Atlanta, GA

Michael Penix Jr. Pleased with Atlanta Falcons Debut: ‘I Did OK’

Published

3 hours ago

August 11, 2024

Michael Penix Jr. Pleased with Atlanta Falcons Debut: ‘I Did OK’

With Kirk Cousins scheduled to be the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, it was an excellent, and somewhat rare, opportunity for a first-round quarterback like Michael Penix Jr. to get extensive action in the preseason.

Penix had a solid debut on Friday night against the Miami Dolphins, going 9 for 16 passing for 104 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. He showed off the arm that made him a top-10 pick in April’s NFL Draft.

Every @themikepenix completion in his NFL debut 💪https://t.co/4yVnQQsWkZ pic.twitter.com/3TThF3Lhda
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 10, 2024

After the game, Penix was asked to self scout and give his thoughts on his performance.

“I feel like I did OK,” Penix said after the game. “You know, some things that you know definitely want to get better. I feel like I executed the offense the best that I could. I had one mistake. One mistake, the fans, they wouldn’t have noticed it, but in our offense, I know it.

“Other than that, you know, just trying to get points on the board. Whenever I was out there was able to get some points. We want to score every drive, we ended in field goal. I’m not sure how many times but you know I want to score. But it’s always room for improvement.”

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Penix was pressed on the one mistake he made.

“I looked the wrong way on the play, but I found a check down,” Penix said with a grin.

Players are almost always asked about their first experience, when it felt real to them being on the field in an NFL uniform, but Penix took it all in stride.

“It was fun to be able to be out there compete, you know, with my brothers,” Penix said. “I’ve been having fun out there, just going out there, playing playing a game. I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old,” said Penix. “So no nerves, no jitters. Just ready to go.”

Penix was happy to see a different uniform out there. He thinks the familiarity of facing one’s own defense actually makes practices harder than having the element of surprise against an opponent.

“I always say the game is easier than practice.” Penix said. “I don’t know why; I think it’s because our defense sees our looks so many times, it’s harder to get completion against them. But in the game I feel like the routes be wide open and you know it be slower; it’s slower than practice.

“So I was good.”

Michael Penix Jr. was good in his debut for the Atlanta Falcons. He’s a tantalizing piece the Falcons plan to have in reserve the next-two seasons as long as Cousins performs to the level he’s accustomed to… and stays healthy.

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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta native in home stretch of cross-country trip raising awareness for dementia

Published

10 hours ago

August 11, 2024

Press Room

Atlanta native in home stretch of cross-country trip raising awareness for dementia

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta native Spencer Cline has nearly completed a seven-week cycling trip totaling 3,700 miles to honor his late father and raise awareness for frontotemporal dementia, which claimed his father’s life.

Thus far, he’s raised over $50,000 while documenting his journey on social media. He biked to his home in Atlanta Saturday after beginning his cross country journey in June in Oregon.

“Coming in and seeing the skyline was like, ‘Wow I made it,’” he said. “Crazy being back in the city that I flew out of a month and a half ago to get to Oregon and now I’m back and only have a week left.”

“I’ve gone through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, now in Georgia and then South Carolina next,” he said. “Seeing the amount of people who have donated. People donating $20 up to $10,000, it’s been breathtaking.”

Years ago, Cline lost his father Larry to frontotemporal dementia, a hereditary disease that’s difficult to diagnose.

Cline says he and his siblings have a 50% chance of developing frontotemporal dementia, which is why every mile counts.

He is hoping his journey from coast to coast will raise awareness to find a cure for the disease.

“Doing this so other families don’t have to go through what we went through,” he said. “It was such a long time to get an accurate diagnosis and going through multiple misdiagnosis.”

He’s had some hurdles, including a chaotic crash in Idaho to avoid running over a furry friend.

“A dog ran out in front of me and caused me to fall and break my wrist. So, it put a delay in the ride,” he said.

He was back on his bike a week later, following surgery.

He aims to complete his journey next Saturday in Charleston, South Carolina.

Cline’s online fundraiser can be found here.

Atlanta News First does not vet or endorse individual online fundraisers. Donate at your own risk.

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Atlanta, GA

14-year-old boy shot in northwest Atlanta, police say

Published

17 hours ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

14-year-old boy shot in northwest Atlanta, police say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A 14-year-old boy was shot in northwest Atlanta Saturday, according to Atlanta police.

Police said officers responded to 3021 Middleton Road NW around 3:45 p.m. Saturday and found the 14-year-old with a gunshot wound.

The boy was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Police said investigators are still determining the details of the shooting.

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Atlanta, GA

Former BC Lions Quarterback’s First Impression with Atlanta Falcons in 2024 Preseason

Published

24 hours ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

Former BC Lions Quarterback’s First Impression with Atlanta Falcons in 2024 Preseason

Canadian football fans are watching the NFL’s preseason closely as they see their favorite native quarterback Nathan Rourke look to earn a spot on the Atlanta Falcons’ roster in 2024.

Rourke played his first game in the red and black uniforms, playing through the whole fourth quarter. The Falcons were not able to score any points in the final quarter, falling to the Miami Dolphins 20-13 on Friday night.

The BC Lions’ former starter completed three of his 13 passes for 37 yards and rushed twice for 24 yards on two carries. The stats are misconceiving as the wide receivers had at least three drops off of Rourke’s passes in the loss. He looked good in the game, and his athleticism showed on a big run play of 21 yards.

Heck of a run right there by Nathan Rourke pic.twitter.com/HZEkY1XEXu
— Matt Stewart (@MattStewartTV) August 10, 2024
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The bright side of his performance was that he outperformed fellow backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who threw for 11 yards on four completions. Atlanta’s first-round pick, Michael Penix Jr., got the start at quarterback with Kirk Cousins not playing in the game.

Rourke signed with the Falcons at the beginning of August after a short offseason with the New York Giants. During the 2023 NFL campaign, he also played for the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Many CFL fans will remember Rourke’s short two-year stint in the league with the BC Lions after the team selected him in the second round of the CFL Draft. He won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 2022 after scoring 32 total touchdowns in 10 games and leading the Lions to the postseason.

Rourke will have another shot at playing for the Falcons on Saturday, August 17, when Atlanta travels to Baltimore to face the Ravens.

You can follow Anthony Miller on X @ByAnthonyMiller.

Catch up with CFL on SI.com on Facebook and X.

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