ATLANTA, GA JANUARY 05: Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) warms up prior to the start of … More the NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons on January 5th, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s up to Michael Penix Jr. to spend the second year of his rookie contract worth $22.88 million<\/a> over four seasons to save the Atlanta Falcons from themselves.<\/p>\n Perhaps you\u2019ve heard.<\/p>\n In March 2024, the Falcons made a $180 million<\/a> mistake at quarterback by signing Kirk Cousins who became the backup last season to Penix.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just super excited, and I can\u2019t wait for this season,\u201d Penix told me and other reporters Tuesday in his always mellow way. In fact, several of his teammates said he exudes \u201cquiet confidence.\u201d He continued to display that and his rocket left arm at the Falcons\u2019 headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, where they held the first practice of voluntary organized team activities.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Which also made you wonder . . . .<\/p>\n Since the defensively challenged Falcons ignored a pass rushing stud with that eighth pick overall, and since the ink remained dry on Cousins\u2019 four-year deal, did they already realize their mistake?<\/p>\n Whatever the case, if you mention \u201cMichael Penix Jr.\u201d or \u201cMichael\u201d or just plain \u201cMike\u201d around those involved with a Falcons franchise seeking to end seven consecutive losing seasons, you\u2019ll trigger two things in a hurry: A smile that continues to grow, and a description of somebody who would make the perfect librarian.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s very reserved. He\u2019s not the most talkative guy,\u201d Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews said when I asked him to describe Penix\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n While Matthews\u2019 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\u2019s funny. When Michael got that start against the Giants last year, right when he got in the huddle, it was like, \u2018OK. This man knows what he\u2019s doing. He knows how to get it done. He\u2019s here to be the leader of this offense.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSo he\u2019s a very quiet guy off the field, but he\u2019s a jokster. Funny guy. Has a good time. Great dude. Somebody you want to do well for.\u201d<\/p>\n STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 02: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Indiana Hoosiers lays on the field after … More being inured during the second half of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on October 2, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Here\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It was their hope of Penix fixing that mistake.<\/p>\n ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 22: Kirk Cousins #18 and Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons … More look on during warmups before playing the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n That mistake was huge.<\/p>\n With Cousins months away from his 36th birthday and recovering from a ruptured Achilles on his right leg<\/a>, the mistake was giving him all that money for reasons known only on Jupiter or Mars.<\/p>\n Now back to Planet Earth. There were only five no-shows Tuesday for the Falcons\u2019 voluntary camp, and Cousins was among them.<\/p>\n That wasn\u2019t 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\u2019 17 games. He also tied Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for most fumbles <\/a>in the league with 13.<\/p>\n If you do the math, Cousins\u2019 fumble total was the worst in the NFL since Mayfield played all 17 games for the Bucs to those 14 for Cousins.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n