After being blasted by the consensus NFL media (and perhaps their owner) for drafting pro ready, 24 year old quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., having just signed Pro Bowler, Kirk Cousins, to a 4 year $180 million deal, it seems like the Atlanta Falcons is now be in some more hot water – and this time with the league itself.
Atlanta Falcons Receive Backlash For 1st Round QB Selection
Whilst their draft moves seem to be overly protective at best, ultimately, fans and pundits can only criticize a team too much for perhaps over-investing in the most important position. Especially considering that the Falcons’ starter for the most important position is set to be a 35 year old coming off of a season-ending torn Achilles last October.
So whilst one can forgive Atlanta’s draft antics, even though one could well argue that a defensive end – such as now Indianapolis Colts rookie, Laitu Latu, who the Falcons reportedly coveted, may have been a more prudent selection with 8th overall pick, the NFL has certainly not forgotten about certain misgivings in March concerning the signing of former Minnesota Viking, Kirk Cousins, per Tom Pelissero.
The NFL is docking the #Falcons a 2025 fifth-round pick for violating the league’s anti-tampering policy with Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney and Charlie Woerner. The team is also being fined $250,000 and GM Terry Fontenot is being fined $50,000.
The violations are considered… pic.twitter.com/fa7cHnHXWu
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 13, 2024
Atlanta Falcons Have 5th Round Pick Removed Over Free Agency Tampering
Although one may initially view this pick removal as a reprimand for cheating, it seems that it could just be an example of incompetence within the organization.
The Falcons’ main errors were ‘logistical’, rather than just overtly speaking to free agents before the legal tampering window opened on March 11th.
And the one example of leaked prior communication seems to have been self inflicted, as Kirk Cousins himself notes that he spoke to the Falcons’ head trainer prior to the new league year opening on March 13th, during his introductory press conference.
Moreover, Terry Fontenot has been fined a substantial $500,000 by the NFL, double the amount levied at the team, implying that much of the tampering – intentional or accidental – could be late at the shoulders of the man in charge.
This is far from a lethal blow for the Falcons, who still have all of their picks in rounds 1-4 + 7 in the 2025 Draft, and are still well favored to win the NFC South, but is just another example of organizations needlessly making things difficult for themselves over small matters.
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