Russini: Why Atlanta Took Penix & Kirk Cousins' Frustration 

Kirk, it's a business. You know that better than anyone.

I could not care less about the Falcons yet I'm legitimately angry about this pick. I think it just offends me as a rational human being.

You pay veteran Kirk to win now. Proceeds to draft for the “future” instead of gather more assets to win now. You can either A) draft a rookie QB and cash out every other position in FA. Or B) cash out on a veteran QB while skill positions are still cheap. (London, Bijan, Pitts) Can’t do both. Wasting Penix rookie years. Literally having Kirk confused of the vision. There’s a time to look for the future and a time to win now. This is how you end up with nothing to show for it, 1 playoff win no SB.

The Falcons drafting Penix is absolutely indefensible. When you sign a veteran QB like Cousins, you are telling him and the rest of your team that you are in "win now" mode...and then you spend your 1st round pick on a QB has no chance of starting instead of improving your defense, upgrading your O-line, or getting the QB you just spent a shit ton of money on another weapon. Absolutely mind boggling move.

So they the Falcons still lied to Cousins. They said “late round.” Not 1st round, let alone the Top 10.

Nightmare draft for the falcons between this and trading up to draft Ruke over Johnny Newton

YOU LIKE THAT, KIRK??? YOU LIKE THAT???

LMAO they didn't do a visit HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

Watch us go 7-10 again

They didn’t think Penix would be there? Who did they think would take him in the top 7 is an even more interesting question tbh.

That laugh at “they didn’t think Penix would be there” was great😂

I wish I could be a sports "insider". Getting paid to kiss ass and report rumors...

I’m confused. Is Diana saying that the Falcons were convinced Penix would be taken in the top 7 picks? How could they have thought this?

im calling the falcons bluff thats penix wasnt be there. lol. the moment giants drafted a wr and no trade was being done from broncos or raiders. penix was there. you had a chance to move out but decide to stay and now its more than just a circus. its a zoo and aquarium. lol

Why improve on defense when you can inject drama into your organization

Let’s not be so naive. Of course the GM and Head Coach wanted Penix.

6:18 Need to know who's lil smirk laugh that was off camera?! 😆 *Was* *it* *Brugler* *or* *Tice?*

If I just signed with a team in my waning years and they threw away my chance at a Super Bowl by drafting a 1st rd qb, I'd be pissed too. Hilarious blunder. Roster is very overrated. I'm anticipating a .500 season now at best.

The owner should hire a GM and Coach to shadow the current regime.

They are not doing it the right way, they should have called the Packers first, and ask them how it`s done.

I’ve not seen this format show. Are we having drinks? I think them chicks at the other table are checking us out 😂

Falcons are building to be just good enough for everyone to keep their jobs. Penix should have gone to Las Vegas.

As a falcons fan Kirk doesn't owe this team or fam base anything. If I were him I'd extend my rehab through Christmas, making Penix the starter and and then force a trade heading into the 2025 season

Penix had worst qbr under pressure amongst the six ....and throw in rattler ( 5th round) and pratt( 7th). ...and that's college. Penix has a cannon for an arm but they could've called me to tell them that being that they spent 40 minutes watching him and they dubbed him the next Josh Allen ?? There are 1st round picks that will turn out to be defensive rookie of the year and maybe a pro bowl. This is the kind of marginal premium pick that can make a difference in a wide open NFC.

If they wanted a luxury pick and were deciding to ignore the gapping need for pass rush Rome and Drake would have been insane 😂 sorry to rub it in falcons fans

I actually agree with the Falcons on this pick. Sure its a year or two early, but you dont pass on starting QB's. As for Kirk, this is what happens when you chase the money. He's valued money over winning his whole career.

Blank found out Cousins shops at Lowes.

