Latest news with #MichaelPenixJr
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Atlanta Falcons star Kyle Pitts suddenly available for shock offseason trade, NFL insider claims
The highest drafted tight end in the history of the NFL could be available for as little as a second- or third-round pick, according ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler. Kyle Pitts, the 24-year-old Atlanta Falcons star and fourth-overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering his fifth and final season of his rookie contract. And without an extension in place, the former Florida Gators star is naturally going to be mentioned in trade rumors. But while Fowler reports the Falcons are not eagerly shopping Pitts, there is a growing belief around the league that the 6-foot-6, 246-pound speedster could be available for the right price. 'I don't think it's a situation where [the Falcons] are aggressively shopping [Pitts],' Fowler said Saturday. 'But it appears, talking to some other teams, they think Atlanta is at least open to the possibility and Pitts might be as well.' Fowler stressed that Pitts is not 'requesting a trade,' but added, 'if he has a chance to go to maybe a better offense where he's more featured—he's sort of the third or fourth wheel right now in Atlanta —it could be something that he's open to.' In 2021, Pitts became just the second rookie tight end to record 1,000 receiving yards, but has struggled to build on that success amid frequent turnover with the Falcons offense. Michael Penix Jr. enters the season as the Falcons' starting quarterback after replacing veteran Kirk Cousins, the veteran who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta in 2024, only to be benched in favor of the rookie. Cousins was absent from organized team activities in Atlanta last week. 'His a** doesn't want to be there,' one fan reacted online, echoing a sentiment felt by many others. Cousins, who turns 37 in mid-August, has been visible at the team's offseason workouts prior to Tuesday. The Falcons reportedly are open to listening to trade offers for Cousins, who would have to waive his no-trade clause. While Cousins is holding out hope for a starter's role with another team, the Falcons likely are waiting until after June 1 to trade the quarterback. Should that be the case, the team will be on the hook for a $12.5 million dead cap charge. Cousins has been mentioned in trade rumors, although it's unclear if there's a QB-hungry team willing to take on his salary. The Pittsburgh Steelers are one potential destination as they wait for free agent Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind on his NFL future. Cousins threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 starts last season. The Falcons started the season 6-3, but a nosedive Cousins told NFL Network coincided with a shoulder injury prompted Morris to turn the offense over to Penix with three games left in the regular season. Penix went 1-2.
Reuters
28-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
Former Falcons QB helping Michael Penix Jr. 'be a pro'
May 28 - There was no sign of high-paid backup quarterback Kirk Cousins at the Falcons' facility this week, but lines of communication are active between Atlanta starter Michael Penix Jr. and another former Falcons first-rounder. Matt Ryan, 40, became a sounding board for Penix in the offseason, taking his lessons learned as a Super Bowl quarterback for the Falcons and packaging talking points intended to help Penix develop in his second season in the NFL. Ryan, the third overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, played for Atlanta his entire career (2008-22), winning the NFL MVP award in 2016. "I spoke to Matt Ryan and had a good conversation with him (about) learning how to be a pro each and every day and how his process went," Penix said. "I feel like he definitely gave me some good things. Obviously, he knows this is my second year coming into it (and) this is my first year starting. He talked to me about his times during that time and how he got to where he ended up." Penix, 25, said he's been playing golf and spending quality time getting to know his teammates away from the field to grow their rapport between the lines. "The one that I want to point (out) is just connecting with the guys," Penix said of how his role changes with his rookie season in the rearview mirror. "I feel like I've done a lot better with connecting with everybody around the team. Not just offensive guys but defensive guys as well. Whether that's just around the facility eating lunch or going out and playing golf with some of them. Don't ask about my golf game." Falcons head coach Raheem Morris noted Penix has openly exercised his voice during OTAs in instances where he would've hung back out of humility last season. With confidence being more apparent, Morris is anxious to see what's to follow. "Eventually, it turns into a little bit of an arrogance about playing the position where it's non-negotiable. We're not there yet," Morris said. "I don't think we will be for a little bit, but I think he's at the mode of where he's starting to get that confidence to be able to figure out how to get to that point." Penix, the eighth overall pick of the 2024 draft, played in five games (three starts) in his rookie season, completing 61 of 105 passes (58.1 percent) for 775 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. --Field Level Media
