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Kirk Cousins Had A Classy Response To Getting Benched

Originally posted on The Spun | By Hunter Hodies | Last updated Dec 18, 2024 3:47 PM ET

The Atlanta Falcons made a stunning decision on Tuesday, benching Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins has struggled mightily these last few weeks and even though they are in the thick of the playoff race, they feel Penix Jr. is their best chance to win.

After Cousins got benched, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed that he handled it with class.

“You know, obviously, anytime you take a step down and a demotion of whatever the case may be, it’s not gonna be met with great appreciation, and all those things but Kirk was a professional," Morris said, via ProFootballTalk. "He’s a pro. He’s a man. He’s a great human. He’s a great father. He’s a great football player. He’s done a lot of great things for us this year. He handled it with class. He’s an absolute professional."

Cousins was signed to a massive deal in March but it hasn't panned out the way the Falcons thought it would. He got off to a decent start but has a TD/INT ratio of 1/9 over the Falcons' last five games.

He's not playing winning football and it has the Falcons one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. The Falcons are hoping that Penix Jr. can give them better quarterback play so they can make a run for the divisional crown over the next three weeks.

Penix Jr. was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and while the Falcons think he has a bright future ahead, they wanted him to sit behind Cousins for this season and learn.

Well, he's done that for most of the season and will have a shot to show the Falcons what he can do starting on December 22 against the New York Giants.

Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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