Atlanta Falcons security Jessie Bates III spoke with reporters throughout a midweek information convention about a number of topics, together with the membership’s determination to make quarterback Michael Penix Jr. the No. 8 decide of this yr’s draft after signing veteran Kirk Cousins in free company.
“I feel he’ll deliver so much to this locker room,” Bates mentioned about Penix, as shared by Myles Simmons of Professional Soccer Speak. “Like we mentioned, he might not be taking part in for the primary couple of years, however simply having that aggressive nature within the locker room — whether or not it’s Kirk Cousins, whether or not it’s a follow squad participant, whether or not it’s me, whether or not it’s a follow squad man, no matter it’s, we’re going to compete and make one another higher.”
Bates seemingly was referencing how Falcons basic supervisor Terry Fontenot prompt he’d be OK if Penix serves as a backup for “4 or 5 years.” Whereas Cousins inked a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M assured again in March, Atlanta reportedly can escape that deal after the 2025 season. In the meantime, Penix shall be 26 years outdated in September 2026.
“Terry introduced me right here and I actually imagine that the whole lot that he does is to assist this group,” Bates mentioned about his confidence in a quarterback plan that has been ripped by quite a few analysts and unnamed league personnel. “There’s going to be a number of questions on why we made that decide, however as a pacesetter, I’ve to be a man [who says], ‘Hey, that is the imaginative and prescient. That is what we’re going with.’ I can do all I can to ensure I do my half and identical for the opposite guys.”
One of many extra controversial elements of the Penix determination concerned the truth that Cousins did not know Atlanta can be drafting a signal-caller through the eighth alternative till final Thursday evening. Bates revealed that Fontenot hadn’t but addressed the group about probably unsettling the quarterback room so early into Cousins’ Atlanta tenure.
“I don’t suppose there must be something mentioned about it,” Bates defined. “That is the league that we play in, that is what occurs. That’s why there’s a draft to herald new gamers. It’s uncomfortable conversations, clearly, however that’s a part of what we do — not simply as soccer gamers, however in life as properly.”
Bates clearly can solely say a lot a few decide he did not make and a few participant who, barring a disaster, seemingly will not assist the 2024 Falcons win any video games. If nothing else, Bates’ feedback function a reminder that the Penix decide will hover over the Atlanta locker room properly past April 25.
