VIKINGS VS FALCONS | 🏈

 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS OUTLAST ATLANTA FALCONS

ATLANTA -- The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the NFL's four 3-0 teams, but it was difficult to tell in their locker room after their 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.

Patrick Mahomes in particular sounded a little like a player whose team had lost.

"I feel like I haven't played very well and that's not a stats thing," said Mahomes, who threw a pair of touchdown passes but also had an end zone interception. "I just feel like I'm missing opportunities whenever they're out there and not throwing the ball in the exact spot I want it to be at. I'm not playing my best football and we're still getting wins, so I've got to get better to make the offense better."

The Chiefs preserved their lead in the fourth quarter with two defensive stops inside the Kansas City 15. Both times the Falcons turned the ball over on downs.

Coach Andy Reid had a slightly more cheerful assessment, but one of his postgame talking points focused on the offense putting the Chiefs in jeopardy by going three plays and out on its one drive in between the two defensive stops.

After the Falcons scored a touchdown on the opening drive, the Chiefs put together a methodical, time-consuming, 17-play drive that appeared destined to end with a score of their own. But they instead came away with nothing when Mahomes threw the end zone interception to safety Justin Simmons, a former Denver Bronco who has six career picks against Mahomes.

No other player has more than two against him.

"Those are the mistakes that you can't make in the red zone, and it seems like I make it to Simmons every time I play him," Mahomes said.

The Chiefs have emphasized getting more big plays offensively this season, but other than a 27-yard throw to Rashee Rice in the third quarter, their longest play was 17 yards.

Mahomes threw 39 passes but had just 217 yards to show for them.

"It's about me getting back to my fundamentals, putting our guys in the right position, and then we've got to execute at a higher level offensively," Mahomes said. "If teams are going to make us drive the field, we have to prove that we're able to do that, and I'm sure we'll get a lot of the same this next week with the [game against the] Chargers."

- Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer

EAGLES WR A.J. BROWN EXPECTS TO MISS 'A COUPLE OF WEEKS'

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown expects to miss "a couple of weeks" because of an injured hamstring, he told ESPN's Lisa Salters on Monday night.

Brown added that he doesn't consider the injury to be serious.

Brown popped up on the injury report Friday after the hamstring "got a little tight" in practice, according to coach Nick Sirianni. Brown was later ruled out for Monday night's 22-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Sirianni said after the game he didn't know how long Brown would be sidelined.

"Obviously, A.J. being down, he's one of the best players in the NFL, so you're going to miss him," Sirianni said.

If the timeline Brown gave Salters holds, the Eagles will be without their star wideout for next week's contest at the red-hot New Orleans Saints. Philadelphia then will play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before its Week 5 bye.

With Brown sidelined, wide receiver Parris Campbell was elevated off the practice squad on Monday. Jahan Dotson and Britain Covey received snaps alongside DeVonta Smith against the Falcons.

Brown, 27, has been a central part of the Eagles' offensive attack since being acquired from the Tennessee Titans in 2022. He became the first Eagles player in team history to post 1,400-plus receiving yards in back-to-back seasons, setting franchise highs for receiving yards in both campaigns.

His 2024 season got off to a fast start, as he racked up 119 yards and a touchdown on five receptions during a Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil.

- Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer

NFL PUNISHES FALCONS FOR TAMPERING

Kirk Cousins at the Atlanta Falcons' training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga., on May 14. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images file

 The Atlanta Falcons were stripped of their fifth-round pick in next year's draft for violating the NFL's anti-tampering policy, the league announced Thursday.

The Falcons also were fined $250,000 and general manager Terry Fontenot $50,000 for the team's improper contact with prospective unrestricted free agents Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney and Charlie Woerner prior to the start of the 2024 league year.

Also on Thursday, the NFL informed the Philadelphia Eagles that it did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding that the team violated the league's anti-tampering policy.

The NFL was looking into the Eagles' pursuit of free-agent running back Saquon Barkley. The Penn State product inked a three-year, $37.75 million contract that includes $26 million guaranteed at the signing.

Cousins agreed to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed shortly after the opening of the league's legal tampering window.

"While the policy permits clubs to engage with and negotiate all aspects of an NFL player contract with the certified agent of any prospective unrestricted free agent during the two-day negotiating period, any direct contact between the player and an employee or representative of the club is prohibited," the league said in a statement to the Falcons. "This includes discussion of travel arrangements or other logistical matters, which the club acknowledges took place with regard to these three players."

