BREAKING: Steve Sarkisian Requests NCAA to Change Referees for Upcoming Clemson vs. Texas Game After Discovering
BREAKING: Steve Sarkisian Requests NCAA to Change Referees for Upcoming Clemson vs. Texas Game After Discovering Referee Received Expensive Patek Philippe Watch from Dabo Swinney, and here’s how head coach Dabo Swinney RESPONDED.
The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room is undergoing massive turnover this offseason. Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson will return, and they’ll have a new face in the wide receiver room. Oklahoma earned a commitment from Arkansas-Pine Bluff wide receiver Javonnie Gibson via the transfer portal on Wednesday.
Gibson was incredibly productive in 2024, recording 70 receptions for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns.
Barring an injury to Penix, the answer was a resounding no from all league corners. Sources did not believe that the Falcons would shuffle between quarterbacks, or even give Penix a trial before naming him the starter. Cousins’ recent five-game stretch, featuring nine interceptions to just one touchdown, helped confirm that decision. But the patchwork of reasons includes a play-caller and quarterback struggling to find success together; an Achilles repair hangover that tends to linger the first season after the injury; and a desire to look forward with a healthy runway for Penix rather than focus on sunk cost. One source also mentioned a belief that Cousins would not go along cordially with a decision to fight for his job in December, should the team create a week-to-week proposition.
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
League sources unanimously agreed with the Falcons’ decision to change quarterbacks now, as 7-7 Atlanta sits one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South race. What they disagree on: whether signing Cousins was a risk worth the Falcons’ taking.
Were the Falcons right to sign Cousins and draft Penix in the same offseason?
It’s easy to say moving on from a quarterback 14 games in warrants a failure. And from a results standpoint, the Falcons’ move does. From a process standpoint? Most teams would rather have multiple darts at finding a serviceable quarterback if they can afford it, and one source even spoke to the benefit Penix and the Falcons could reap by resting him 14 games without the level of pressure that fellow draft picks navigated.
No. 1 pick Caleb Williams has absorbed a league-high 58 sacks with the Chicago Bears as Penix has learned from the sideline. New England Patriots rookie QB and No. 3 pick Drake Maye began taking hits later as New England waited to start him until Week 6, but he has nonetheless been under pressure on 14 dropbacks per game since, which is not far off the 15.2 fueling Williams’ league-high 213 pressures, per Next Gen Stats.
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
Waiting to start Penix is a well-regarded decision around the league. Having Penix in-house was more complicated but respected, too. Signing Cousins to an expensive contract beforehand? One NFC executive said the Falcons positioned themselves to likely fall victim to criticism for poor process as soon as they signed both. If either quarterback didn’t pan out, much less both, their decision to invest prime capital in both deserved scrutiny.
