Rich Eisen Weighs In on Arthur Blank’s Explanation for the Falcons Drafting Michael Penix Jr.

[@mikemoore5263]

As a Packers fan, I don't see how any of this is a bad idea for Atlanta, lol

[@amstel5468]

@@mikemoore5263 right? How hard is it to see the logic in protecting your future at the most important position IN ALL OF SPORTS 🤦

[@mikemoore5263]

@amstel5468 it's not like any Falcons fans believe drafting a 1st round edge rusher is gonna automatically send them to the SB, I love Rich, but this take is off to me, lol

[@PiyachonYuenyongHYDE]

Problem is Packers didn’t sign Farve or Rodgers to a huge contract and then drafted their replacement. Both of them were already there and Rodgers and Love are their future plans. The Falcons sign an older QB who came off a significant injury with an uncertain future then draft a guy who they plan not to start for at least 2-3 years. Meaning they spent a 100 something million for a bridge QB.

[@leehemmersbach8018]

I just don't like Atlanta's offensive line enough to not draft O-line at 8

[@wzclips1994]

​@leehemmersbach8018 atl has an excellent oline but even if this is true who would you draft? The top 2 oline that most considered top 10 level picks were already gone by 8

[@Fury421]

Im a Bucs fan, and I think Mr Blank articulated it well. Insurance at the QB position is at a premium. Raheem is the right guy to manage the personalities. Props to Rah and the front office for swinging big. There is talent on the offensive side, and you gotta get the most out of it with the right QB. Dirty Birds will be fine.

[@scattau41]

Mooney needs to have a good year to get people to forget about Odunze

[@Fury421]

@@scattau41 You got a good run game, and Cousins will get the ball to the open player. Defenses will have to pick their poison.

[@scattau41]

@@Fury421 agreed

[@Tony525_]

Are all Bucs fans gay? Boot lickings another team is wild

[@Authentic1874]

Respect for being honest and not being a hater just because 😂

[@stevebrooks1355]

Watching Superficial Hyperbole-- here on the Rich show---please let the season start

[@edgewoodaldridge]

Gotta be a slow news cycle because Rich is not this slow. He deserves an award for making this into an entire segment

[@paulmd7747]

Kirk Cousins is 36 and Michael Penix is 24. How is this even remotely confusing? Cousins will play 2 years until he is 38 and the Falcons will move on to Penix at 26 and hope to get 12 years out of him.

[@chrisparrish1421]

That's the plan! That's the way Kirk's contract is set up, all the guaranteed money is in the 1st two years! We're never going to be QB broke again!

[@farquadshmoogle9120]

thats what i literally said after they drafted Penix and all the uproar. what kinda sux for me is that ive always been a Cousins fan, and i really became a Penix fan over the past 2 years. And im a Panthers fan, so them having 2 good QBs, when my Panthers dont even have 1, has me jealous. bc i think Cousins is gonna be a good teacher and mentor to Penix, and then Penix will take over and hopefully dominate the NFL for the following 10 seasons.

[@reannagordon]

@@farquadshmoogle9120you don’t think Bryce is a good qb? I’ll admit y’all had a terrible season, but Bryce was set up for failure. Plus the panthers owner is awful.

[@farquadshmoogle9120]

@@reannagordon no doubt but I remember last year draft. Didn't want to trade up. Pretty much everything they did, I wanted opposite. I would've kept Darnold, get him a good OC. Use 1st pick for OL to protect him. Loved LaPorta, would've wanted him. Look how good he did for Detroit.

[@mikegrace2819]

This is a massive cope. So you’re cool with the plan to be “max out the salary cap but plan to win in 5 years maybe”. Greaaaattt idea. Falcons are a joke for this reason. Their front office is terrible and Blank has smaller balls than Brittany Griner

[@Josh_Stringer]

I don't get what's so hard to understand here.

[@jamesg872]

It seems like they are hedging their bets which is smart. An Achilles tear is not a guarantee to come back from.

[@FR-nc3vb]

I would’ve still preferred drafting Odunze or Turner/Verse but I get the background of their decision and respect it

[@timcarter817]

You don’t sign a vet like that for that kind of money, then take a questionable QB who is TWENTY FOUR. You wanna compare this to Jordan Love? Love is TWENTY FIVE NOW. just accept your shitty franchise fucked up and deal with THEM, not youtube replies.

[@Rockey3772]

@@timcarter817 He asked why ATL took Penix, Blank answered it, then he goes on to ask “How will Penix being on the team help week 1?” NO ONE SAID DRAFTING HIM WOULD HELP THEM WEEK 1 like what specific answer are ya’ll looking for??? 😂😂😂

[@geoffwood5169]

Because they could’ve used the 8th overall pick on a player that can help them win this year. As a Bucs fan, I’m loving this move. Makes no sense whatsoever lol

[@waverlymilor3557]

Never understood all the issues with this pick...How many # 1 QB's started all 17 (soon to be 18) games? Every team needs an excellent # 2

[@ShimmyD-u7g]

Any time a team does something the "talking heads" disagrees with, even slightly, they will create it into a big thing to talk about, especially off season moves. Rich has been talking about the Penix draft since the night it happened. I don't mind it, its only a big controversial, but just gives us something to think about during this down time. You do make a good point, and it could be argued many ways. Taking Penix now, they are hoping to pull a Green Bay move and either put him in if Kurko goes down, or wait a few years, if Kurko works out. The only thing that I disliked about the pick was for Penix himself, I felt like he was mature and NFL ready, and he may not get to be a starter until a few years down the road. Although I feel we very well may be seeing him this year.

