<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl-rumors-falcons-keeping-kirk-cousins-michael-penix-jr-s-backup-not-off-table');   ga('set', 'title', 'NFL rumors: Falcons keeping Kirk Cousins as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup ‘not off table’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NFL-rumors-Falcons-keeping-Kirk-Cousins-as-Michael-Penix-Jr.s-backup-not-off-table.jpg"></figure><h1>NFL rumors: Falcons keeping Kirk Cousins as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup ‘not off table’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T08:46:07-08:00">December 22nd, 8:46am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T08:46:07-08:00">December 22nd, 8:46am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons are in a tight race during the final weeks of the regular season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-bills-win-shootout-seahawks-struggle">Atlanta is 7-7 heading into Week 16</a> and is in a tight race with Tampa Bay for the NFC South division title. The Falcons have to keep winning during the final three weeks of the regular season to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15">have a chance at a playoff berth in the NFC</a>.</p><p>The Falcons will have to win those games with rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. as their new starter. Atlanta announced earlier this week that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-benches-kirk-cousins-favor-of-michael-penix-jr">Kirk Cousins in benched in favor of the rookie</a>.</p><p>But what will the Falcons deal with this situation after the 2024 season? Atlanta has a number of different options for dealing with the Kirk Cousins situation this offseason. NFL insider Ian Rapoport <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/weighing-atlanta-s-options-as-falcons-transition-from-kirk-cousins-to-michael-penix-jr-as-starting-qb" rel="noopener">laid out a number of possibilities</a> in a recent article on NFL.com.</p><p>One option Rapoport mentioned was the Falcons keeping Cousins as the backup for Michael Penix Jr.</p><p>“Cousins has been a model teammate in the building, especially this week. He’s sat in the same seat in team meetings and has remained a leader. He has helped mentor Penix and this week upon a demotion, ran the scout team. That could pave the way to them keeping him as a backup — since they have already paid him, anyway,” Rapoport argued.</p><p>This theory does conflict with reporting from Adam Schefter this week that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-rumors-falcons-will-release-kirk-cousins">suggests the Falcons will cut Kirk Cousins before March 17th</a>. This would save the Falcons from paying Cousins a $10 million bonus.</p><h2><b>Would Kirk Cousins becoming a backup QB work for him and the Falcons in 2025?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kirk-Cousins_f84c62.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>On the surface, this is obviously the easiest option for the Falcons to move forward with. This is largely because it requires them to make no changes this offseason.</p><p>However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-remaining-backup-2025-gets-stern-appraisal">not everyone is convinced that this plan would actually work out</a>.</p><p>ESPN’s Marc Raimondi believes that Cousins will be a supportive mentor for the remainder of the 2024 season. He does not think that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-rumors-falcons-will-release-kirk-cousins" rel="noopener">grace would carry over into next season</a>.</p><p>“For the remaining three weeks of the season, Cousins said he’ll offer his support to Penix and the team. After that, things are very much up in the air, and the chances the 13-year veteran returns to the Falcons as a backup seem slim,” Raimondi said Friday.</p><p>Cousins has not been known to be a dramatic quarterback earlier in this career. That said, he’s never found himself in this situation before.</p><p>It will be interesting to see how the Falcons approach the upcoming offseason. Whichever decision they make about Kirk Cousins will likely be the first domino to fall.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NFL rumors: Falcons keeping Kirk Cousins as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup ‘not off table’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/falcons-news-atlanta-change-offense-michael-penix-jr-benching-kirk-cousins');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Falcons will change offense for Michael Penix Jr. after benching Kirk Cousins');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0How-Atlanta-will-change-offense-for-Michael-Penix-Jr.-after-benching-Kirk-Cousins-0.jpg"></figure><h1>How Falcons will change offense for Michael Penix Jr. after benching Kirk Cousins</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T08:26:20-08:00">December 22nd, 8:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T08:26:20-08:00">December 22nd, 8:26am</time><address><a href="https://medium.com/bingeable">Sonny Giuliano</a>Sonny Giuliano is an experienced sports writer for ClutchPoints who has been covering the NFL, NCAA Football, NBA, and NCAA Basketball for well over a decade. Originally from the small town of Elba, New York, Sonny received his degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After just 14 subpar games, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-benches-kirk-cousins-favor-of-michael-penix-jr">the Falcons made the decision to bench Kirk Cousins</a> in favor of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/meet-michael-penix-jr-the-falcons-no-8-pick-in-2024-nfl-draft">8th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Michael Penix Jr.</a>, a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist and presumptive future face of the franchise in Atlanta. The move comes at an interesting point in the season, as the 7-7 Falcons are very much in the mix for a postseason berth, yet they’re willingly turning the car keys over to a rookie who has just five regular season pass attempts to his name.</p><p>Now in fairness, you could say that Kirk Cousins forced Atlanta’s hand with a disastrous five week stretch in which he threw just one touchdown to nine interceptions as the Falcons went from 6-3 to 7-7 as fast as you could say, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-atlanta-edition-you-like-that-celebration-not-as-iconic">“You Like That?”</a> Even still, making the change to Penix does not come without risk, as Atlanta will need to tailor their offense to the big-armed lefty in a short period of time ahead of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.</p><p>But that doesn’t mean that Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and his staff in Atlanta isn’t up to the challenge, in large part because they’ve been <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/weighing-atlanta-s-options-as-falcons-transition-from-kirk-cousins-to-michael-penix-jr-as-starting-qb" rel="noopener">preparing Penix for this moment</a> all year long, and they believe, “mentally, he is ready.”</p><p>According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, since the preseason, Penix has been practicing with the same listening device in his helmet as Kirk Cousins, allowing the rookie to, “get his mental reps that way, run the scout team, but then go back and watch the film of what Cousins has done and go through it himself.”</p><p>Additionally, there will be changes on Sunday in how Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson calls the game with Michael Penix Jr. in at quarterback as opposed to Cousins, who hasn’t displayed the arm strength this season he once showed in Minnesota prior to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-kirk-cousins-carted-locker-room-packers-ankle-achilles-injury">a season-ending achilles tear in the 2023 season</a>.</p><p>“While they’ll likely focus on core plays he likes and knows well, expect an attempt at more deep throws and big plays. There will also likely be more play-action,” Rapoport writes. “Atlanta loved Penix’s arm talent in the pre-draft process, and viewed him overall as a prospect near Jayden Daniels’ level. They expect big things, and from those who have observed practice, players can feel the optimism, too.”</p><p>This could end up being the move that saves Atlanta’s season, but even if it is, it will raise the question as to why it took Raheem Morris and co. so long to pull the trigger on benching Cousins for Penix.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Falcons will change offense for Michael Penix Jr. after benching Kirk Cousins

