Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
No NFL group had extra controversy swirl round a draft choose than the Falcons in taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 a month after signing Kirk Cousins, however Atlanta is attempting to maneuver ahead with enterprise as typical because the shock wears off. Gamers stated Tuesday that they belief typically supervisor Terry Fontenot’s judgment.
“Terry introduced me right here, and I really imagine that the whole lot he does is to assist this group,” Professional Bowl security Jessie Bates stated. “There’s going to be a number of questions on why we made that choose, however as a pacesetter, I’ve to be a man that [says] that is the imaginative and prescient, that is what we’re going with. I can do all I can to verify I do my half, and similar for all the opposite guys.”
It is uncommon, if not utterly unprecedented, for a group to make a $180 million dedication to a veteran quarterback — together with $100 million assured — after which additionally use a top-10 draft choose on the similar place. Fontenot and new head coach Raheem Morris have made it clear that Cousins is their quarterback now, they usually’re enthusiastic about Penix being their quarterback of the longer term in some unspecified time in the future.
Cousins, 36, hasn’t spoken publicly but, however Bates acknowledged the sudden consideration surrounding the group from the second the choose got here in for Penix on Thursday night time.
“My telephone was buzzing like I bought drafted once more,” he stated. “You already know, it wasn’t very stunning to me. I knew what kind of participant [Penix] is. Being from Indiana, I had an concept of who he was. I feel he had a few nearly upsets towards Ohio State. I simply watch soccer, and I can inform he has a knack.
“I feel he’ll carry quite a bit to this locker room. He is probably not taking part in the primary couple of years, however having that aggressive nature within the locker room, whether or not it is Kirk Cousins, a follow squad participant, whether or not it is me or a Professional Bowl participant, no matter it’s, we will compete and make one another higher.”
Fontenot and Morris defined that their optimism within the group’s success below Cousins would imply Atlanta would choose a lot later within the first spherical within the coming years, and as such, they would not be in place to draft a quarterback as proficient as Penix. It additionally speaks to their confidence within the current roster that they might use a useful resource as useful as a excessive first-round choose on the group’s future.
Cousins barely had a head begin on Penix when it comes to attending to know the locker room and establishing himself as a pacesetter, however the 12-year-veteran has carried out that nicely within the first few weeks of offseason exercises.
“It has been phenomenal. It appears like he is been right here for years, when it comes to interactions with guys,” Professional Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom stated Tuesday. “You hear tales about how nice knowledgeable he’s, and that popularity carries throughout the league, however once you get right here and watch how the man works, it is outstanding. The way in which he interacts with us has been nice. You possibly can’t ask for something extra. You see the way in which he approaches each single day, the depth behind each single rep, the aim behind it, it is actually cool.”
Proper now, Cousins and Penix are on the identical roster, however not precisely co-existing. Penix visited Atlanta final week for an introduction with the media, however he is not anticipated again till subsequent weekend, when the group’s rookie minicamp will happen. From there, rookies and veterans will work collectively in OTAs (organized group actions) constructing as much as obligatory minicamp June 10-12, after which they’re off till the beginning of coaching camp in late July.
Was it a mistake for Atlanta to draft Michael Penix Jr.?
Cousins is recovering from November surgical procedure for a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season early, so for a time, Penix will be capable to do extra in follow. Bates stated Cousins’ veteran management can already be seen as he leads the offense by way of walkthrough set up periods on the sphere, the place coaches are restricted in what they will do that time of the offseason.
“His presence, that is the most important factor,” Bates stated. “Everyone’s been asking me: ‘How’s Kirk Cousins? How’s Kirk Cousins?’ I used to be like, ‘Hey, simply his presence alone, simply being there, I feel is subsequent degree.’ The coaches cannot be out on the sphere an excessive amount of, however when you’ve got a man like ‘Coach’ Kirk Cousins, he can go on the market and run an entire script, whether or not that is with the 1s, then the 2s. That presence is one thing that is priceless.
“You possibly can’t simply have Penix are available in right here and he can run all of the jogthroughs and walkthroughs. Kirk’s carried out that for 10-plus years and he is snug doing that. He is aware of what that appears like. It’s going to be good not only for Kirk and our offense however for the entire complete group to see how he operates within the constructing. That is going to breed a number of wins and a number of success on this constructing.”
The Falcons should break up their reps between the 2 quarterbacks, little question giving a bigger share to Cousins because the starter whilst they attempt to put together Penix to be prepared as nicely. Lindstrom stated constructing a rapport and familiarity with Cousins is essential proper now, even simply linemen studying his voice and cadence and the way he operates as a quarterback and what he expects when it comes to safety. Lindstrom got here into the league with Matt Ryan as his quarterback, so he is seen this earlier than, however after two seasons with a lot much less skilled quarterbacks, he likes what he sees.
“The expertise he has, the appears to be like that he is seen, he is performed in a number of massive video games,” he stated. “He perceive the completely different challenges that he could face. … He sort of is aware of the way in which he needs issues, too, which is nice, so we’re all on board.”
Greg Auman is FOX Sports activities’ NFC South reporter, protecting the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He’s in his tenth season protecting the Bucs and the NFL full-time, having hung out on the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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