[@ji8044]

If Cousins loses two games in a row, the fans will start calling for Penix. When you're a brand new free agent acquisition on a huge contract, the fans don't cut you any slack.

[@RonnieR29]

If Cousins gets hurt the Falcons look like geniuses. If he doesn't and they don't make the playoffs then it'll be all about how they should have gotten a starting piece to help right now. As easy as that.

[@ShimmyD-u7g]

@@ji8044 Except its not as simple as that. Cousins isn't the whole team. It all depends on how they lost those 2 hypothetical games, it it was because of bad Cousins play then I would say yes to your point, but if its because a defense gave up lots of points then probably not. I honestly think the Falcons main aspiration for this year is just getting back to the playoffs, given the crappy division they're in, they have a good chance.

[@ji8044]

@@ShimmyD-u7g Since when has a QB been not the whole team to the fans? As they say the backup QB is always the most popular player on a losing team.

[@jonathanrevels6284]

My God the Falcons drafted him for the future it's really not hard to understand!

[@Ann-mq2te]

The dude is 24 already do they plan on starting him at 28?

[@BeeRand1984]

You drafted a 24 year old with multiple knee surgeries for the future? If things go well with Kirk, he won’t even see the field until he’s already 28. You drafted a backup QB with the number 8 pick. It was a monumental fuckup.

[@ajpierre]

I have no idea what issue he has with Terry and Raheem. Here's the irony. His team, the Jets took a tackle in the top 10 with two good tackles in place. It's a personal attack on the organization.

[@theconstitarian]

@@Ann-mq2te I imagine the plan is for them to move on in 2 years if everything works out. That would just be $25 million in dead money for Cousins, could be divided over 2 years. Not to mention Cousins is 35 and coming back from a major injury, Penix also serves as insurance in case Cousins does not return to 100%.

[@softjones3128]

Yes and once he's the starter they'll have to tank again and then they won't be able to afford Penix once the rebuild is close to finished. Makes no sense.

[@mt_baldwin]

What gets overlooked, and is basically already rewritten out of history, is that Green Bay in the first season of what would turn out to be a 3 season Super Bowl window drafted a first round player that would not contribute to winning during this SB window (which closed with not even a SB appearance). Other Packers fans have their own pick for that 2020 draft, mine was Tee Higgins as we desperately needed another WR next to Davante (our 1 dimensional offense got shut down in the playoffs every time when good defenses took Adams away). But the defense needed help badly all over and the O line could've used help.

[@Mycameron2323]

Facts. One key player for GB could have pushed them over edge

[@Slimkidd730]

ANd you can fix those things with other draft picks. Packers didn't just have a 1st round pick in those drafts through those years.

[@alexnowicki286]

@@Slimkidd730that’s the thing no draft pick is a for sure thing. You can’t rely on next years draft for a good player

[@Slimkidd730]

@@alexnowicki286 Well then that cuts into the point as well of one arguing Packers shouldn't have taken Love and used NON GUARANTEED PICK on a WR that we don't know if they would've pan out OR not. But what we do know by facts is that Packers developed Love, the sample size is too strong now on sitting QBs, and Love looks like a top 10 QB for the next 15 years and Packers have the LONGEST STRETCH for franchise QBs going on 30 years now. ATl simply said we're doing the same thing. Pennix already has shown the goods in his preseason debut. Just has to sit, learn, and develop behind Cousins. Thats the risk you take when its the QB position.

[@alexnowicki286]

@@Slimkidd730 well if you plan on sitting and developing a QB, why waste a top 10 pick? When you can draft your future qb in the 2nd round? And use that top 10 pick to help you win now

[@midknightfalconfan]

JFC Rich Eisen still can't let this go. So annoying.

[@stephonsimmons603]

I totally agree with you.

[@JohnMobley-z3j]

I think Rich lost some money on a bet on this one a sizable amount at that. You’re right he cannot let this go. Next topic Rich.

[@drew388]

if kirk gets injured and i see heinekie out there i think me and every falcon fan out there will be pissed

[@alienoverlordsnow1786]

Heinekie wont play unless both cousins and Penix are injured, or the falcons are winning by 30 in the 4th QTR.

[@drew388]

@@alienoverlordsnow1786 fr bro. better be that way. he still might lose up by 30 🤣🤣

[@rice_frying_shrimp]

Heinicke himself said he doesn't expect to be on the roster by the time the season starts. I think we can expect an attempt to trade for another puzzle piece the way they did when they moved Ridder off to Arizona and got a nice situational WR3-4 in return in Rondale Moore. There's some teams out there who would probably move a fringe DB or EDGE player in order to get a guy like Heinicke as backup for their roster and then we're sitting pretty.

[@manwhosayf]

It's possible Heinicke plays as a short term backup (a half or 1 game) but if it ends up being more than 1 game Penix will be the guy.

[@MegaHops1]

Exactly, good for everyone!

[@amstel5468]

When the Jets are in quarterback purgatory after the Rogers experiment Rich will understand the Penix pick..

[@thestudioace7651]

Amen to that! They can have Cousins then lol

[@ji8044]

No, you're just making the case that the Falcons shouldn't have signed Cousins.

[@73ajd1]

Wtf are you talking about? NY can't draft a QB or pick up a free agent in the next year or 2? Atlanta didn't sign all of the QBs, they just tried to, because their so smart.

