While the dust has yet to settle on the Atlanta Falcons decision to name Michael Penix Jr. their starting quarterback ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the New York Giants, discussion as to whether or not the move will pay off and help keep the Falcons in playoff contention continue.
“There’s going to be some legit energy in this building with this kid coming in and giving us hope,” Rusty Mansell said on Thursday as he and Steak Shapiro shared their thoughts on the potential impact the rookie quarterback could have for Atlanta and why how he performs over the next few weeks could prove the Falcons hit the nail on the head in drafting Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick.
“You thought Kirk Cousins was your guy and then you went and got Michael Penix (Jr.) and everybody laughed at you around the NFL, which doesn’t look so dumb now that you had a guy in his mid-thirties and you had a quarterback out there that you liked and you said, ‘we’re going to have both of them,’ and see what happens,” Shapiro said in response to Mansell.
“If Michael Penix (Jr.) winds up being that dude, that pick last year at number eight was absolutely the right thing to do,” Mansell would go on to add.
