Kirk Cousins insists he harbours no grudge towards Michael Penix or the Atlanta Falcons after the surprise drafting of the young quarterback last month.
The Falcons were not expected to move for a QB – certainly not early in the draft – after signing veteran Cousins to a four-year, $180million deal in March.
But they took Penix eighth overall, with Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney expressing his irritation at the way the franchise had acted, indicating the pick could’ve been used to make the team better in the short term.
Cousins, however, was eager to play the issue down and called for everyone to be “on the same page”.
Asked if he had any ‘beef’ with the Falcons, he told the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast: “I don’t think there can be.
“I don’t think it’s helpful. We’re trying to win a Super Bowl, and it’s hard enough. It’s hard enough. Let’s all be on the same page and try and go win a Super Bowl.”
The 35-year-old stopped short, however, of saying he would have agreed to join Atlanta if he’d known of their intentions regarding Penix.
“I don’t really deal in hypotheticals,” he added.
“We could go down that path for a long time, in a lot of ways. It just doesn’t do us any good.
“So, I’m excited for this opportunity I have. I think it’s a real privilege to be a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, and I’m trying to make good on the opportunity given me, with the way I work each day and the way we play this fall.”
On a personal level, Cousins is eager to work alongside Penix and has offered himself up for any advice the 24-year-old may require.
He also texted him on draft night to congratulate him on leading Washington to the national championship game.
“I congratulated him on an awesome college career,” Cousins said.
“I lived it. It’s hard to do. And what he did is at the top of the top in terms of college success. So, just wanted to let him know that I have the utmost respect for what he’s done and we’re ready to get to work. And I’m here if he needs me.”