[@amstel5468]

@@73ajd1 We'll revisit this in 2026 and if the falcons are set at quarterback and the Jets are suffering with another stiff, There might be some Jets fans thinking, maybe we should have taken JJ.. 🤔

[@73ajd1]

@@amstel5468 The jets are kind of busy trying to win TODAY, not someday. There's no guarantee that Atlanta is set at QB after Cousins. Hopeful isn't always helpful.

[@mjawolfe1]

OH let it go, Rich.... How many times is the media going to relive the same story..... move on already!!!!

[@stephonsimmons603]

Amen!! at this point he's a hater.

[@timcarter817]

“We didn’t wanna repeat not having an elite QB” after signing Cousins to a huge deal lmaoooo

[@timcarter817]

You don’t sign a vet like that for that kind of money, then take a questionable QB who is TWENTY FOUR. You wanna compare this to Jordan Love? Love is TWENTY FIVE NOW. just accept your shitty franchise fucked up and deal with THEM, not youtube replies.

[@timcarter817]

“Move on Rich” baahahahahahaha in denial your franchise is run by a bunch of fools

[@mjawolfe1]

@@timcarter817 And there are lots of small-minded inside-the-box NFL fans!!

[@avjake]

Aside from having Future Guy in your back pocket, Penix is also one of the best insurance policies in the NFL (on a rookie contract). Q: If a house is the most important thing you own, what's the next most important thing you own? A: Insurance on that house. What's so hard to understand about that?

[@sharkzillah401]

No dude, you just bought two houses.

[@ericsherman3660]

The insurance analogy isn't a strong one. Penix, as an untested rookie who isn't getting serious 1st team reps in camp, would hardly be in a position to succeed in the event that Cousins gets hurt or plays poorly. The most valuable thing about a highly-drafted QB in the salary cap era is the 4-5 years of cost control the team has. If he's sitting on the bench while your very expensive free agent QB is playing then you're wasting those cost-controlled years. All while using a huge chunk of your cap with Cousins! It's like the Falcons were faced with two very different choices for how to address the QB position and they inexplicably chose both. Pick a lane. This isn't a winning strategy in today's NFL.

[@alexgruel9932]

Would you advocate the Chiefs taking a QB in the first round? The Bills? The Ravens? I mean all of them have their QB and if they go down they are pretty screwed. It's not insurance. It is buying an apartment in the city after buying the house.

[@DoubleHelixStrand]

Because you could have gotten Dallas Turner to improve your shitty defense and actually make a big run while you've still got weapons on their rookie contracts, and instead you're paying through the nose for Cousins with a worse team now, and will be paying through the nose later once they need to renew everyone in the next couple years.

[@anthonypuccini1914]

Penix wasn't taken to be a backup or insurance. He was taken to be the eventual starter for the team. Instead of committing to win now, you took a guy who will be riding the bench for 4 years assuming Cousins stays healthy. And if Kirk goes down, you now have to thrust this guy that you are unsure about into a starting role that he may not be ready for. To me, it's baffling.

[@SteboTheGamer]

Arthur Blank had to break it down to kindergarten terms for ppl to understand this pick. Unbelievable that professional ppl on these talk shows still don't get it. At this point I think anyone who doesn't understand this pick needs to be discredited about draft picks because at this point explaining it a million times you ppl will never get it. It's clearly why the jets failed last year when Rodgers went down and didn't have a backup plan. Also the media, which doesn't even look at our team but think they know everything and don't. I would very much like it that if you don't know about our franchise and what we need don't worry about us. Keep talking about the chiefs, cowboys, and 49ers please because like Mr. Blank says we got this!

[@PacMan790]

Couldn’t have said it better myself 👏🏿 👏🏿👏🏿

[@adriangoode3505]

Right

[@burn8175]

On the gang

[@G_Steve]

Been a falcons for decades. This organization has showed numerous times it is not committed to winning. Do not bet on Atlanta…… this season be .500 ball club at best.

[@timcarter817]

You don’t sign a vet like that for that kind of money, then take a questionable QB who is TWENTY FOUR. You wanna compare this to Jordan Love? Love is TWENTY FIVE NOW. just accept your shitty franchise fucked up and deal with THEM, not youtube replies.

[@marcuscrawford5024]

They saw what happened to Aaron Rodgers is all in NY, if Kirk has a pop they can start the clock sooner than later and at 36 off an Achilles playing in a fast track dome stadium seems like hedging your bet makes some sense...

[@zeebadeeba]

Yes, great to have a solid backup QB. The problem is 8th overall. In fact if they had traded back with someone who wanted odunze, they could have had penix AND an offensive weapon. Peak falcons logic

[@ji8044]

Then it made no sense whatsoever to sign Cousins in the first place to a huge contract.

[@alp852]

@@zeebadeeba that’s hindsight - there was a run on QBs, Penix might not have been there even a few picks later.

[@ji8044]

@@alp852 Cousins himself was a 4th Round pick. Usually when there is a run on QBs, it means there are a lot of mistakes being made.

[@MunchBurger9]

​​@@ji8044 I'm a Kirk fan and this is exactly what I've been saying for months. If they really believe he is their franchise QB then why draft an older rookie qb? If they believe Penix can be a starter in this league then why pay Kirk so much money?

[@timothyfisher5770]

Hey Rich how many QBs played in the 2023 season? I believe it’s was 62 or 64. Not to mention if Atlanta goes to playoffs this year with cousins. So now we’re drafting say between 20-25 pick what qb will be there for us to pickup?

[@ji8044]

Why would you need to draft a QB if Cousins takes you to the playoffs? BTW Cousins was chosen in the 4th Round.

