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Raheem Morris downplays play astir Kirk Cousins (0:50)
Falcons manager Raheem Morris talks up Kirk Cousins' professionalism and says there's little play than what it seems. (0:50)
Marc RaimondiJun 10, 2025, 12:36 PM ET
- Marc Raimondi's archetypal twelvemonth covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn't his archetypal twelvemonth astatine ESPN. He joined the institution successful 2019 and was a apical combat sports reporter. He besides covered nonrecreational wrestling and wrote the publication "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," which was published by Simon & Schuster successful 2025. Raimondi besides worked for the New York Post and Newsday, opening successful 2009, covering precocious schoolhouse and assemblage sports, positive the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Kirk Cousins is contiguous astatine Atlanta Falcons mandatory minicamp -- and manager Raheem Morris does not expect the seasoned quarterback's concern to beryllium an contented for incumbent starter Michael Penix Jr.
After being astir for a fewer days during the aboriginal outpouring offseason program, Cousins was not contiguous for signifier during voluntary offseason squad activities (OTAs). Cousins would similar to beryllium released oregon traded to different squad truthful helium tin beryllium a starter, portion Penix has been pegged arsenic Atlanta's starter since precocious past season, erstwhile helium took implicit for a struggling Cousins.
"It's been little melodramatic of a concern arsenic it has been from an outside-of-the-building standpoint," Morris said Tuesday earlier practice.
Morris said Penix has faced "outside noise" since helium was drafted eighth wide by the Falcons successful 2024 conscionable weeks aft the squad signed Cousins to a $100 cardinal guaranteed contract. Morris does not expect Cousins' beingness to beryllium a distraction, adding that Cousins is simply a "high-quality individual" who appreciates Penix some arsenic a idiosyncratic and player.
"Kirk is not successful the concern of disrupting Michael Penix," Morris said.
The Falcons person maintained since the extremity of past play that they are comfy moving guardant into 2025 with Cousins arsenic the backup. Cousins is owed $27.5 cardinal this play and the squad figures it volition person to wage him whether he's connected the squad oregon released, truthful he'd much invaluable arsenic a apical backup. Cousins is besides owed a $10 cardinal bonus successful 2026.
Cousins, 36, would person preferred to person been cut, which the Falcons did not bash this offseason. Atlanta has discussed imaginable trades, but the imaginable landing spots for Cousins arsenic a starter person diminished, particularly present that Aaron Rodgers has officially landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cousins has a no-trade clause and would person to o.k. immoderate deal. The Falcons would besides privation the receiving squad to devour immoderate of Cousins' guaranteed money.
For now, though, Cousins is simply a Falcon and the enactment is operating arsenic if helium volition beryllium arsenic the No. 2 backmost this season.
"I ever deliberation these things resoluteness themselves," Morris said.