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Kirk Cousins Trade? Only Michael Penix Jr. Can save Atlanta Falcons
Now it's up to Michael Penix Jr. to spend the second year of his rookie contract worth $22.88 million over four seasons to save the Atlanta Falcons from themselves. Perhaps you've heard. In March 2024, the Falcons made a $180 million mistake at quarterback by signing Kirk Cousins who became the backup last season to Penix. 'I'm just super excited, and I can't wait for this season,' Penix told me and other reporters Tuesday in his always mellow way. In fact, several of his teammates said he exudes 'quiet confidence.' He continued to display that and his rocket left arm at the Falcons' headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, where they held the first practice of voluntary organized team activities. Barely a month after the Falcons acquired Cousins, they used the eighth pick overall in the NFL Draft to grab Penix, which shocked the football universe. Which also made you wonder . . . . Since the defensively challenged Falcons ignored a pass rushing stud with that eighth pick overall, and since the ink remained dry on Cousins' four-year deal, did they already realize their mistake? Whatever the case, if you mention 'Michael Penix Jr.' or 'Michael' or just plain 'Mike' around those involved with a Falcons franchise seeking to end seven consecutive losing seasons, you'll trigger two things in a hurry: A smile that continues to grow, and a description of somebody who would make the perfect librarian. 'He's very reserved. He's not the most talkative guy,' Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews said when I asked him to describe Penix's leadership style, and over the past dozen seasons, Matthews has blocked for every quarterback with the team from future Hall of Famer Matt Ryan to the lowly likes of Desmond Ritter. While Matthews' smile increased, he thought about the 15th game of last season when Penix made his NFL starting debut in Atlanta, and then Matthews said, "Man, it's funny. When Michael got that start against the Giants last year, right when he got in the huddle, it was like, 'OK. This man knows what he's doing. He knows how to get it done. He's here to be the leader of this offense.' 'So he's a very quiet guy off the field, but he's a jokster. Funny guy. Has a good time. Great dude. Somebody you want to do well for.' Here's the bottom line regarding Penix who ranks among the older NFL sophomores at 25: Noisy, soft spoken, something in between. The Falcons just want their new offensive skipper to stay as healthy as he was during his two years at the University of Washington after a career at Indiana University filled with physcial turmoil. He damaged his anterior cruciate ligament twice with the Hoosiers, and he suffered two dislocated shoulders for four straight season-ending injuries. The Falcons also need Penix to turn the potential he flashed while starting their last three games of 2024 into reality. He completed 58% of his passes during his NFL rookie season compared to 63% during his college days, but Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Penix was a victim last season of dropped passes, which he was. In addition, Penix had three interceptions during those three game, but he countered his picks with three touchdown passes, including a laser near the end of regulation play in Washington D.C. to a diving Kyle Pitts in the end zone. The throw and the catch pushed the game into overtime, where the Falcons lost to the Commanders while killing their playoff hopes, but their other hope remained. It was their hope of Penix fixing that mistake. That mistake was huge. With Cousins months away from his 36th birthday and recovering from a ruptured Achilles on his right leg, the mistake was giving him all that money for reasons known only on Jupiter or Mars. Now back to Planet Earth. There were only five no-shows Tuesday for the Falcons' voluntary camp, and Cousins was among them. That wasn't surprising. Cousins turned that mistake into a disaster last season by leading the NFL with 16 interceptions despite playing only the first 14 of the Falcons' 17 games. He also tied Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for most fumbles in the league with 13. If you do the math, Cousins' fumble total was the worst in the NFL since Mayfield played all 17 games for the Bucs to those 14 for Cousins. After Cousins became a turnover machine with no end in sight, the Falcons named Penix their starter, not only for those last three games of 2024, but for this season and beyond. Cousins pleaded with Falcons owner Arthur Blank during the offseason to trade him elsewhere. Even so, team officials kept saying they'll keep Cousins as the most expensive backup quarterback in NFL history. They must pay the 14-year veteran $27.5 million this year whether they release him or not. As for a trade, NFL teams haven't been giddy to assume Cousins' remaining salary, and the Falcons have suggested they prefer not to pay some of the cost. He also can approve or reject any deal. So maybe Cousins was a no-show Tuesday due to a trade in the works, or maybe he is just sick of the whole situation. Did I say this was a mistake?