[@drbqqq1433]

​@@ji8044 Kenny Picketts took Pittsburgh to the playoffs last season.

[@Chadillac-xq7xk]

​@@ji8044Because Cousins won't be playing for another 5 years. So, we will still need a rookie regardless.

[@ruraljurr]

​@@Chadillac-xq7xk Genuine question, would you rather have Kirk Cousins and Penix, or Danielle Hunter and Penix? That's who could have received the Cousins money.

[@Chadillac-xq7xk]

@@ruraljurr Cousins and Penix easily. Rookie Pennix has a 50/50 chance of being a bust. Pennix sitting behind a solid veteran QB for 2 years, keeps us relevant for 2 years, and gets Pennix ready. How many rookies are able to carry a team their 1st year? Very few. Not to mention, if we suck this year and next year, we're probably going through ANOTHER head coach change, another QB change. Having Cousins almost guarantees that we make the playoffs this year.

[@Rockey3772]

Rich: Why did you draft Penix? Blank: We drafted him to be our future QB. Rich: I still don’t see how that helps the Falcons in week 1 Who tf said anything about week 1

[@jirvine1990]

“The most highly anticipated game that no one is talking about” 😂

[@Trinison7]

No Rich you're the only one that's searching for answers everyone has moved on.

[@WordAte]

Drafting Penix was a wise move. The Green Bay Packer have continuity because they plan for the future. My Pittsburgh Steelers did not do this because they were afraid of upsetting Big Ben. Green Bay went from Favre to Rodgers to Love without a hitch. Steelers struggled, and may still struggle (I hope not), without a QB1 for several years. Putting aside the bad moral character of Favre and Rodgers, Green Bay made the right decision. Atlanta made the right decision here.

[@ajpierre]

Well said, especially the moral stuff.

[@AYjoy93]

@@ajpierre no one cares about morality when it comes to the football field sorry

[@Artjedi44]

Why is Rich Eisen still obsessed with ATL's Penix pick? Cousins will be 36 yrs old & coming off serious injury. This mature vet is not "threatened" by a rookie, and is teaching Penix how to be an NFL QB. We all have the right to our opinion, but Rich has fallen off the deep end and seems to be drowning. As Colin Cowherd explained: Michael Penix, Jr. is long-term "insurance." QB is the most important position; and after 7 years of missing playoffs, The Falcons are strong in that position. In 4 yrs, Mike will be 28 yrs...Eight years younger than Cousins...but I expect him to start at 27.

[@nickh2935]

Makes perfect sense to me. Give their young Qb Time to develop behind an experienced pro and watch him light up the league in a few years time. As soon as I heard all the “analysts@ freak out over that pick, I knew it was a good decision.

[@ajpierre]

Why even say "monumental" when you know it's not. But the Jets took a tackle in the top 10 when they already have two Pro Bowl tackles. Stop attacking Terry and Raheem for being smart and thinking ahead.

[@PFlow007]

That because their "PRO bowl" take hasn't played more that 13 games in 4 years

[@ajpierre]

@@PFlow007 And Kirk Cousins missed the entire last season with an achilles injury at the age of 36.

[@AYjoy93]

@@ajpierre is Michael penix gonna be ready to take the falcons as far as Cousins is right now?? It’s not the same

[@olaboi808]

Atlanta doing it different than eveybody else. I think its such a high IQ move, itll go over most peoples heads

[@AccentShmaccent]

Yep!

[@nekaneka-lo2js]

I'm always telling people " come back to this conversation in a few years. " Kirks not playing that whole contract out and I've always been a fan of rookies sitting and learning first

[@unlimitedpower978]

Meh - I feel like I understand the pick but I think it can still backfire. Like the pick can be well-reasoned and still not work out or it's entirely possible there won't be a good conclusion. Like if the Falcons end up knocking on the door of a championship this year somehow, not picking Odunze would be viewed as a mistake.

[@kharilane1340]

As a Raiders fan who hates the Falcons for taking our guy, I have to say I can see the logic. By getting Kirk they probably have the best QB situation in their division. They most likely are not going to be picking in the Top 10 going forward so they had to strike while they had the opportunity. Do I hate the move? Yes. Was it lowkey smart? Kinda.

[@FatTony_Football]

I think a lot of people are just mad they don’t have Penix tbh. This was a smart pick. Maybe it wasn’t the best pick, but it was still a smart pick. Even if Kirk is their guy going forward, they bought a growing stock. You can trade a young franchise QB for a lot more than that pick they took him with. A young franchise QB is the most valuable commodity in the league. Not to mention the insurance value he provides to Kirk while on the roster. Maybe someone else would have made a more immediate impact, but this was a SMART pick. They’re playing chess and I respect it. Also, Penix is fucking good. It’s never a bad pick if you take a good QB. I can’t wait to watch him play, whenever that day comes.

[@prettyslim1836]

@@FatTony_Footballwell said

[@runswithfeathers47]

Rich and others obviously didn't watch Desmond Ritter try to play football for 18 games. After that travesty, I'm surprised they didn't draft another QB in the 2nd round lol

[@MegaHops1]

2 years max for Cousins

[@LuigiL75]

He doesn’t care…he’s paid in full! 😅

[@allenjackson6197]

It makes sense when you look ahead and plan for the future. Atlanta seized an opportunity to get a high-quality draft QB now because they don't see themselves drafting that high with the quality QB there waiting. They plan on winning which would give them a 20 and below 1st-round pick.

