Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot have drawn comparisons to celebrity couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce after their surprising NFL Draft pick of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The bold move has generated widespread attention, leading Morris to liken himself and Fontenot to the famous duo.
The Atlanta Falcons' selection of Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the NFL Draft has sent shockwaves through the league, and now head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot have added a touch of Hollywood to the situation. Morris, in particular, has compared himself and Fontenot to one of the world's most famous couples: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
"I hate for it to be the story of the draft, but I know it will be," Morris said. "That's just how our world is based and is driven. But I can't say it's annoying, no, because it's what people want to see. It's piqued more interest."
The unconventional pick has garnered widespread attention and has drawn comparisons to the massive popularity of Swift and Kelce, who are known for their success in music and football, respectively. However, there is a key difference between the two pairings: Kelce and Swift are globally renowned for their exceptional talent, while Morris and Fontenot have gained notoriety for their unexpected decision.
"What's [Travis] Kelce's girlfriend's name? I'm Taylor Swift and Terry is Kelce. We're making this thing popular," Morris said.
While the comparison to Kelce and Swift may be playful, the Falcons' decision to select Penix has been met with a mix of surprise and skepticism. Even Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, admitted that he and his client were caught off guard by the move.
"We had no idea this was coming," he told the NFL Network. "The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation."
Despite the initial shock, the Falcons remain confident in their decision. They believe Penix has the potential to be a franchise-changing quarterback, even though he's coming off an Achilles tear.
"We think he has all the tools to be a great quarterback in this league," Morris said. "He's got a big arm, he's accurate, he's a leader, and he's tough. We're excited to have him as part of our team."
Whether Penix lives up to the hype and the Falcons' decision resembles the success of Kelce and Swift remains to be seen. However, one thing is for sure: Morris and Fontenot have garnered plenty of attention with their bold move, and they're certainly not shy about embracing it.