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl-rumors-falcons-will-release-kirk-cousins');   ga('set', 'title', 'NFL rumors: Falcons will release Kirk Cousins');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NFL-rumors-Falcons-will-release-Kirk-Cousins.jpg"></figure><h1>NFL rumors: Falcons will release Kirk Cousins</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-21T07:33:22-08:00">December 21st, 7:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-21T07:33:22-08:00">December 21st, 7:33am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Less than a year after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-kirk-cousins-4-year-180-million-contract-with-falcons">signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract,</a> the Atlanta Falcons are reportedly planning to release Cousins.</p><p>ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported today that Atlanta <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43081294/sources-falcons-expected-cut-kirk-cousins-10m-bonus-due" rel="noopener">is expected to</a> release Cousins before March 17, when he is due a $10 million bonus.</p><p>“Kirk Cousins’ divorce from the Falcons is expected to be finalized before his $10 million roster bonus is due March 17, with executives across the NFL fully expecting Atlanta to release him by then,” Schefter wrote.</p><p>“The split between Cousins and the Falcons is inevitable at this point, according to multiple sources.”</p><p>Schefter also said Cousins is not expected to help out the Falcons, who signed him to a deal with $90 million guaranteed and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-contract-very-tradable-per-nfl-insider">a no-trade clause just nine months ago</a>. One month after his signing, Cousins was blindsided by Atlanta drafting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.</p><p>Cousins and the Falcons began the 2024 season well enough; the veteran quarterback threw for 2,328 yards and 17 touchdowns as Atlanta jumped out to a 6-3 start, good enough for first place in the NFC South. However, over the last month or so, Cousins has struggled mightily, and as a result, the Falcons have sunk in the standings.</p><p>Once the frontrunner to win the division, Atlanta lost four straight, a streak during which Cousins threw zero touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Additionally, the Falcons averaged 14.3 points per game during that four-game skid.</p><p>Despite the team’s troubles over the past five weeks, the Falcons are still only one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team the Falcons beat both times this year, in the NFC North. But Cousins will likely not get another chance to lead Atlanta to the playoffs, as Falcons head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-benches-kirk-cousins-favor-of-michael-penix-jr">Raheem Morris named Penix the team’s new starting quarterback</a>.</p><p>When he is released, a logical landing spot for Cousins would seem to be the Cleveland Browns, whose head coach, Kevin Stefanski, worked with Cousins when the former was the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator before leaving for Cleveland. Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson went down with a season-ending Achilles injury earlier this year, and the Browns have struggled at the position with and without Watson.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NFL rumors: Falcons will release Kirk Cousins

