Now it’s up to Michael Penix Jr. to spend the second year of his rookie contract worth $22.88 million over four seasons to save the Atlanta Falcons from themselves.

Perhaps you’ve heard.

In March 2024, the Falcons made a $180 million mistake at quarterback by signing Kirk Cousins who became the backup last season to Penix.

“I’m just super excited, and I can’t wait for this season,” Penix told me and other reporters Tuesday in his always mellow way. In fact, several of his teammates said he exudes “quiet confidence.” He continued to display that and his rocket left arm at the Falcons’ headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, where they held the first practice of voluntary organized team activities.

Barely a month after the Falcons acquired Cousins, they used the eighth pick overall in the NFL Draft to grab Penix, which shocked the football universe.

Which also made you wonder . . . .

Since the defensively challenged Falcons ignored a pass rushing stud with that eighth pick overall, and since the ink remained dry on Cousins’ four-year deal, did they already realize their mistake?

Whatever the case, if you mention “Michael Penix Jr.” or “Michael” or just plain “Mike” around those involved with a Falcons franchise seeking to end seven consecutive losing seasons, you’ll trigger two things in a hurry: A smile that continues to grow, and a description of somebody who would make the perfect librarian.

“He’s very reserved. He’s not the most talkative guy,” Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews said when I asked him to describe Penix’s leadership style, and over the past dozen seasons, Matthews has blocked for every quarterback with the team from future Hall of Famer Matt Ryan to the lowly likes of Desmond Ritter.

While Matthews’ smile increased, he thought about the 15th game of last season when Penix made his NFL starting debut in Atlanta, and then Matthews said, "Man, it’s funny. When Michael got that start against the Giants last year, right when he got in the huddle, it was like, ‘OK. This man knows what he’s doing. He knows how to get it done. He’s here to be the leader of this offense.’

“So he’s a very quiet guy off the field, but he’s a jokster. Funny guy. Has a good time. Great dude. Somebody you want to do well for.”

Here’s the bottom line regarding Penix who ranks among the older NFL sophomores at 25: Noisy, soft spoken, something in between. The Falcons just want their new offensive skipper to stay as healthy as he was during his two years at the University of Washington after a career at Indiana University filled with physcial turmoil. He damaged his anterior cruciate ligament twice with the Hoosiers, and he suffered two dislocated shoulders for four straight season-ending injuries.

The Falcons also need Penix to turn the potential he flashed while starting their last three games of 2024 into reality. He completed 58% of his passes during his NFL rookie season compared to 63% during his college days, but Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Penix was a victim last season of dropped passes, which he was.

In addition, Penix had three interceptions during those three game, but he countered his picks with three touchdown passes, including a laser near the end of regulation play in Washington D.C. to a diving Kyle Pitts in the end zone. The throw and the catch pushed the game into overtime, where the Falcons lost to the Commanders while killing their playoff hopes, but their other hope remained.

It was their hope of Penix fixing that mistake.

That mistake was huge.

With Cousins months away from his 36th birthday and recovering from a ruptured Achilles on his right leg , the mistake was giving him all that money for reasons known only on Jupiter or Mars.

Now back to Planet Earth. There were only five no-shows Tuesday for the Falcons’ voluntary camp, and Cousins was among them.

That wasn’t surprising. Cousins turned that mistake into a disaster last season by leading the NFL with 16 interceptions despite playing only the first 14 of the Falcons’ 17 games. He also tied Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for most fumbles in the league with 13.

If you do the math, Cousins’ fumble total was the worst in the NFL since Mayfield played all 17 games for the Bucs to those 14 for Cousins.

After Cousins became a turnover machine with no end in sight, the Falcons named Penix their starter, not only for those last three games of 2024, but for this season and beyond.

Cousins pleaded with Falcons owner Arthur Blank during the offseason to trade him elsewhere. Even so, team officials kept saying they’ll keep Cousins as the most expensive backup quarterback in NFL history. They must pay the 14-year veteran $27.5 million this year whether they release him or not.

As for a trade, NFL teams haven’t been giddy to assume Cousins’ remaining salary, and the Falcons have suggested they prefer not to pay some of the cost. He also can approve or reject any deal.

So maybe Cousins was a no-show Tuesday due to a trade in the works, or maybe he is just sick of the whole situation.

Did I say this was a mistake?