Why are we worried about the money. I’m starting to think the media just hates the Falcons for some reason, there are 12 teams in the NFL that never won 🏆 a Super Bowl before but everything the Falcons doing is wrong 😑 let’s break it down. 1st It was why the Falcons didn’t hire Bill umm nobody did. Next why pay Kirk Cousins that money umm did you see Desmond play enough said. Now it’s about the Draft and MP9, just because we didn’t get any defensive player or WR in the 1st round now we got the worst draft in history “HISTORY” stop it 😂😂😂

unbelievable hubris

for 100 and some mill...who cares what Kirk thinks..he's doing freakin fine. Goes back to Green Bay with Rodgers when they snagged Love. People like drama, but it's a pick they believe is for future because chriiiiist, Atlanta needs some sort of prep.

Ms. Russini, for your next assignment, how long before Arthur s-------- cans the entire draft room in disgust?

If Kirk Cousins is stunned then he was the wrong guy to sign.

All this talk about timeline, age, Cousins' contract, etc., and yet it boils down to this: If Penix is good, it will have been a good pick. If he's not, it won't have been. Just like every other QB pick.

One good pass rusher isnt winning you games if you dont have a QB. TJ Watt has how many playoff wins with the Steelers?!?!? 🤔 The Steelers have how many playoff wins since Big Ben retired?!?!? 🤔 You need a damn QB to win in this league. What NFL team led the league in sacks last season....how many playoff wins did they have?!?!? I think people are so short sided. What happen to the Jets when Rodgers got hurt? 🤔 ohh yea. Everybody jumped out the bandwagon...it was like a mass exodus. Media, fans, endorsements everybody headed for the door. For sale signs was posted. What happen to GB when Rodgers left. 🤔 ohh yea. Love stepped in. Pack didnt skipp a beat. Made the playoffs. Now everyone is saying they are one of the favorites in the NFC. Like Dan said the NFL draft isn't only 1 round. It's multiple rounds. And you can actually still address team needs in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and free agency....wow what a novel concept. Everybody bitching about the money. 100MIL+ is the going rate for QBs that avg 43k passing yard seasons 34 TDs 11 Ints. Especially when they coming off a 13 win season. Even this past season before he got hurt he was on a MVP stats wise projectory ie. 46k plus passing yard 45 -50 TDs 11 ints...with a "1st team all pro WR" So yea. It is what its. Reguardless of what anyone thinks...NFL teams want to win today not tomorrow. Nobody wants to go 7-10. Getting another crappy QB and not Kirkco Chainz was asking to go 7-10 again. Miss me with that. If 100MIL gets you 11- 13 wins two yrs in a row. Gets your team to the playoffs. Gets Robinson, London,Pitts some playoff experience. Gives Penix a chance to sit back and learn like Love did..and come out firing. Then 100MIL is worth every penny its called a ROI in sell-out games, playoffs appearances, and big game experience. The Falcons drafted edge and Dline in the 2,3,4 rounds and they got their QB for the future. Thats a win win

Hey Diana, name one job that pays $100M guaranteed and that there is no pressure? The answer: NONE

With Kirk's injury history and the history of Kirk's injuries wrecking his team's chances, I think the Penix pick may age better than a lot of people are thinking. Any other justification doesn't make sense, especially with who was still on the board when they picked.

People always say pick "Best player available". If Penix was for the Falcons why are people mad at them?

This kid is going to be good an as usual everyone going to be late and looking stupid. What does his age matter if they think he’s the most gifted passer in the draft. You can still get a 10 year. Career out of him when he’s 26/27

Dianna is so hot 🔥

Who gives a damn?😮

genius draft pick. Penix will be better than Cousins ever was - and Cousins is never going to be the player HE used to be. he was already declining. No edge rusher is worth passing on a guy that could be a top 10 qb for 10 years, and that’s Penix. Penix will be better than Cousins by Week 9.

Kirk Cousins is an 8-9 QB. ATL will never be in a position to draft a QB this high again (offsets your opportunity cost). Also, Kirk is guaranteed way too much money to be upset about anything.

Diana wants to be relevant so bad it’s ridiculous

Cousins is an over-rated, over-paid, over-the-hill QB. Good Luck Mr. Penix!