As the club prepares to head west for a date with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football, the Falcons are taking their lumps in the media. Whether it’s the questionable decision to hand Kirk Cousins $180 million, Raheem Morris being in over his head, or Kyle Pitts’ continued disappointment, Atlanta has been everyone’s punching bag.
That’s what will happen when your quarterback throws eight interceptions and no touchdowns over a four-game losing streak. Morris has had head-scratching in-game moments, and his choice of coordinators deserves criticism. Jimmy Lake and Zac Robinson have had their moments, the latter more so than the former, but for the vast majority of the season, they’ve been underwhelming.
In front of Atlanta media, the Falcons are presenting a united front, which is (I guess) encouraging, but it may not be that way behind closed doors. A report from Jordan Schultz revealed that Atlanta may have a locker room issue on their hands, with some believing Michael Penix Jr. is the better quarterback.
“I truly believe the only reason the Falcons haven’t gone to Michael Penix Jr. yet is because of optics… I’ve had players inside that locker room tell me point black, Michael Penix Jr. is the best quarterback in this building,” Shultz said on Speak For Yourself.
If that weren’t enough drama for you, an NFL executive had some pretty damning things to say about Kyle Pitts.
“One of the biggest disappointments I have ever scouted,” the exec with 20-plus seasons of NFL personnel work said to Bob McGinn. “Some flashes, but rarely regularly involved in the offense. Seems to go through the motions, almost disinterested. Definitely a bust based on expectations and who they passed up.”
Kyle Pitts set the league on fire during his rookie campaign, averaging more than 15 yards per catch en route to Falcons records, NFL records, and a Pro Bowl appearance. Now, the Falcons would be lucky to have one catch go more than 15 yards, regularly disappearing during games.
“Every time I watch Atlanta I don’t know that Pitts is on the team,” said one scout to McGinn. “That befuddles me. I loved the guy when he came out. I mean, I would have taken him. I think anybody would have taken him at the time. Pitts was the guy who had all the upside to be a superstar.
He’s a disappointment, a major disappointment. It’s like anything. You draft a player. You have high hopes. Boom.”
Kyle Pitts’ story isn’t done being written yet, but it’s getting increasingly difficult to defend him.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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