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Atlanta turns heads with bizarre pick: Falcons draft QB Michael Penix Jr. despite trading for Kirk Cousins

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Atlanta turns heads with bizarre pick: Falcons draft QB Michael Penix Jr. despite trading for Kirk Cousins


The 2024 NFL Draft kicked off with a flurry of excitement, but it was the Atlanta Falcons who stole the spotlight, delivering a jaw-dropping surprise with their first-round pick.

Kirk Cousins shares heartwarming recovery video with his sonParker Johnson

Falcons’ unexpected selection of Penix Jr.

In a move that left fans and experts alike reeling, the Falcons selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall, sparking a wave of speculation and intrigue across the league.

As the draft unfolded, all eyes were on the Falcons as they made their selection.

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While many anticipated a different direction for Atlanta, the team threw a curveball by choosing Penix, a move that caught even incumbent quarterback Kirk Cousins off guard.

Reports revealed that Cousins had no prior knowledge of the Falcons’ intentions, highlighting the secrecy surrounding Atlanta’s decision-making process.

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah revealed on air that Cousins’ camp confirmed he didn’t have prior knowledge of the Falcons’ decision to pick a quarterback in the first round.

“I just reached out to his agent, Mike McCartney, he was not given a heads up. Kirk Cousins was not given really a heads up on this whole thing,” Jeremiah said.

The news of Penix’s selection left Cousins stunned and disappointed, according to sources.

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Coming off a recent multi-million dollar contract, Cousins had assumed he would lead the Falcons’ offense for years to come.

However, the team’s bold move signaled a potential shift in direction, leaving Cousins to grapple with the uncertainty of his future in Atlanta.

Penix Jr. poised to learn from Cousins

For Penix, the draft day surprise was met with a mix of shock and excitement.

“I’m not going to say I knew it was coming,”Penix said. “But I knew once the phone call came through.”

Despite the unexpected nature of his selection, the young quarterback expressed readiness to learn from Cousins and embrace the opportunity to grow within the Falcons’ organization.

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“He’s been in the league,”Penix said. “He’s been in there for a while. He’s played a lot of football. I feel like I’m going to come in and I’m going to learn. I’m going to learn from him.”

While Penix’s talent is undeniable, concerns linger regarding his injury history and age.

Multiple ACL injuries during his college career have raised questions about his durability, adding an element of risk to the Falcons’ decision.

However, with the guidance of experienced veterans like Cousins, Penix has the chance to develop his skills and overcome any obstacles that may arise.





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Atlanta, GA

Man found dead inside southwest Atlanta apartment | what we know

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Man found dead inside southwest Atlanta apartment | what we know


Atlanta police investigate the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old man at The Manor III apartments on Arthur Langford Junior Place in southwest Atlanta on December 10, 2025. (FOX 5)

A 38-year-old man was found shot to death Wednesday evening at an apartment complex on Arthur Langford Junior Place.

What we know:

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Atlanta police said officers were called to The Manor III apartments located at 262 Arthur Langford Junior Place SW around 7:31 p.m. on a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they found the man unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

Homicide investigators spent the night collecting ballistic evidence, reviewing video and working with security at the complex. Detectives said the property has been cooperative and has provided footage that investigators are reviewing.

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What they’re saying:

A police spokesperson at the scene said detectives are still working to determine whether the shooter acted alone or whether multiple suspects were involved. “Unfortunately, the male was pronounced deceased from multiple gunshot wounds,” the spokesperson said. “We are still early in the investigation trying to gather information and speak with witnesses.”

What we don’t know:

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When asked about a potential motive, detectives said it was too soon to know.

What you can do:

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Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or reach out directly to the homicide unit.

The Source: The Atlanta Police Department provided the details for this article.

AtlantaNewsCrime and Public Safety
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Car crash deaths outpace murders, new report shows

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Car crash deaths outpace murders, new report shows


A new report shows car crash deaths in metro Atlanta have now outpaced homicides. According to the street-safety group Propel ATL, data from 2020 through 2024 across five counties shows fatal crashes rising at a troubling rate.



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What’s the best possible outcome for Falcons vs. Bucs on Thursday Night Football?

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What’s the best possible outcome for Falcons vs. Bucs on Thursday Night Football?


What a weird season this has been for the Falcons, and I absolutely mean that in a bad way. Any hope we had early on was choked out weeks ago. Nothing this team does makes sense, whether it’s getting shut out entirely by the Carolina Panthers or beating the Bills. And normally in a lost season, in a season where we’re looking ahead to 2026 with several weeks left in THIS season, we’d be talking about the Falcons draft position.

Not this year! This year we’d be talking about the RAMS’ draft position in the first round, because the team traded that pick away last year to trade back up into the first and select James Pearce Jr.

I loved the pick. I don’t want anyone to misunderstand me there. We’ve been begging for a pass rush for years, and the defensive rookies on this team have impressed me. And that trade did net the pick that the Falcons used on safety Xavier Watts, who looks to be a very solid addition. But what they gave up are key roster-building picks. And it’ll be a couple of years before we fully know the impact.

This week is going to look slightly different around The Falcoholic because of the short week with the Thursday night game, but there’s still plenty to talk about around this team — including the best case scenario for Thursday night’s game.

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On one hand, a win would be less embarrassing for the Falcons and for all of us. That’s always a good thing. It would also be kind of funny if the Buccaneers got knocked out of the postseason by the Panthers. If I can’t enjoy the Falcons I’m going to root for chaos, and a Panthers team that pretty much came out of nowhere to be competitive this season fits that bill. Plus, it’s not like it impacts the Falcons’ draft position for reasons mentioned above.

But on the other hand, I know a lot of fans are on the “Fire Everyone” train and I can’t say I blame y’all. A win on Thursday night would almost certainly delay that, if not derail it entirely. I’ve said all this time that, based on Arthur Blank’s history, I expected Raheem Morris would get another season primarily because of the Falcons’ injuries. Candidly, I hate talking about potential firings. I like and respect these coaches as people. I know Arthur Blank does too, and consistency of leadership is often a hallmark of successful teams so I can understand the thought process of not diving into another coaching staff shakeup this offseason. But the results are the results, and with each loss I feel less and less confident that there’s any path forward here for Raheem Morris and just about everyone else but Jeff Ulbrich.

Scroll down to the comments and let us know what your best case scenario is for Thursday night’s game and why.



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