The relationship between the Atlanta Falcons and Kirk Cousins has turned into be an emotional roller coaster over the past year. Cousins thought he was the Falcons’ franchise quarterback after signing a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason but was blindsided by Atlanta’s decision to select Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in last April’s draft.
Cousins played well to begin the season but was benched for Penix when he struggled in the second half. While the Falcons have kept the door open for Cousins to return as a backup, the realistic expectation is that he’ll be traded or released before he’s owed a $10 million roster bonus on March 17.
The drama has spilled into the opening weeks of the offseason as Cousins’ actions have spoken louder than words. But a pair of soon-to-be former teammates chose to praise Cousins on the way out and it may have done the Falcons a big favor as the deadline approaches.
Bijan Robinson Praises Kirk Cousins for How He Handled Falcons Benching
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson spoke highly of Cousins as he appeared on The Doug Gottlieb Show during Super Bowl week. Robinson specifically praised the way Cousins handled his December benching and how he helped Penix acclimate to life as a starter in the NFL.
“It was just good to see Kirk deal with that the right way,” Robinson said. “He never wavered, he never got mad or got disappointed. He got right to work. He got right to helping Mike become who he wants to become. Even with Mike, he was so selfless and wanted to learn and get connections with all of us as players on the offense.
“It was never a love/hate, or hate, relationship at all. It was just support and when you got a guy who can learn under a vet for a whole season really, then he comes in way more comfortable and way more prepared than just having to start off right away being a rookie quarterback. They played off each other well and we just love having both of them.”
Robinson’s comments have done the Falcons a good service as Cousins has seemingly done all he can to force his way out. Cousins revealed that shoulder and elbow injuries along with a bad ankle contributed to his late-season decline last season and the 36-year-old took things a step further by putting a blank black T-shirt over a Falcons shirt during an event at the Super Bowl last week.
While Cousins may have been a good teammate to Penix, he also admitted “there’s a lot you don’t control” when he addressed the pick back in May. An all-time negotiator, Cousins has been trying to get control back in his hands, which has triggered the recent series of events. But Robinson knows that his future is with the Falcons and trying to swing the pendulum back in their direction.
It’s all part of a tug of war that has commenced between Cousins and the Falcons this offseason and could lead to a messy divorce whether it be by a trade or release in the coming weeks.