NEW ORLEANS – No participant within the NFL desires to have their beginning function eliminated, particularly not a group’s franchise quarterback.
Atlanta Falcons veteran Kirk Cousins needed to cope with that actuality forward of Week 15, amid a division title race no much less, when head coach Raheem Morris mentioned he was turning to Michael Penix Jr. to play below heart.
Cousins had been struggling regardless of coming off a 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders the week prior. Earlier than that recreation, 4 straight losses noticed Atlanta dip below .500. So, Morris had Penix face the New York Giants for his first profession begin.
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Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins on the sphere earlier than the Pittsburgh Steelers recreation at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Photos)
Talking with Fox Information Digital on Radio Row forward of Tremendous Bowl LIX, Penix defined the important thing recommendation he gathered from Cousins, who he had watched and studied all season.
“Simply let the sport come to you and be affected person,” Penix mentioned whereas additionally discussing his partnership with Sharpie. “Even should you name a shot play, or a giant play, you don’t must take the large play if it’s not there. A variety of the stuff I realized from him was a variety of visible issues, simply the best way he moved by means of his development, attending to his fifth learn, that’s onerous to do, particularly on the stage we’re taking part in at. Listening to him in conferences speaking about how he received to that final learn, how he canceled out stuff early and stuff like that, it helped me out once I received in there early.”
Penix’s first begin didn’t see his first profession landing move, however he went 18-for-27 for 202 yards with an interception. With assist from his protection, which scored two touchdowns on the lowly Giants, the Falcons gained 34-7, hitting 8-7 on the season.
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Penix mentioned the same old jitters weren’t there because of seeing just a few snaps in losses earlier within the season, in addition to preseason play. However he additionally is aware of nothing can put together you for that first begin… except you’re appearing like a starter every week.
He mentioned his greatest takeaway from the season was having the mindset of at all times being prepared, which can have to occur subsequent yr as nicely with Cousins remaining below contract regardless of Morris turning to his younger rookie on the finish of the season.
“I really feel like I at all times needed to be prepared as a result of I didn’t know when my time was going to be,” he mentioned. “Each time it did come, I wished to be prepared for that second. Every day, I ready like I used to be the starter. I ready like I used to be going to be on the market. So, every time that second did come, it didn’t look like a shock for me.”
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. runs towards the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Picture/Mike Stewart)
Penix couldn’t lead the Falcons to the NFC South title, shedding his remaining two begins of his rookie marketing campaign. Nonetheless, he confirmed flashes of why the Falcons have been so excessive on him with the eighth total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Heading into his sophomore season, Penix will proceed working onerous along with his mindset not altering. However his expertise with Cousins reveals that, whereas the veteran gunslinger desires to stay a starter within the league, he’s keen to show the following era in his quarterbacks room.
‘PASSING THE PEN’ WITH SHARPIE
Penix was amongst Sharpie’s “Rookies of the 12 months,” which marked the inaugural class as they headed into their skilled journeys. From signing day, to his My Trigger My Cleats this season, Sharpie has allowed Penix so as to add a private contact to his rookie moments.
Now, he’s able to “move the pen” to the following class, which incorporates prime NFL prospects Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State and Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona. He shared his love for his or her respective recreation.
“These two specifically, I performed towards T-Mac, McMillan, simply seeing him dwell, he makes big-time performs,” he mentioned. “He’s a terrific receiver and he’s going to do a terrific job on this league, and with Sharpie. I’m wanting ahead to it. With Ashton, the yr that he had, coming second in Heisman, I did that final yr, too. The yr he had as a working again on the school stage, it was one thing that was very particular, and he was virtually put at quantity on so far as yards and stuff like that. Massive kudos to you guys.”
Tremendous Bowl LIX can be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)
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As a lefty, Penix has needed to cope with smudges throughout his work from a younger age. However he confirmed his appreciation for the Sharpie S-Gel with it’s “No Smear, No Smudge Expertise.”
“It was loopy. It sucked if you didn’t have that Sharpie pen in your hand, however I discovered the answer now, so I’m tremendous excited to have the ability to try this,” he mentioned.
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