Brett Veach’s Taunt Forced Falcons’ Terry Fontenot to ‘Betray’ Kirk Cousins After Saints’ Patrick Mahomes’ Failure

In the high-stakes realm of the NFL, one executive’s audacious move years ago continues to cast a long shadow. When Brett Veach snatched Patrick Mahomes right from the Saints’ grasp in 2017, little did he know the ripples of that draft day gloating leaked far beyond Kansas City. 

At the eye of this storm stands Terry Fontenot. The Falcons GM found himself caught between a rock and a hard salary cap when, as Albert Breer reports in Rick Eisen Show, “there was a mandate…to get the quarterback position right.” His covert courtship of rookie Michael Penix Jr represented the ultimate side-eye to established starter Kirk Cousins and his $45 million paycheck.

“Ownership’s obviously a part of that,” Breer added, pulling back the curtain on Atlanta’s QB conundrum. With echoes of the Saints’ Mahomes misfire lingering, the Falcons’ brain trust seemed hellbent on not dropping the ball again.

“I know a part of why they kept it quiet and this part I understand is that Terry Fontenot was in New Orleans in 2017…Saints really felt like part of the reason they lost Mahomes was because word of their interest got out…Brett Veach…texted the Saints draft room after they traded up to get to 10 in front of the Saints who were at 11 with two words got him you know knowing like basically telling the Saints like hey we knew you were on to this kid and we just leap-frogged you to go and get him” Breer describes the storyline of what happened.

While the roots of this storm trace back to Veach’s draft day heist, the present-day chaos encapsulates the ever-evolving game of quarterback musical chairs plaguing the NFL. This begs the question – So was ‘Betraying’ Cousins a cold-blooded but necessary maneuver for Atlanta? As this gridiron melodrama plays out, all we know is the plot’s about to thicken like a Reuben sandwich.

Kirk Cousins insurance policy in falcons’ ruthless QB gambit

While Fontenot’s undercover flirtations with Michael Penix Jr. represent the ultimate “side piece” move, the Falcons were determined to not slip up on their potential QB of the future again. Even if it meant reducing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million insurance policy.

With Arthur Blank flashing back to that 28-3 Super Bowl collapse versus the GOAT Tom Brady, the billionaire wasn’t risking another QB disaster. So while Cousins provided veteran stability with his 39,471 career passing yards and 270 passing touchdowns, Fontenot got the wink-nod to kick the tires on rookie Penix as the potential face of the franchise.

This insurance policy treatment underscores the brutal reality of teams moving on from QBs faster than ever before. For the Falcons, securing Penix represented that elite top-5 draft pick upside, while the 35-year-old Cousins simply offered veteran contingency in case the rookie flamed out Ryan Leaf-style.

Colin Cowherd also discussed the injury concerns in is podcast, pointing out the uncertain nature of quarterback health. “Sixty-six quarterbacks played last year, [so] Cousins may get hurt,”  he said. The team may have felt compelled to secure a contingency plan in Penix Jr.

Cousins’ perceived disrespect also highlights the relentless pursuit of that Mahomes/Allen/Burrow-level talent capable of minting dynasties. An obsession so unrelenting that even established vets get treated as stop-gaps in the ruthless QB dating scene. Fontenot’s covert Penix courtship might simply encapsulated that hunger – with Cousins the expensive insurance sacrificed at the altar of ambition.