years for the Vikings soaking up too much money for what he was worth. It isn’t just his turnovers but when he turns it over. He limits the team too much financially for his level of play. He was bailed out a lot by great players in MN. He is a good person but average player.

[@scruffd0g193]

Rich has it all wrong here. Atlanta signing Kirk was a huge desperate signing.

[@airfleet7916]

Could of drafted someone at 8 to help Cousins OR could have use the money spent on Cousins in free agency to help a young QB they drafted. They did neither. A dysfunctional team to say the least. Some teams are just cursed with bad ownership.

[@justinh7862]

Don’t forget about Lamar when Flacco was out hurt.

[@kbryancroft]

Andy started Pat the last game of the season, his rookie year.

[@mikechandler8608]

As a spiteful Vikings fan I wanted all of this to happen and I am not sorry for it

[@themrjctc]

For the slower minds… Free agency comes before the draft. There was no guarantee Penix would’ve been available at 8. When Penix was there, we took him. Simple. Why is that so hard for y’all to understand?

[@UnconventionalSpark]

Because paying Cousins that money was stupid regardless. This team was not a Super Bowl roster just needing a QB

[@themrjctc]

@ That's the QB market. Who else could we have gotten? He was the #1 FA QB. Russ didn't want to come to ATL and Fields is a backup. We didn't have a starting QB. He wasn't gonna come here for the vet minimum lol

[@JCJacket09]

@@themrjctcdarnold balling out. Baker has played good all year. And some of this is revisionist history, but Russ always made sense to me. $1M?? For a Super Bowl winning QB? Fresh start? That made more sense than a 4 year $180M deal for a 36 year old coming off an Achilles tear. ATL never made legit pushes for Russ or fields. I don’t mind Penix at all. I love him as our future QB. But it didn’t make sense to sign cousins when Penix was clearly in mind all along

[@tomlittle9103]

The rise of Penix is not to be underestimated . . .

[@duderancher13]

What are they doing? They still have a reasonable shot at the playoffs. Kirk Cousins has been struggling, but he still gives you the best chance to win right now.

[@Matttaylor016]

How could you possibly know that?!?! Cousins has played Iike hot garbage for a month and a half. This Sunday will answer that question.

[@TheAireaidLord]

The Falcons were such dumbos to give Cousins all that money. He was coming off a major injury and is an aging QB. If there was a sniff of this happening in taking Penix, why blow all that money? Go get a less expensive QB like the Pats did with Brissett and use all that money to snag some talented free agents. Typical falcons choking. again. And Arthur Blank seriously thought he could do it better than Belichick

[@lyndahammel9502]

Paying Cousins that much was a mistake imo but what do I know.

[@MrNightmarekill]

Rich please stop saying it's a four year $180 million contract, everyone knows it's really a 2 year $100 million, these sport commentator dingus's who can't use their brain enough to comprehend/acknowledge that is so frustrating, and yeah I know you said "$100 million guaranteed" but not everyone is able to extrapolate that when you in the same sentence say "four year $180 million contract"

[@QHarlan]

So Brockman was right? Serious question, what's Brockman's batting avg for his takes?

[@MzGamr90]

All falcons fans understood drafting Penix after the whole Mariota/Ridder experience. lol. We've always been a team that was bad but bad enough to be in play for a top 5 draft pick. It's happened before but the likelihood with the talent on the team currently was gon be slim. They literally ran the Mariota/Ridder experience back this time with what they thought was better talent. I had no issue with them drafting Penix at 8th overall. Now I thought that over the course of the season Kirk's lack of mobility would be an issue but I never saw him falling off the cliff this drastically though. NEVER. All QBs have horrible stretches of games but this has been really weird to pinpoint where it suddenly came from. I think he's either injured, still doesn't trust his achilles, and most definitely lost his confidence. It will be great to see Penix...but this fanbase is horrible and delusional. I want Penix to do well but he needs grace if he goes in there next week and starts looking like a rookie. His development is light years behind the other rookies who've been starting for weeks. This fanbase asked for Ridder toward the end of the 22 season and they got him... he looked like how a rookie should look getting his first start toward the end of the season and this fanbase killed him. Ridder is not Penix by no stretch but he's still a rookie and will need time to develop. This fanbase should be patient with that as well.

[@shawnjohnson9763]

Sorry Rich, but Rodgers has been washed for the last three years.

[@robkern9255]

"I told ya so!" - Brockman

[@colmodriscoll33]

Raheem Morris thought he could pull a Mike Tomlin with the way the situation is going in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately for him, his not Mike Tomlin and too far too late.

[@333jarhead]

This is why they should have hired BB.

[@markdeming8900]

Well I hope they get it together because Giants need the number one pick