3 weeks ago
The Atlanta Falcons stunned nan NFL world connected Thursday nighttime erstwhile nan squad selected backmost Michael Penix Jr. pinch nan No. 8 prime successful nan NFL Draft conscionable weeks aft signing Kirk Cousins to a monolithic contract.
Former NFL subordinate Ross Tucker, who is besides an expert for CBS, appeared connected "The Dan Patrick Show" connected Friday and tore into nan Falcons for making nan pick. He called nan prime "selfish" and "disrespectful."
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Atlanta Falcons first information draught prime backmost Michael Penix Jr., speaks during a news convention Friday, April 26, 2024, successful Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
"When successful doubt, successful nan NFL, successful my experience, look for nan decision-makers to make decisions that they judge is successful their champion liking for their occupation security, and/or occupation preservation," Tucker explained. "And I believe, astatine immoderate point, nan Falcons’ GM, Terry Fontenot, and nan caput coach, Raheem Morris, were talking, and they realized, ‘Hey, we’re astir apt gonna beryllium beautiful bully nan adjacent mates years, pinch Kirk Cousins. The NFC South’s not that great. We will beryllium successful nan mix, possibly we’ll triumph nan division, beryllium successful nan playoffs.
"But if we get a feline for illustration Penix now, then, Year 3, possibly Year 4, we person a succession scheme successful place,’ to nan constituent wherever Arthur Blank isn’t gonna occurrence them earlier Penix has astatine slightest 1 year, possibly moreover two."
Tucker added that he believed the Falcons brass "bought themselves a four-year runway" to spot what they could do.
Atlanta Falcons first information draught prime backmost Michael Penix Jr., holds a Falcons jersey during a news convention Friday, April 26, 2024, successful Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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"I deliberation it’s selfish, and this is coming from a erstwhile player’s perspective, I deliberation it’s borderline disrespectful," he added. "I deliberation it’s 1 of nan worst moves I’ve seen successful a agelong time. . . . I deliberation it’s a selfish move by nan GM and caput coach, that’s my publication connected it from a player’s perspective."
Cousins was reportedly told of nan prime erstwhile it was happening.
Penix said later Friday he heard from Cousins and Falcons fable Michael Vick aft he was selected.
He added he felt comfortable moving down Cousins.
Atlanta Falcons backmost Kirk Cousins speaks during a news convention Wednesday, March 13, 2024, successful Flowery Branch, Ga. 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 nan first Super Bowl title successful franchise history. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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"I cognize I’m going to put successful a ton of activity to make judge whenever I do measurement connected that section it’s not going to beryllium a hit missed," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
