On Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons did not do something, and by not doing something, they have clarified for the world their position regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Now, it was December when Cousins was benched for Michael Pennix Jr.

And I vividly recall sitting in the NBC viewing room and seeing a report from ESPN that many executives throughout the league believe the Falcons would release Kirk Cousins before a $10 million roster bonus due in 2026 became fully guaranteed in March of 2025. It was pure speculation and the league executives were wrong.

The Falcons have not released Kirk Cousins.

And I wrote something at PFT within the past week or so in advance of this deadline.

It's $10 million that's fully guaranteed with offset language for next year.

And there'd been some misconceptions that the 10 million gets paid now. No, the 10 million gets paid next year. And there'd been some misconceptions that the 10 million gets paid now. No, the 10 million

gets paid next year. And if they cut him before that bonus comes due, they still owe him the 10 million.

But if he goes somewhere else and makes 10 million or more, which he will, they don't owe him anything.

So to me, Chris, this deadline, once you sit down and think about it, it's meaningless.

The Falcons had no reason to cut him before that.

They had no reason to trade him before that if he will waive his no trade clause.

Right.

And now they're committed to the bit that they're fine with him being the backup.

And they have the flexibility to sit and wait

and see how the game of quarterback musical chairs plays out for the team still looking for

starters. And maybe at the end of the day, somebody's going to come to them and say, we'd like

to trade for Kirk Cousins. And yes, Cousins has a no trade clause. But if the options are,

stay in Atlanta and not play or waive your no trade clause and go somewhere else in play,

what's he going to pick? I agree. I would think he's going to play. As long as it's not a disaster of a situation, I would think, yes, he's going to opt to play. Also, I believe Atlanta in their steadfastness and their stubbornness here.

I do.

Listen, when they drafted Michael Pennix, they knew what they were signing up for.

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