[@BloodyyPenguin]

As a falcons fan I’m happy that we got Penix. Ryan left and we have had nothing but terrible qb play. It’s been very frustrating. The future is secured and I’m happy. Everyone talks mess now but watch the bandwagoners flood us when falcons start winning.

[@PHIILIESFAN004]

This is the right take. I don’t understand why the media doesn’t get it

[@ajpierre]

Its Cleary personal with the Falcons..

[@JMZNow]

"The future is secured".... without him playing a down in your system? Without him playing a snap in the NFL? Falcons fans sure are an easy bunch to please. Guess 28-3 didn't sting as bad as I thought.

[@softjones3128]

@@ajpierre no one cares. just fun to pile on a joke of an organization.

[@rounz1]

@@JMZNow OK. Now y'all just sound jealous😆. We can bring up bad moves your team made, too. You're just not important enough for us to care.

[@RobertFixit]

People questioned Mahomes draft, Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, and so on. Succession plan.

[@Joshualevibrown]

What’s head scratching about getting a young quarterback when you got an old one 😂

[@Mycameron2323]

You waste a pick#8 on a 3rd string qb

[@dominicpecze1194]

There's a non-zero chance that Kirk doesn't finish his contract. I'd rather have Penix now than a free agent or unknown draftee 2-3 years from now

[@psharp66]

Rich, you are soooo frustrating with your Penix draft take on Falcons. Rappoport, Orlosky and now Falcons owner Arthur Blank have explained this to you and it’s simple. Penix will be starter either in Yr 2 or 3. Falcons cannot say that out loud. QB is most important position in all of sport. Falcons likely won’t be picking in top 15 and top 5 is where QBs go - 2024 was deep QB class. Most years they are not. You say “what about 2024?” Are you saying with Dallas Turner or Rome Odunze the Falcons can win a superbowl THIS YEAR? Over the Chiefs, Ravens, Bengals, Eagles and Niners? I don’t think you believe that - no one does. Soooooo….drafting a franchise quarterback IS the play if you believe in him - and clearly the Falcons do. They were not reaching. They could have taken Rattler in Round 3(who they liked-not loved). This pick makes sense. He’s 24yrs old - not 29. Franchise QBs can play to 37yrs old before drop off - that’s 13yrs. It makes PERFECT SENSE. I just wonder if, Rich, you are butthurt the Falcons took Penix ahead of your precious Michigan QB(McCarthy). If Penix truly is a franchise guy - then the pick will go down in history as a great pick. 1-2yrs of Cousins won’t matter in grand scheme.

[@madnessontheisland]

If you listened to Blank's explanation and still don't get it, you can't be helped. They still have trauma in the FO from Ryan declining and then not being able to replace him. They wisely set themselves up for a brief period with Cousins so that Penix can learn from him they way Mahomes did with Alex Smith. It's makes perfect sense and is a smarter long-term plan than just grabbing a pass rusher.

[@robertm4329]

A couple years ago the media wanted us to trade potentially three 1st round picks and pay Lamar Jackson $250M+. Fast forward, the Falcons got two really good QB’s for less than half the money and only one 1st round pick and somehow they think this is bad. Sounds like pure hate or maybe jealousy!

[@dt4807]

The guy writing the checks is Ok with it, so I’m Ok with.., also helps that I’m a Bucs fan…😉

[@DonBrownII]

being an "independent thinker" does not automatically make your decisions in question logical lol

[@johaw105]

Exactly, we can actually gage the results in this business pretty easily

[@Chadillac-xq7xk]

Neither does being a sheep and following the same failure logic as everyone else.

[@burgersworth4870]

What is bad about drafting a qb to develop and learn the game. Also be able to start him if anything happens to Kirk. People would be calling them idiots if Kirk gets hurt and miss a a majority of the season.

[@adventuresinleadership6689]

The move makes sense. Kirk cousins is a mercenary who always goes after the money. If there’s a Hall of Fame for making money, he is in it. He is coming off an injury. on top of that, you have a guy you like who is available. Everybody criticized the Green Bay Packers for picking up Jordan Love. it’s interesting watching talkshow hosts walk back there earlier comments given the way Jordan played last year. Having somebody who can step in due to injury is key. they’ve got a rookie now who’s had some good college experience, he’s got some maturity. And who knows, if Kirk cousins doesn’t work out, he can step in.

[@PiyachonYuenyongHYDE]

Most of the time it’s even more illogical 😂

[@EtuSunTzu]

If Cousin’s get hurt they have someone. Atlanta does not want to be the Roger’s Jets

[@jeanfourcade]

Falcons made the smartest move. Why is everyone playing outraged? They only secured and average, aging QB for 2 years max. Blank knows he needs a young face for his franchise and build a brand. And in Atlanta, Penix's face is better marketing than that of Cousin's.

[@topdad-dawg834]

Not everyone....just Rich.

[@Lephty17]

Dont be surprised if Atlanta has a pass rush even though they didnt draft an edge in the first round. People forget about the success Raheem and Jimmy Lake had with young, interior D lineman last year.

[@1Rashad1]

Smart move how many teams struggle after their star QB retires? Falcons don’t want to wait and has someone in place ready to play after Kirk

[@wxx3]

Yep

[@matthewbrueckner8374]

So you are saying that if Cousins struggles and plays poorly then it's a BAD thing they drafted Penix???

[@humaux8457]

I don't know what is so hard to understand about this pick. If Cousins is healed and does well then you have a really good back up till Cousins retires. If Cousins gets hurt you have a good QB to take his place.

[@stoneweight]

There's no way that I would've passed on Odunze!

