By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-23 02:56:23 | Updated at 2024-12-23 07:57:21
5 hours ago
NFL legend Michael Strahan's thoughts on Kirk Cousins NFL future came into the limelight on Sunday, less than a week after the Atlanta Falcons benched him in favor of Michael Penix Jr. for the foreseeable future.
Strahan believes Cousins will not start another NFL game in his career due to his age and his current abilities.
Cousins, 35, signed a massive 4-year, $180-million contract with the Falcons this offseason, a miraculous haul for someone on the back end of his career with no true postseason success.
The former Washington and Minnesota signal caller watched from the sidelines as Penix led the Falcons to a 34-7 win over the Giants.
'There is consistency... consistently mediocre. That's what Kirk [Cousins] has been this year,' Strahan said. 'Whenever you're a great player in your mind you're still that, but sometimes your skill level diminishes and it drops.'
'You don't know when it's going to happen, it can happen at any point in the season. I think for Kirk Cousins it happened now.'
Michael Strahan's thoughts on Kirk Cousins NFL future came into the limelight on Sunday
Cousins watched from the sidelines as Penix led the Falcons to a 34-7 win over the Giants
Cousins' contributions led the Falcons to a 7-7 record and out a playoff spot, a game behind Tampa Bay for the division lead, and two games back from the Commanders for the last wild card spot.
Should the Falcons lose either of their last two games, winning the NFC South would be their only option to make the playoffs, albeit a longshot one.
Cousins' experience and hefty contract led in hesitation to make the late-season change, with the hope the veteran could turn it around. Eventually, he ran out of time to improve.
'Keep him around, let him teach Michael Penix the intricacies of the game,' Strahan added. 'It's good to have that veteran influence, but I think Kirk may have to just humble himself to understand that's his role right now.'
Reports have surfaced that the Falcons may cut Cousins before March to avoid paying him more of his contract that he is due, with around $90million owed over the next three years to the current backup quarterback.
