Atlanta, GA
Geno Smith Touts ‘Special’ Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. After NFL Debut
Michael Penix Jr. slid back his right foot, then his left, and rolled his eyes toward the left sideline. The Atlanta Falcons’ rookie quarterback bounced off his back leg and fired a bullet to fellow rookie Casey Washington.
Some 14 yards later, Washington was on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf with a pack of Seattle Seahawks defensive players surrounding him. Behind the sixth-round receiver, Penix walked upfield, eyeing the Falcons’ sideline for the next play.
The scoreboard showed Seattle 34, Atlanta 14, as the two-minute warning approached. But elsewhere, the NFL record books showed two new additions: Penix and Washington, with the two rookies recording their first pass and reception, respectively.
For Penix, the draft’s No. 8 overall pick and the Falcons’ backup to quarterback Kirk Cousins, his seven snaps in Sunday’s 34-14 loss to Seattle were the first of his young NFL career.
“It was kind of a surreal moment,” Penix said. “It’s not the best situation we were in, with us being down, but to be able to go in and operate at a high level, it was definitely good.”
Penix entered for the Falcons’ final drive, as head coach Raheem Morris felt the game was over and he saw no reasons to throw the 36-year-old Cousins, who’d turned the ball over on each of the team’s previous three possessions, back on the field.
So, in went Atlanta’s prized rookie.
Penix’s completion to Washington, who had played eight special teams snaps in two appearances before Sunday’s game, was his lone pass attempt on debut.
On the other six plays, Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson called runs — one to second-year pro Bijan Robinson and five to sixth-round rookie Jase McClellan, who was active for the first time Sunday and thus received his first NFL carries.
McClellan finished with 17 yards and averaged 3.4 yards per carry. He and Washington were the Falcons’ only two skill position draft picks apart from Penix, who was impressed by the way his fellow rookies handled their moment.
“Casey’s a guy that works hard every single day,” Penix said. “He goes full speed. You saw when he got the ball, he made a couple players miss. And Jase coming in as well, running the ball, running extremely hard — it was good to see him out there as well.”
While Penix enjoyed the performances of Washington and McClellan, he had his own admirer on the field Sunday: Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
Penix and Smith met last year, when Penix was the quarterback at the University of Washington, a 20-minute drive up I-405 N from the Seahawks’ training facility in Renton, Washington.
Smith watched as Penix finished second in the Heisman Trophy race and led the Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
And on Sunday, Smith saw Penix debut — and believes the 24-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.
“He’s a special player,” Smith said about Penix. “I think when he gets his opportunity, he’s going to be ready for it. I really believe in him. Obviously, him and [Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan] Grubb have done great things together, and it was great to see them have a moment before the game.
“Really rooting for Mike and hoping for the best for him.”
Penix thought his debut went well, saying postgame he works hard each day at practice to be ready when his moment arrives. On Sunday, it did.
But Penix knows he wasn’t drafted by the Falcons for mop-up duty. And while the Tampa, Fla., native is grateful to check off a childhood bucket list, he’s well aware there’s plenty more to come.
“I can’t get complacent, I can’t get comfortable,” Penix said. “It’s still a lot of football left, and I feel like I’ll play a lot of football in my future. But it’s definitely a blessing — something I’ve been dreaming of all my life — and I’m super blessed to be able to have the opportunities.”
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta man convicted of abusing minors while stationed abroad
ATLANTA – An Atlanta man faces a potential life sentence after a federal jury found him guilty of terrorizing two young children during his military service abroad.
What we know:
A federal jury found 39-year-old Adam Schlueter guilty on Friday following a four-day trial. He was convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 12 and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Schlueter was stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany, from 2009 until 2013 while enlisted in the Army. During this time, prosecutors say he physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two victims who were under the age of 10.
Both victims testified during the trial that Schlueter beat and choked them. One victim recalled an incident at age 8 where Schlueter pushed him through a second-story window and dangled him above the ground. Evidence also showed Schlueter threatened victims and witnesses who spoke about his crimes.
What they’re saying:
“When he should have been honorably defending our country with the utmost integrity, Schlueter instead spent years terrorizing his young victims through physical and sexual abuse,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said. “Excellent work by the prosecutors and investigators assigned to this case will ensure that Schlueter is suitably punished for his wickedness.”
What’s next:
Schlueter is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9. He faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years of imprisonment for each of the aggravated sexual abuse convictions and may be sentenced to life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower are prosecuting the case, with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from federal prosecutors with the Northern District of Georgia following the conclusion of a four-day federal trial.
Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia Phillies lose fifth straight game to end homestand, swept by Atlanta Braves
Michael Harris II homered and had three hits as the streaking Atlanta Braves defeated the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rivals.
Ozzie Albies hit an RBI double and Austin Riley also drove in a run for the Braves, who have won five in a row and nine of 11. It was Atlanta’s first series sweep of at least three games at Philadelphia in 10 years.
Kyle Schwarber went deep for the Phillies, who have lost five straight and 10 of 13. They were outscored 56-33 on a 2-7 homestand against the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Braves, leaving Philadelphia 6 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the division standings.
Raisel Iglesias escaped trouble in the ninth inning for his fifth save. Philadelphia put runners on first and second with one out, but Trea Turner struck out and Schwarber lined out to right field on an excellent running catch by Ronald Acuña Jr.
Tyler Kinley (3-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
Schwarber’s two-run shot in the first gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Harris homered leading off the third before the Braves went ahead in the fifth with three runs against rookie starter Andrew Painter (1-1) and lefty reliever Tim Mayza.
Painter was lifted after he opened the inning by allowing singles to Harris and Acuña. Mayza loaded the bases with a walk, and the Braves tied the game on Matt Olson’s groundout. Riley’s dribbler to third went for an RBI infield single, and Albies’ double to the left-field wall made it 4-2.
Riley saved at least one run while ending a Philadelphia threat in the bottom of the fifth with a stellar defensive play at third base.
Braves starter Grant Holmes allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
On a chilly night, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto sat out after leaving Saturday’s game with lower back tightness.
Up next
Braves: Begin a four-game series Monday night at Washington. RHP Bryce Elder (2-1, 0.77 ERA) opposes Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (1-2, 6.16).
Phillies: Open seven-game trip Monday night with the first of four games against the Cubs. RHP Aaron Nola (1-4, 4.03 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.63).
Atlanta, GA
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