[@jeanfourcade]

Which is why the Falcons passed you as GM.

[@jakehutchison5761]

They couldn't go offensive skill player 4 years in a row

[@terrancekawles7693]

"The best time to draft a quarterback is when you don't need one." ~ Ron Wolf. Ted Thompson. Brian Gutekunst. How's that working out for the Packers since the 1990s?

[@brooklynalldaybrooklynalln4254]

How many playoff games has Cousins won? Stop acting like he is a creat qb, i think it was a smart pick.

[@jackenyoff7820]

It’s a bad move now but a great move overall. Penix will eventually start in a few years, and the same people bashing the pick now will be the ones screaming about how good he is. Watch and see

[@stephend3459]

how often do old busted rookie QBs pan out?

[@jackenyoff7820]

@@stephend3459 QB career length continues to get longer as the game gets safer. Best pure passer in the draft, won’t be scrambling for unnecessary hits. Multiple years in an NFL strength and conditioning program to add healthy size for protection as well. Watch and see

[@DoubleHelixStrand]

No one is denying that Penix is a good QB. They're denying that it was a good idea to draft him after paying Cousins. Pick one or the other, not both. Falcons are getting the worst of both worlds.

[@jackenyoff7820]

@@DoubleHelixStrand exact same discourse was had about Love/Rodgers. People hate the pick now, but will be singing his name from the rooftops when he starts in a few years

[@user-vi5vd3ty9d]

@@jackenyoff7820except penix is 24 and love I think was 22 when he got drafted.

[@jamesjohnson2126]

Not everyone is a Tom Brady iron-man. Kirk is 36 coming off of an achilles tear. It’s not that complicated 😂

[@estuardodacaret]

@@jamesjohnson2126 actually it os not complicated they should have drafted a player to help them win this year instead of a qb who’ll be on the bench for a few years

[@jamesjohnson2126]

@@estuardodacaret how many games do you think Kirk plays this year? I’m betting less than 17, probably less than 14. Because he’s 36. Off an Achilles. If he goes down, which he probably will, we’ve drafted a player to help us win right now

[@estuardodacaret]

@@jamesjohnson2126 penix helps you win right now? He’s a rookie, who some had a 2nd td value on so not an elite prospect, it would have been better going with a veteran and using that pick on a pass rusher/d lineman or even an elite wr

[@comadoof]

As a Buccaneers diehard my entire life. I love Arthur Blank

[@drew388]

you wont love him this decade

[@smh0825]

The Falcons have gotten WAY too much bad press after selecting Penix. How on earth can you trust a 36 yr old QB coming off a torn achilles? And they didn’t want to start a rookie right away, and they STILL are paying significantly less on their QB room now that a lot of these QB contracts have been signed. Heck, the Packers extended Rodgers a year AFTER they drafted his replacement in Love. I love that the Falcons did this, they won’t get caught with their hands tied behind their backs at the QB position

[@cornelionsqween8028]

explanation for drafting a qb... ummm, they haven't had a decent qb since michael vick went to prison?

[@mikebeavers5838]

Vick couldn't carry Matt Ryan's jock strap.

[@ChefCoolT]

Well Said Owner

[@jonhanna8651]

Rich playing the "What if this? Or what if that?" game. You can pick out worst case scenarios for every team in the NFL. I think planning for the future is not a bad thing.

[@asacloutier7530]

Only idiots think this was a bad move. Arthur blanks explanation: “look at who our starting qb is… nuff said.”

[@Bask3tChase]

You mean to tell me a Billionaire is tone deaf and oblivious to how short sighted their decisions are…?! *gasps* /s

[@TJDawgs72]

Penix will be the starter in ATL next season…

[@MrRustyRam]

Love the show but how is there audio buzzing so often on these clips

[@jamesmerritt3267]

The Falcons sold out season tickets for the first time in nearly two decades, the team announced Tuesday. The team will reserve a number of tickets and suites for single-game sales for groups and community organizations. The Falcons enter the 2024 season with renewed interest and anticipation after a busy offseason.

[@nitehawk_100]

You guys are saying they should not have picked the best player available and should have taken a pass rusher that went number 17 ? Why get top 10 pick to pick a guy you could almost have gotten at number 17? Makes no sense. You take the best player available and you don't wait until you need a QB before you starting looking because it will cost you more and you will probably have to take any guy you can get.

[@Michael_B82]

This is not that difficult, Why are people having such a hard time.

[@jimsheppard3166]

Only time will tell if they royally f'd up or made a brilliant move. Packers fans were ready to burn the world when their team TRADED UP to select a quarterback in the 2020 draft. Fast forward to now and those same fans are pretty happy about that selection.

[@jonathanlankford39]

There is no "next Matt Ryan" Dude was totally underrated. Nearly 5000 yards passing in 2016. Came in and produced from day 1.

[@mikebeavers5838]

One of Matt Ryan's greatest strengths was that despite getting killed behind a poor O-line most of his career, he only missed 3 games in 13 seasons.

[@memesenpai6321]

I'm still convinced that the Giants and the Falcons mixed up their scripts during the draft 😂

[@PFlow007]

Your not an Atlanta fan... your totally fine when Atlanta sucks so stop acting like you care...

[@d.weathers]

Cousins is on the clock. It’s that simple

[@kmbedo]

This was a great pick.

[@MrZynmaster]

good move especially for my draftkings teams. i get kirk usually 2nd on a lot of my bestball teams, penix is my 3rd and last qb that is always available. so i get 23 qb's with the last 2 being starter and back up which secures the atlanta offense regardless of who's playing. i do this with ar15 and flacco

[@MegaHops1]

If Cousins goes down, he'll be a genius.

