Despite recent comments by Raheem Morris, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback controversy has
reached its climax, thanks to the team’s four-game losing streak and subpar play by Kirk
Cousins. The underwhelming results have led to Falcons fans and NFL media personnel calling
for Cousins to be benched in favor of eighth overall pick and 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up,
Michael Penix Jr.
It is now possible that the outside noise has found its way inside the Falcons’ locker room. This
past Friday, Fox Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz appeared on “Speak,” a Fox Sports morning
talk show, and reported that Cousins’ lucrative four-year, $180 million contract is the primary
incentive on why he has remained the team’s starting quarterback. It would reflect poorly on the
team’s coaching staff and front office to bench a quarterback who is not even an entire season
into his hefty contract. Most notably, Schultz mentioned that there are Falcons players who have
suggested that Penix currently gives the team a better chance to win.
“I’ve had players inside that locker room tell me point blank, Michael Penix Jr. is the best
quarterback in this building,” Schultz said.
“The fact that they are still with Cousins is because of optics,” he continued.
Now, it is possible that Schultz’s comments are false and that he has not spoken to any of the
Falcons’ players regarding the situation. Likewise, the report, if accurate, could harbor little to no
significance. There are 53 players on an NFL roster and 16 on a team’s practice squad. The
realm of possibilities surrounding which player(s) made these comments is wide-ranging.
However, there is a possibility that household name(s) on the team who believe that Penix gives
them a better chance to win have made these comments, causing a rift in the locker room.
While the latest story in the team’s quarterback controversy provides a possible glimmer of hope
regarding whether or not Penix is ready to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL, the last thing
Atlanta needs right now amid a playoff push is a divided locker room. There is no doubt that it is
the job of media members to promote storylines that keep audiences tuned into their work.
However, it is worth reiterating that Schultz is an NFL insider for Fox Sports. Therefore, it is
different than if the reports came from somebody representing a station with little credibility or
ties to the league.
Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot wanted to have their cake and eat it too when they
signed Cousins and drafted Penix this past offseason when they could have easily chosen one
or the other and allocated more of their resources to fill the team’s holes defensively. They took
this path and not have to bear the consequences on the field, but also potentially in the locker
room. As the head coach, Morris must keep the team focused on defeating the Raiders in a
must-win game and help them block out the fanfare driven by the Falcons’ fan base and NFL
media personnel. The second task would always be one of Morris’ primary duties before the
season. It is now possibly an even bigger responsibility for him.