The Falcons released the following statement in response to league's conclusion:

"We are pleased this review is complete. We cooperated fully with the league and its review, and appreciate the NFL's thoroughness. As we do with every process, we will review how we operate and look for ways to improve."

As for clearing the Eagles, the league issued the following statement:

"In coming to this conclusion, the league reviewed phone logs, text messages and other documents related to Philadelphia's free agent strategy and decision to sign Barkley."

The Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a third-round selection in 2024 for tampering with quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton.

The Kansas City Chiefs lost their third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and a sixth-round selection in 2017 for tampering with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015.

The Dolphins and Chiefs also were fined as part of their respective punishments.

- Reuters 

NEW OWNERS OF ATLANTA FALCONS

 

FALCONS PROVIDE AN NFL DRAFT SURPRISE BY TAKING WASHINGTON QB MICHAEL PENIX JR. WITH NO. 8 PICK

AP Photo 

 FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons provided the first major surprise of the NFL draft by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 overall pick on Thursday night.

The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting offensive skill players in the first round by drafting Penix one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally targeted for players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons chose Penix as the long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said he never wavered when Penix was available.

“Kirk Cousins is our quarterback,” Fontenot said. “Michael Penix, we’re talking about the future. We’re very excited about that quarterback room.”

New coach Raheem Morris said the Falcons wanted to draft Penix this year because they don't plan to draft as high as No. 8 again soon. It was a strong prediction for a franchise that hasn't had a winning season or made the playoffs since 2017.

“We’re talking about winning the (NFC) South and doing some things and going to the playoffs,” Morris. said. “We don’t want to be picking that high anymore. We don’t want to be in that position. ... That helped us make that decision.”

Morris said he would be thrilled if Penix is nothing more than an observer the next four years if that means Cousins is thriving as the starter.

“Nothing would make me feel better than watching Kirk Cousins play for four years,” Morris said.

Penix said he looks forward to learning from Cousins.

“I’m blessed with the opportunity,” Penix said. “I’m going to take advantage and make the most out of it. For me coming in behind Kirk Cousins, he’s a guy who has been in the league and ... played a lot of football. I’m going to come in and I'm gong to learn, I’m going to learn from him and try to soak in all the knowledge I can.”

The Falcons had been expected to use the pick to boost their pass rush.

The Falcons also focused on offensive playmakers with their last three first-round picks. Tight end Kyle Pitts was the No. 4 overall pick in 2021, followed by wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, each No. 8, the last two years.

Penix, who will be 24 as a rookie, led FBS schools with 4,903 passing yards and was third with 36 touchdown passes. He won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player.

Penix threw for 255 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions as No. 2 Washington fell to top-ranked Michigan 34-13 in the College Football Playoff championship game.

Penix began his college career at Indiana, where he tore his right ACL in 2018 and 2020 and had shoulder injuries in both 2019 and 2021.

Penix said he had a good feeling after working out for Falcons officials, including Fontenot, at Washington.

“They were great,” Penix. said. “They liked how I threw the ball. I feel like I put on a great performance that day in that throwing session. It was kind of quick but we made it worthwhile.”

Still, Penix said he didn't know if the Falcons' interest was serious until the call came during the draft. He said he spoke with Fontenot, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

“To be able to hear that phone call come through It was just a blessing,” Penix said. “They asked me was I ready to be a Falcon. I said absolutely.”

Fontenot said this week he would consider selecting a quarterback high in the draft even when most of the outside focus had been on edge rushers.

“If we see a player that we believe can be a franchise quarterback at any point, whether it’s this draft, next draft, whether it’s a player we can trade for, whatever it is, you have to bring that player in because we’re talking about the next four to five years plus when we’re talking about guys that we’re drafting,” Fontenot said.

The Falcons' draft won't by impacted by the NFL’s investigation of the team's possible violation of tampering policies before signing Cousins, who appeared to indicate he had been in communication with team officials at a time the team would have been permitted to talk only with his agent.

-  CHARLES ODUM

QUARTERBACKS WILLIAMS, DANIELS, MAYE, PENIX, MCCARTHY, AND NIX SELECTED IN TOP 12 OF NFL DRAFT

Caleb Williams. AP Photo 

DETROIT (AP) — Caleb Williams swiftly walked on stage, looked out and screamed “Woooo! Yeah!”

Long-suffering Bears fans felt his joy.

Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.

