‘Super blessed’ to learn behind Kirk Cousins

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Michael Penix Jr. insists he will have no trouble adjusting to his role as backup to the Atlanta Falcons’ new starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins.

Before taking the field Friday for rookie minicamp, Penix, who played at Tampa Bay Tech, was greeted by Cousins ​​at the team’s practice facility. Others speculated that there might be friction between Penix, the No. 8 pick in last month’s NFL draft, and Cousins, who about a month earlier signed with Atlanta to a 180 contract. million dollars over four years with $100 million guaranteed.

“He said, ‘What’s up, man?’ » said Penix de Cousins. “He said he was happy to see me, happy to have me here. I just told him I was looking forward to working with him.

Penix added: “We are on the same team. It is not difficult to approach this relationship. We have the same goals. It’s about winning football matches. …It’s definitely going to be awesome. I’m very fortunate to be able to be here in this position with a veteran in front of me and learn from him and go about my business every day and just try to find ways to improve and get to where he East. , several years in the league.

Both quarterbacks join first-year coach Raheem Morris, who said the main goal of his first rookie camp was to help the newcomers get acclimated.

“I told the recruits together that the best way to go is to be your best self…go out there and be yourself,” Morris said. “Really, not just Penix but all those guys.”

For Penix, the minicamp session open to reporters meant an introduction to the media attention rarely devoted to Falcons rookies.

It was standing room only for Morris’ news conference Friday before Penix, whose selection by Atlanta was a major surprise, took the field against other rookies. General manager Terry Fontenot and Morris’ decision to hire Penix raised many questions.

Morris and Fontenot stressed that there was no doubt that Cousins, who will be 36 this season and recovering from an Achilles injury, was the starter. They also say they never hesitated to select Penix, the gifted passer whom they immediately designated as their future starter.

Others suggested the Falcons would have been better served using the first-round pick to address an immediate need, like the pass rush. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs or had a winning season since 2017. Fontenot and Morris believe the team is ready to win this season and they don’t expect to have another opportunity to draft a quarterback which they appreciate as much as Penix.

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This highlights Penix.

“I feel like at this level in the NFL, everyone’s in the spotlight,” Penix said. “You have to prove yourself every day. …It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid. And now that I’m here, I just want to continue to prove myself every day and show not only myself but the team that I’m here to work and here to help this team win football games of all possible ways. »

Penix, who will be 24 as a rookie, played for Washington and led FBS schools with 4,903 passing yards and was third with 36 touchdown passes in 2023.

Wearing No. 9, Penix looked comfortable throwing consistently accurate passes, including to wide receiver Casey Washington, a sixth-round pick out of Illinois.

“Every time my time comes and every time my number is called, I just have to make sure I’m ready,” Penix said. “I’m here now. I can’t sit here and not be starstruck. I have to produce.

By CHARLES ODUM, Associated Press