[@hugogirardisking]

Everybody standing up for how smart the Falcons front office is for this move are forgetting how much Atlanta paid for Cousins. It's an INSANE price tag for a two-year transition quarterback. It's not like Cousins has been there for years. They just signed him, just before they planned to draft a QB in the 1st round. It's not a terrible plan, despite Penix's age, but it is a baffling use of resources.

[@farquadshmoogle9120]

Just remember, analysts said it before the draft, draft experts said it before the draft, so? they all said that Penix would be in play to be the top QB taken if it wasnt for his injury history. yet the man hasnt been injured for the past 2 seasons. why? he is no longer a running QB, he transitioned and became one of the best pocket QBs in college.

[@nathanaelboyd2017]

I understand where the Falcons are coming from. The decision would’ve made a lot more sense if Penix was 1-2 years younger or didn’t have the injury history

[@Breakbeats92.5]

I think teams are going to complain to the NFL and say they are tired of being forced to pay big bucks to QB's with little or no ability to make a deep playoff run.

[@bradfield1010]

The management of the Falcons have a confusing message. They say now that the team is "rebuilt" and they are ready to win. Yet, Blank talks about preparing for the future. Problem is, to use the cliche, the future is now. Going into the draft, the Falcons biggest problem was getting pressure on the quarterback. So drafting a QB was a shock because we thought they had solved the QB problem. Now management says the pass rush will be the responsibility of all 11 players. We've heard this before--like last season. So in actuality the Falcons are still preparing for the future. So much for the pass rush ...

[@johnthomson4128]

I didn't see what the problem was with drafting the kid and having Cousins starting. Rookie QB contract back up learning behind a good QB. He looked solid yesterday at his first preseason game

[@markkoep4336]

Did he say Kirk was aware they intended to take a QB?

[@charlesallen2306]

He was, just not with their first round pick. I think the Falcons expected the Raiders to jump ahead of them to take Penix.

[@Adkb123]

You’re supposed to provide context Rich. Winnable division for the next two years, Jordan love plan worked, cousins has two good years tops and has no rings. But mainly, the owner is old and if they play .500 or better ball, there’s no way they can get a great qb in the next two drafts. Falcons also have gone skill the last few drafts so Odunze would’ve been overkill. I wish we’d have gone edge rusher but just because YOU don’t understand it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t what was best for them.

[@robertcampbell8070]

Did the Jordan Love plan work though? I mean, yes they were able to have a good QB waiting in the wings, but would they have gone to a superbowl if they had taken someone else with that pick? You never know. The issue is they had a three season window with ARod, and did nothing with it.

[@matthewlarose1571]

@@robertcampbell8070 But even with Kirk cousins we are not a superbowl contender like the Packers may have been. Theres a reason Love went in the 20s and Penix went top 10. The development plan worked and thats all that matters to Atlanta

[@robertcampbell8070]

@@matthewlarose1571 I mean, I would think winning a super bowl would be more important than having the next QB ready to not win a super bowl, but ok. Like would the Packers have been more likely to win a super bowl in Rodgers remaining years in GB if they took Patrick Queen or Tee Higgins? And would they have taken Love if they were drafting in the top 10? I doubt it.

[@matthewlarose1571]

@@robertcampbell8070 Thats sort of what Im saying. The Packers were way closer to a super bowl with A-Rod when they took Love, than the Falcons are this year with Kirk when they took Penix. The Falcons were not a Dallas Turner or Byron Murphy away from being SB contenders, not even close. So to me it makes more sense if they invest in keeping their contention window open past the Kirk Cousins era by drafting his heir apparent. You could definitely argue the Packers would have been closer to a SB with A-Rod if they didn't take Love that year, and I wouldn't disagree with that at all. But for the ATL perspective of things, the GB model of QB development is exactly what they want, so they can continue to build to a SB contender over the next decade +, not just the next 3 years.

[@robertcampbell8070]

@@matthewlarose1571 I would argue in that case why sign Cousins at all? You don't pay that much for a bridge QB. They clearly believe they're contenders

[@PFlow007]

Falcons did a great job... they have 2 years of Krik Cousins and then its Pennix Tiiiiiime!!!!!

[@stevenmoore3381]

There is a huge difference between what the packers did with Love and this falcons situated. Rodgers had been on the team and it was clear that he wasn’t going to be there long time. They also took Love at 31. Paying Kirk and then taking Penix at 8 in the same offseason is nuts

[@kevinkarsnia109]

I keep seeing people say Kirk upgraded offense talent wise lol. He had Theilen, Diggs, Cook, Rudolf, JJ, Addison, Hock and didn’t get anywhere. Atlantas players have a lot to prove, yeah their stats will improve but not much else.

[@Chadillac-xq7xk]

And the vikings will be so much better with Sam Darnold. 🤣

[@ji8044]

@@Chadillac-xq7xk With QBs, the arm never really goes but the legs go first. Cousins may be done.

[@Chadillac-xq7xk]

@@ji8044 what? Lmao. That makes no sense at all. What QB started to suck because of leg problems? Ill wait.

[@kevinkarsnia109]

@@Chadillac-xq7xk The Falcons finished with the same record as the Vikings last year and they started 0-3 with Kirk. 10-7 at best.

