Falcons fans are going to love (and possibly hate) hearing this story from Justin Simmons. The NFL veteran appeared on Kay Adams’ Up & Adams podcast and told the host about the first moment he knew Michael Penix Jr. was the real deal.
“Training camp. It was my third day of practice, literally third day being there, and he was running the second team reps, going up against the second team defense, and he had this no-look throw down the sideline. It was the craziest throw I’ve ever seen in person.”
Mind you, Justin Simmons played in a division that features Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, two of the most physically talented throwers of the football this league has ever seen.
For Simmons, a nine-year veteran, to say it only took three days of practice with the Falcons to know Penix was the real deal, it has to mean something. That’s the good news; the bad news is that the entire coaching staff and front office saw these throws from Penix for six months and still elected to trot out a hobbled Kirk Cousins amid a playoff push.
The Falcons knew that once Pandora’s box was open, it wouldn’t close. Once the team turned to Michael Penix Jr., it would mark the end for Kirk Cousins. I can understand not taking that decision lightly. However, everyone with two eyes and a TV could see that the veteran was hurt. He had absolutely no zip on the ball and was actively hurting the team.
Over a stretch of five games, Cousins threw nine interceptions and only one touchdown while completing less than 63% of his passes. Before that, the Falcons sat at 6-3 and atop the NFC South with a commanding lead in the division. After that, the club fell to 7-8 and behind the Buccaneers.
The decision by Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot to hang onto Kirk Cousins directly cost the Falcons a postseason berth. The good news is that it’s Michael Penix’s team now.