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/falcons-news-drake-london-blunt-reaction-michael-penix-kirk-cousins-change');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons star Drake London’s blunt reaction to Michael Penix-Kirk Cousins change');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Falcons-news-Drake-Londons-blunt-reaction-to-Michael-Penix-Kirk-Cousins-change.jpg"></figure><h1>Falcons star Drake London’s blunt reaction to Michael Penix-Kirk Cousins change</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T13:04:49-08:00">December 20th, 1:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T14:15:25-08:00">December 20th, 2:15pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist and a graduate of both Tunxis Community College and Central Connecticut State University. Dan has spent time covering high school and professional sports in both the print and online medium. He hopes to see his beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When the Atlanta Falcons take on the New York Giants in Week 16, rookie <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-benches-kirk-cousins-favor-of-michael-penix-jr">Michael Penix will be replacing Kirk Cousins under center</a>. But for star wide receiver Drake London, he won’t even notice the difference.</p><p>It certainly won’t be the same catching passes from Penix compared to Cousins. But as long as London is getting the ball, <a href="https://x.com/Bryce_Lewis86/status/1870109670087503978" rel="noopener">he’ll be happy</a>, via Bryce Lewis of Sporting News.</p><p>“I don’t take QB changes in any way,” London said. “How I look at it is, ‘Just catch the ball.’ Whoever throws me the ball, I don’t really care, just as long as it gets there and it’s catchable.”</p><p>London has looked quite impressive with Cousins at quarterback. Through 14 games, he has caught 78 passes for 919 yards and seven touchdowns. All three stats are already career-highs. London also ranks tied for 11th in receiving touchdowns and 15th in yardage. His only hope is that the change to Penix doesn’t deflate his gaudy receiving numbers.</p><p>While London played well with Cousins, Atlanta was forced into the move based on the quarterback’s play. He threw four interceptions against the Los Angeles Chargers before another two against the Minnesota Vikings. Against the Los Angeles Raiders, Cousins had just one pick and even threw a touchdown. But his lethargic 112 yards passing ultimately sent him to the bench.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-anonymous-gm-calls-atlanta-children-drafting-michael-penix-jr">Falcons got plenty of flack for drafting Michael Penix</a> when they had already signed Kirk Cousins. But now they’ll have an opportunity to see exactly what they have in the rookie. His final season at Washington saw him throw for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns. He won the Maxwell Award for his efforts.</p><p>At 7-7, Atlanta is still pushing for a playoff spot in battling with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South’s top spot. Raheem Morris and company believe Penix gives the Falcons the best chance to succeed. If things are flowing offensively, London agrees.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons star Drake London’s blunt reaction to Michael Penix-Kirk Cousins change