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Falcons' $180m quarterback Kirk Cousins shuns team amid tense standoff
Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has revealed that Kirk Cousins is absent from the team's first day of OTAs on Tuesday. Cousins is hoping to be traded away this offseason after losing his place as the team's starting quarterback to Michael Penix Jr. in December. The former Minnesota Vikings player only joined the Falcons 12 months ago and signed a huge four-year, $180million contract. Cousins did surprise some observers last month when he showed up for the first day of the team's voluntary offseason program. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said then: 'This is a voluntary thing. Whether a player comes or doesn´t come we have a lot of good professionals who we know are going to take care of their bodies, including Kirk.' Fontenot has said the team is comfortable in having Cousins, 36, remain with the team as the backup to Penix Jr., the team's 2024 first-round pick. But Morris said the team is open to listening to trade offers. Cousins led the Falcons to a 6-3 start last season but lost his job after struggling with interceptions. Fontenot refuted a report the Falcons were asking any team trading for Cousins to pick up $20 million of his remaining guaranteed salary. 'We haven't put a number on it,' Fontenot said. 'We wouldn´t share specific conversations, but to answer your question we wouldn´t put a specific number on it.' The Falcons could have saved a $10m roster bonus by releasing Cousins. Instead, he is guaranteed $27.5m, plus the $10m bonus, in 2025. The Falcons were 1-2 with Penix as the starter for an 8-9 final record.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Falcons star Kirk Cousins is mysteriously absent from OTAs amid QB battle with Michael Penix JR.
Atlanta Falcons star and $27.5 million backup quarterback Kirk Cousins was mysteriously absent from the team's organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday. 'I did not see him today,' Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. 'He did not show up in the meetings, so I did not see him today.' Cousins, who turns 37 in mid-August, has been visible at the team's offseason workouts prior to Tuesday. The Falcons reportedly are open to listening to trade offers for Cousins, who would have to waive his no-trade clause. While Cousins is holding out hope for a starter's role with another team, the Falcons likely are waiting until after June 1 to trade the quarterback. Should that be the case, the team will be on the hook for a $12.5 million dead cap charge. Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed before the 2024 season, then selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the draft. The Falcons started the season 6-3, but a nosedive Cousins told NFL Network coincided with a shoulder injury prompted Morris to turn the offense over to Penix with three games left in the regular season. Penix went 1-2. Penix is the team's No. 1 quarterback entering the new season. The Falcons also have quarterbacks Easton Stick and Emory Jones on their roster. Cousins threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 starts last season. Penix got some experience as a team leader on Tuesday when the Falcons began Phase 3 of the offseason by getting out on the field and doing individual drills and a few noncontact team periods. 'I'm excited,' Penix said after two hours of voluntary outdoor practice. 'We get to be out there against the defense and work real football. I can't wait for this season.' Penix, who was drafted eighth overall by Atlanta in 2024, started the Falcons' final three regular-season games and completed 58 of 100 passes for 737 yards with three touchdown passes and three interceptions in those starts. Cousins led the Falcons to a 6-3 start last season but lost his job after struggling with interceptions. Penix described his growth over his first full offseason knowing he is the starting quarterback. 'The one that I want to point (to) is just connecting with the guys,' Penix said. 'I feel like I've done a lot better with connecting with everybody around the team. Not just offensive guys but defensive guys as well. Whether that's just around the facility eating lunch or going out and playing golf with some of them. Don't ask about my golf game.' Morris said Penix is 'finding his voice' as a leader. 'When you take over that quarterback spot, there's a certain humility about playing the position,' Morris said. 'Then it (comes) a certain confidence about playing the position. Eventually it turns into a little bit of an arrogance about playing the position where it's non-negotiable. We're not there yet. I don't think we will be for a little bit, but I think he's at the mode of where he's starting to get that confidence to be able to figure out how to get to that point.' Wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who also is in his second year with the Falcons after signing a three-year contract ahead of the 2024 season, said Penix has done a good job of undertaking a leadership role so far. 'I think he's been doing well owning that he's the guy and that he's (going to) be the guy,' Mooney said. 'He's doing a good job showing up every day. He's more quiet and can play around a little bit but he's really just a chill guy.' Penix had a recent conversation with former quarterback Matt Ryan, a 2024 Falcons Ring of Honor inductee. 'I spoke to Matt Ryan and had a good conversation with him (about) learning how to be a pro each and every day and how his process went,' Penix said. 'I feel like he definitely gave me some good things. Obviously he knows this is my second year coming into it (and) this is my first year starting. He talked to me about his times during that time and how he got to where he ended up.'