[@Chadillac-xq7xk]

@@kevinkarsnia109 We finished with the same record as the vikings while having Desmond Riddell and Taylor heinicke at QB. Also Kirk threw for 2k yards, and had 18 TDs. If Kirk was the vikings problem they would've been better after his injury. They weren't. So explain to me how we went 10-7 last year with a far worse QB, and were supposed to have the same record or worse with a top 10 QB?

[@NinaPisani-p7i]

Honestly, I don't think its too bad. It's not great either. Kirk's contract is essentially a two year contract with the cap impact. Atlanta did a push bet from my perspective.

[@bingram5645]

The real problem is… The Atlanta Falcons currently have a black GM, a black coach and drafting a black quarterback is too much for European Imperialistic Americans.

[@garse70]

Getting a good back up QB on a rookie contract isn’t a bad move.

[@JeffSelf]

Absolute brilliant move by the Falcons for looking into the future. Unfortunately, a terrible move for the falcons in the present because this is not a team that won 13 or 14 games last year.

[@pauloshman6188]

I always like Michael Penix Jr draft. 1) With players getting hurt. It's smart to have good back up. 2) Who really cares about age. When Quarterback playing in the 40's. 3) When I watch him in college. I thought he read defense really well. But time will tell.

[@ElectronicRequiem]

The team made the move to address the quarterback position for what they feel would be the short term and long term. If kirk can't get it done with the they have, then adding odunze or whoever wouldn't have mattered anyway.

[@frankarango1897]

Arguably the most important position last season was the back up quarterback. A team addressed that very real concern after signing a quarterback that was part of that story last season and we wonder why they drafted a fresh qb in the draft? Eagles drafted a qb 2nd round after signing Wentz to a big deal and he was a starter after a year and took them to a SB after 2 years.

[@craigburgess7105]

If Penix develops into a good NFL QB whilst understudy to Cousins then, as in the case that the packers have proved so well in the Favre/Rodgers/Love transitions, most definitely its the right move. To me it makes sense. If Kirk goes down, fades, doesn't recover from the achilles very well etc it makes even more sense. Overall roster is pretty good so that support structure is there - we have to see how the new coaching goes. Better to have a solid looking QB room for the future than one extra player who would unlikely make as much difference to the team than a QB. Media been silly about this in my opinion.

[@davet2459]

There is every possibility that Cousins gets hurt at some point the next 2-3 years and Penix plays a lot of meaningful games. With that said the fact remains that if all goes to plan and Kirk plays like he has the last decade then ur # 8 overall pick never sees the field until his rookie contract is ending. If that happens someone in the front office will be answering for it.. likely with their job.. I don’t buy that Arthur Blank was on board with this.. no matter what he says now.. on draft day his reactions and facial expressions in the war room after the pick were very clear and very telling… he wanted explanations from people and he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the responses he got.

[@jfizzle]

Please Take Note...The Falcons just sold out all season tickets for the first time in over 20 years. You seem to be leaving that part out of the confusion.

[@ianbruce4314]

Kirk Cousins is done, mr Blank only sign big names, coached, players He only plays it safe, so no one should be worried About Altanta for yeats to come...

[@32clove]

I saw this dudes yacht a few weeks back in Quonset Point, Rhode Island and let's just say it can fir half of my neighborhood on that thing 👀👀😳

[@charlesallen2306]

I'm not sure why the decision to draft Penix is confusing for some people. As a GM and Owner you aren't just drafting for this season, you have to build for the future. And when you have a potential franchise QB available you have too, especially given the QBs prospects over the next couple of drafts. I don't see Cousins as a franchise QB for the Falcons, he is a hired gun for the next 2 seasons. Even though Penix is a little older, you can still get 10+ years from him if he develops into the player everyone thinks he can be. And the contract they signed Cousins to is very team friendly. I think it was a smart move. And just ask what happens when Cousins is done in 2 years? Where are the Falcons then, right back to square one looking for a QB. Now they "hopefully" won't be in that position.

[@johnkluge3421]

You have to have a quarterback in this league. If a quarterback you feel could be a franchise quarterback falls to you in the draft, you have to take them. It doesn't matter if you just signed a free agent quarterback. Unless you have an elite quarterback in his prime like Mahomes or Allen, you have to take a QB if you think one who can be elite is available. John Elway passed on Josh Allen and drafted for need because the Broncos had brought in Case Keenum to be the starter. How did that work out? If the Falcons made a mistake drafting Pennix it will be because Pennix doesn't turn out to be an elite quarterback. If the Falcons are correct and Pennix is a franchise quarterback, no one will ever question this draft pick. I understand how people can say they made a mistake drafting Pennix because they don't think he is going to be elite. Time will tell. I don't think you can say that the Falcons should not have drafted him even if he is elite. That is just stupid. If you can get an elite QB, you do it. You can always cut or figure things out with Cousins.

[@derrickmc222]

It wasnt carefully laid out..the owner spoke the truth about why they drafted another quarterback is because cousins is old as. Egypt. Cousins isnt playing for free...so

[@visionpainting23]

Great receivers and other position players are in EVERY draft. GREAT QBs are not! They made the right decision grabbing a generational talent

[@vincelopez8844]

What don’t you get. Cousins goes down almost as much as jimmy G once he goes down penix is in but if he don’t look good he will go back to the bench.

[@michaelfetter4541]

Cousins had never missed a game due to injury until last year.

[@AceGoodheart]

People say it's a dumb move but I see no problem with it. Yeah, Cousins is your guy but what if he gets hurt? Atlanta wants to make sure they have a quality back up QB in case that happens. QB it's the most important position on the team and to them Penix was a value pick at #8.