Atlanta, GA
Falcons Know Kirk Cousins Contract ‘Not Ideal’ for Backup QB
INDIANAPOLIS — The Atlanta Falcons’ outlook on veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn’t changed since the end of the season, but general manager Terry Fontenot’s transparency regarding Cousins’s contract has.
Fontenot said Tuesday at the NFL combine in Indianapolis that Cousins is still the Falcons’ backup amid talks of a potential trade or release when free agency opens March 12.
But Fontenot also acknowledged that keeping Cousins, who will make $27.5 million guaranteed in 2025 and will add another $10 million if he’s on the roster March 17, is far from a quality situation.
“We understand it’s not ideal to have a quarterback at that cap number,” Fontenot said. “Now, when we gave him that contract, the expectation was for him to be the starter at this point, and so that is a good number for a starting quarterback.”
Atlanta gave Cousins a four-year deal worth up to $180 million last March. He was five months removed from having surgery on his torn Achilles, which ultimately didn’t prove overly problematic, he said.
But Cousins, who only spoke to Atlanta media the day after he was benched for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., said in an appearance on NFL Network before the Super Bowl he battled right elbow and shoulder injuries from Weeks 11-15.
Cousins said he suffered the injury in a Week 10 loss to the New Orleans Saints, which started a five-game span in which he threw only one touchdown and nine interceptions while Atlanta went 1-4. At the time of his benching, he had tossed an NFL-worst 16 interceptions.
The 36-year-old Cousins appeared on Atlanta’s injury report the week after losing to the Saints, but he was a full participant in the team’s two full practice sessions Thursday and Friday and didn’t have a game designation. He was not listed on the injury report at any point thereafter.
Fontenot and Falcons head coach Raheem Morris each said they were unaware of any additional injury issues Cousins experienced.
For now, however, Cousins is Atlanta’s backup to Penix, who Morris confirmed Tuesday is the team’s starting signal caller now and moving forward — which brings the conversations back to Cousins’s contract.
Fontenot said in his end-of-season press conference Jan. 9 that Atlanta is comfortable with its financial situation at quarterback, a claim he reiterated Tuesday.
“Now that he’s the backup, when we say we’re comfortable, we’re talking about the total funds allocated to the quarterback position, and that’s already baked in,” Fontenot said. “And so it was baked in for him to start at that point, but now he’s a backup.
“Again, he handled himself well at the end of the season, and so when you look at our team, we’re comfortable at this point.”
Fontenot’s point is Atlanta’s raw financial situation hasn’t changed in terms of money spent on the position. No matter whether Cousins is or isn’t on the team, or if he had retained the starting role, the Falcons’ financial commitment at quarterback is the same as it was expected to be last offseason, just with inefficient distribution between Cousins and Penix.
And that, as Fontenot said, is far from ideal for a franchise currently over the salary cap by nearly $7 million as free agency looms.
Atlanta, GA
Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles
A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting.
Atlanta, GA
Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown
Photo by Luke Beard
When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.
“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.
Photo by Luke Beard
Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.
A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.
Photo by Luke Beard
Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.
“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.
Photo by Luke Beard
One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.
A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.
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Atlanta, GA
Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels
ATLANTA – A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm.
What we know:
The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South.
According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.
The entire building was evacuated as a precaution.
One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure.
Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.
Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.
Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.
What we don’t know:
It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation.
The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.
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