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-remaining-backup-2025-gets-stern-appraisal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kirk Cousins remaining backup with Atlanta in 2025 gets stern appraisal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0Kirk-Cousins-remaining-backup-with-Atlanta-in-2025-gets-stern-appraisal0.jpg"></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kirk Cousins remaining backup with Atlanta in 2025 gets stern appraisal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T11:30:49-08:00">December 20th, 11:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T11:33:52-08:00">December 20th, 11:33am</time><address><a>Derek Hryn</a>Derek Hryn is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints specializing in NFL and NCAA Football coverage. Derek was previously a fantasy football expert at DK and SB Nation, and he has been featured at FanSided, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons’ recent decision at starting quarterback has sparked some serious debate about the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-message-michael-penix-jr-after-benching">franchise’s plans for Kirk Cousins moving forward</a>. After 14 appearances under center, head coach Raheem Morris announced that the Falcons are benching Cousins <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-michael-penix-jr-found-out-hed-replace-kirk-cousins-at-costco">for rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr</a>.</p><p>Cousins has struggled through the second half of the season, throwing just one touchdown and nine interceptions in the last five games. A change was long overdue, as the Falcons sit at 7-7, and one loss away from missing the NFC playoffs. Playing on a freshly-inked $180 million contract over four years, both sides may have to continue an alternate future.</p><p>Penix is set to make his first NFL start after just a few regular season appearances. He entered in the Falcons’ Week 11 blowout loss to the Denver Broncos, where he flashed potential. The Washington product completed two of his four passes for 24 yards.</p><p>His Week 16 showing against the lowly New York Giants defense will be watched with massive interest. One thing’s for certain, the Falcons are going to bear <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43066728/nfl-atlanta-falcons-qb-kirk-cousins-salary-cap-michael-penix-jr" rel="noopener">a much different outlook</a> after Sunday.</p><p>“For the remaining three weeks of the season, Cousins said he’ll offer his support to Penix and the team. After that, things are very much up in the air, and the chances the 13-year veteran returns to the Falcons as a backup seem slim,” according to ESPN’s Mike Raimondi.</p><p>Cousins’ no-trade clause offers a chance for him to have slice of control in his future, and he can discuss his preferred destinations to the Falcons organization.</p><h2><b>Falcons move forward with Kirk Cousins as backup</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kirk-Cousins_f84c62.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If things do go that way, then the Falcons’ front office has only itself to blame. This was always a potential scenario, ever since Penix was drafted with the No. 8 pick in April. Given, Cousins was signed a month prior, so it was always expected what type of hysteria this would eventually bring.</p><p>“You are kind of one day at a time right now, and you kind of always are in this league,” Cousins said, “and in the offseason, that’s when conversations happen, but we’re not there yet.”</p><p>The Falcons need to win their last three games in order to stand a chance at winning the NFC South, and securing a playoff berth. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are cruising right now as one of the league’s hottest teams, but still sit just one game ahead of Atlanta at 8-6.</p><p>Penix would need to lift the team over the Giants, Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers to conclude the regular season. Each of those are winnable matchups, which makes this situation all the more riveting.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024 SEASON STATS
PASSING YDS	PASSING TDS	INTERCEPTIONS	POSITION RANK
5988.2	30.7	27.3	17

2024 SEASON STATS
PASSING YDS	PASSING TDS	INTERCEPTIONS	POSITION RANK
5988.2	30.7	27.3	17

Kirk
Cousins

2022 Projected vs Actual Pts

Latest Kirk Cousins News

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Falcons’ Kirk Cousins remaining backup with Atlanta in 2025 gets stern appraisal