A lot of people felt bad for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins on Thursday when the team used its first-round draft pick to select his presumed successor, Michael Penix, Jr.
Don’t count Chris “Mad Dog” Russo among them.
Despite having just signed Cousins to a massive contract, the Falcons used their top pick on a 24-year-old quarterback with a history of injuries to back him up, presumably for the next 3-4 years. The move was very confusing to a lot of people.
Reports also trickled out that the Falcons didn’t give Cousins much of a heads-up that they were planning on drafting another quarterback instead of a player who could help him win right now. The veteran, who came over from the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, was said to be “stunned.”
On his SiriusXM show on Friday, Russo did not seem to have much sympathy for Cousins, who hasn’t exactly put himself in Canton, Ohio with his career just yet.
"I can't worry about Kirk Cousins Feelings"
The @AtlantaFalcons made a smart decision
For More Mad Dog Unleashed: https://t.co/8etRk0mWHg pic.twitter.com/69S7mlC3nH
— Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) April 26, 2024
“I don’t think Atlanta owed Cousins any explanation. So the idea that somehow Cousins is disappointed…who cares what Cousins thinks?” asked Russo on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “And I like Cousins, that’s the sad thing. I think he’s underrated. But he’s won one playoff game in his life. Now we gotta sit there and we gotta worry about his feelings? Tough.
“I mean, he decided to go to Atlanta, and he left Minnesota that had the best receiver in football on the team, and a great, young head coach who knows offense. And he bailed on them because he got more money. How ’bout Cousins winning with what he’s got? He’s got a good receiver in [Drake] London, he’s got a lot of running backs and he’s got a great tight end in a bad division.
“I tell ya, I don’t have a problem with what Atlanta did, I really don’t.”
The Atlanta quarterback room will be a pretty interesting place to be this summer as the Falcons prepare for the 2024 NFL season.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.