NEW ORLEANS — Former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was impressed with what he saw from current Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. late last season.
“I think Michael was poised,” said Vick, who’s working Super Bowl LIX for Fox Sports. “I think obviously he could have used them reps a little earlier in the year.”
Penix took over for Kirk Cousins after he was benched with three games to play. The team said he was benched because of his turnovers. Cousins went on NFL Network on Tuesday and said he was injured, after calling a November injury report listing a “clerical error.”
Penix went 1-2 as a rookie starter, and the offense put up 38 points in the regular-season finale against the Panthers. He was the eighth overall selection in last year’s NFL draft.
“When it came down to it, I put myself in his shoes,” Vick said. “When I was rookie I came in late when games mattered. Couldn’t get it done, but showed promise. I think that was enough to show that he’s the guy for the future.”
The Falcons referred to Cousins as a “backup” in the end-of-season news conference. They are hopeful that Cousins has some trade value or he likely will be released March 12. He also has a no-trade clause in his contract.
The Falcons were hoping Cousins, who was signed to a four-year deal that was worth up to $180 million, with $100 million guaranteed, would play longer.
“It’s his team now, and I expect big things out of Michael Penix because we know he can do it,” Vick said. “We’ve seen him do it in college. I don’t think the quarterback position is an issue for the Atlanta Falcons moving forward.”
The Falcons have other areas to address this offseason.
“It’s other things that they know they have to get better at and other areas and that will happen,” Vick said. “I’m excited about that team moving forward. They always play really hard.”
Rob Gronkowski on Brock Bowers
Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is a big fan of Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers, a three-time All-American at Georgia.
“Brock Bowers is an absolute savage,” Gronkowski said. “To come out and he’s supposed to be like a senior in college and left early. He was dominating as a rookie. He had over 100 catches with like five different quarterbacks and produced on a weekly basis. The man is a menace.”
Bowers had 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. He was named to the PFWA’s all-rookie team, the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team.
Michael Vick on being a head coach
Vick recently was hired as the head coach at Norfolk State, which is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
A native of nearby Newport News, Virginia, Vick has started to assemble his staff.
“One of the first things I’m going to do to change the program is gain the trust of the players,” Vick said. “Then consistency, the way we get up every day. Winning every day. Being the best that we can be from a coaching perspective. That’s the most important thing right now.”
The Spartans finished 4-8 last season and were fourth in the MEAC behind South Carolina State, North Carolina Central and Morgan State. Howard and Delaware State also are in the MEAC.
“I’m trying to take it one quarter at a time,” Vick said. “I just got hired, so I’m trying to win in this quarter. Trying to win with the strength-and-conditioning program. Right now, we are making that a priority. Identify some of the things that were not done as well in the past and try to make everybody better. I have to do that by putting the right people in place and by reiterating those messages myself.”
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