In a method, you have to really feel for Kirk Cousins.
Positive, no one goes to really feel unhealthy when his paycheck. The Atlanta Falcons gave him a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason with $100 million of that assured. Whether or not he performs or not, he is received $100 million within the bag — and that is by no means a foul factor.
Nonetheless, Cousins is a 13-year NFL veteran who has seen all of the ups and downs that being a quarterback on this league can convey. He is additionally a likeable individual.
That is in all probability why the Falcons felt comfy deciding on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 general on this previous draft regardless of seemingly committing to Cousins simply weeks earlier than.
It is also possible why head coach Raheem Morris felt comfy benching Cousins although there’s solely three video games left within the season. The Falcons are 7-7 and technically have a 20 % shot to make the playoffs, they usually’re giving the reins over to the rookie to see if he can shut this factor out.
It is a dangerous transfer by the Falcons, however credit score to Cousins, as a result of he is dealing with it effectively — in public, not less than.
“It is professional soccer, and there is a customary that I’ve for myself, that the workforce has for me, that sadly, I wasn’t enjoying as much as that customary constantly sufficient,” Cousins mentioned on Wednesday, in response to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. “And so, it’s what it’s, and also you roll with it and now you continue to prepare — ‘one play away’ type of a factor — and help Mike and simply attempt to assist our workforce be capable of discover a option to win these final three to get within the playoffs, and that is what it is all about.”
Notably, Cousins did say that he referred to as Penix after the information broke to specific his help.
He referred to as to, “Simply let him know I would be in his nook and supporting him and attempting to assist him any method I can.”
Once more, Cousins appears to be dealing with this effectively. What he hasn’t dealt with effectively in 2024 has been the soccer. He leads the NFL in interceptions on the time of his benching with 16.