3 weeks ago
Atlanta Falcons wide head Terry Fontenot and caput coach Raheem Morris had a batch of explaining to do aft nan first information of nan NFL Draft connected Thursday night.
Responsible for nan biggest shocker of nan evening, nan Falcons drafted erstwhile Washington backmost Michael Penix Jr. pinch nan No. 8 pick, a determination that came conscionable a small complete a period aft seasoned awesome caller Kirk Cousins was signed to a four-year, $180 cardinal deal.
Michael Penix Jr., #9 of nan Washington Huskies, looks connected anterior to nan Pac-12 Championship crippled against nan Oregon Ducks astatine Allegiant Stadium connected December 1, 2023, successful Las Vegas, Nevada. (Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
To make matters worse, nan erstwhile Minnesota Vikings prima was besides successful nan acheronian astir nan Falcons’ plans until Atlanta was already connected nan clock.
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Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN instantly aft that Cousins was informed astir plans to draught Penix only astatine that infinitesimal and that there’s a emotion of vexation that nan first-round prime wasn’t utilized to amended nan roster for nan play ahead.
Fontenot and Morris appeared to spell into harm power successful their property convention reporters.
"You don’t walk up that opportunity," Fontenot said, calling Penix a "high-caliber" player.
"Kirk Cousins is our quarterback, we’re very excited astir Kirk, very excited astir this team, and Michael Penix is – we’re talking astir nan future," he continued, earlier reiterating nan Falcons' support of Cousins.
Atlanta Falcons backmost Kirk Cousins speaks during a news convention Wednesday, March 13, 2024, successful Flowery Branch, Georgia. Cousins has 1 playoff triumph successful his agelong career. The Falcons are betting astatine slightest $100 cardinal that he's nan feline who tin lead them to their first Super Bowl title successful franchise history. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
FALCONS' KYLE PITTS REACTS TO SHOCKING MICHAEL PENIX JR PICK IN REAL TIME: 'I LIKE THIS ONE'
"Kirk is our quarterback, but adding Michael Penix is reasoning astir nan future."
Fontenot and Morris continued to section questions astir their pick, but erstwhile asked astir nan reports of Cousins’ evident dismay, nan brace remained tight-lipped.
"We wouldn’t stock that," Fontenot said.
"Reactions are beautiful private," Morris added. "There's ne'er a correct clip to talk to a backmost astir those things, and reactions are ever going to beryllium backstage erstwhile it comes to those things, unless Kirk decides to show you immoderate of those things, aliases immoderate nan lawsuit whitethorn be. But he’s a competitor, conscionable for illustration america all, and you tin ever expect those things to spell conscionable for illustration you benignant of think."
Raheem Morris speaks to nan media aft being introduced arsenic nan caput coach of nan Atlanta Falcons astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected February 5, 2024, successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Fontenot and Morris referenced "the Green Bay model," referring to what nan Packers did erstwhile drafting Jordan Love to backmost up Aaron Rodgers successful nan 2020 NFL Draft. Fontenot suggested that it could beryllium years earlier Penix takes over.
"If you judge successful a quarterback, you person to return him," Fontenot said. "And if he sits for 4 aliases 5 years, that's a awesome problem to have, because we're doing truthful good astatine that position. So, it's arsenic elemental as, if you spot a feline that you judge successful astatine that position, you person to return him."
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