“My goal is to get into as far as February as I can,” Williams said, referring to playing in a Super Bowl for a team that hasn't hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in nearly 40 years.

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner kicked off an historic NFL draft Thursday night that had five other teams selecting quarterbacks among the top 12 picks, setting a record with five in the top 10 and tying a record for the most in the first round.

Nearly the entire first half of the draft was offensive players.

A defensive player wasn’t selected until UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu went at No. 15 to Indianapolis. That's the latest a first defensive player has ever gone.

The Bears opened with the easy choice, taking Williams at No. 1 after deciding weeks ago to bank on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC.

“Care, love and support and want to win,” Williams said about what he's bringing to Chicago.

The Washington Commanders followed up by taking 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU and the New England Patriots took North Carolina's Drake Maye at No. 3, making it the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the first three picks.

At No. 8, the Atlanta Falcons made a stunning decision to choose Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. despite signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency. The Minnesota Vikings traded up one spot and took J.J. McCarthy, who led Michigan to a national championship, to make it five QBs in the top 10 for the first time.

The Denver Broncos chose Oregon's Bo Nix with the 12th pick, tying the 1983 draft with six QBs in the first round. Three of those became Hall of Famers — John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly.

The Arizona Cardinals snapped the early QB trend, choosing Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth pick. The Los Angeles Chargers opened the Jim Harbaugh era by taking Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt instead of giving Justin Herbert a No. 1 wide receiver to replace Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

The New York Giants then snatched up LSU receiver Malik Nabers at No. 6. The Tennessee Titans took Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham with the seventh pick and the Bears selected Washington wideout Rome Odunze at No. 9.

The New York Jets, who dropped to No. 11, chose offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, giving Aaron Rodgers more protection. The Las Vegas Raiders got Georgia tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13. The New Orleans Saints took Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga with the 14th pick before the Colts grabbed Latu.

Previously, the latest a first defensive player was selected was No. 8. The Seattle Seahawks took Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy next and the Vikings made another trade to move up and take Alabama edge Dallas Turner at No. 17.

The Cincinnati Bengals chose Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims and the Los Angeles Rams got Florida State edge Jared Verse at No. 19, the team's first selection in the first round since taking Jared Goff at No. 1 in 2016.

Wearing a navy suit with silver accents and flashing a big smile, Williams gave Roger Goodell a bear hug, careful not to squeeze too hard because the NFL commissioner had back surgery three weeks ago.

Rap icon Eminem walked on stage in a Lions sweatshirt and cap shortly after Goodell to start the festivities. The Motor City native riled up the fans before turning it over to Lions stars Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.

St. Brown led them in chanting “Jar-ed Goff!” and Johnson kept it short: “Whaddup doe?”

An estimated crowd of 275,000, many wearing their Honolulu blue Lions jerseys, filled the streets surrounding the draft theater and turned the NFL’s biggest offseason event into a giant party.

They roared when the Lions moved up five spots in a trade with Dallas and took Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the 24th pick.

The 22-year-old Williams is the third quarterback Chicago has selected in the first round in the past eight years, joining Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. They passed up on Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud last year and traded the No. 1 pick to Carolina in a blockbuster deal only to get the top choice this year after the Panthers went 2-15.

Williams shouted “Da Bears!” to finish his first news conference as a pro.

A dual-threat player with a strong arm and ability to improvise, Williams threw 93 touchdown passes and ran for 27 scores in three seasons at Oklahoma and USC.

The 23-year-old Daniels, who played three seasons at Arizona State and two at LSU, led the nation in total offense last season with 4,946 yards.

“I don’t let football define me, who I am as a human being,” Daniels said. "This is something I do and I’m passionate about it.”

Maye is the second QB the Patriots have selected in the first round since Tom Brady left. Mac Jones didn’t work out and now it’s Maye’s turn to be the man in a new era that starts without longtime coach Bill Belichick.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected versatile Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu at No. 20. Penn State edge Chop Robinson went next to the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles went with Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 23. After the Lions took Arnold, the Green Bay Packers selected Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton.

Missouri edge Darius Robinson went to Arizona. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs made a deal with AFC rival Buffalo to move up and take Texas wideout Xavier Worthy at No. 28.

The Cowboys chose Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton and the Baltimore Ravens got Clemson defensive back Nate Wiggins.

The defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers added another playmaker, taking Florida wideout Ricky Pearsall and the Carolina Panthers made a trade to get South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette with the last pick of the first round at No. 32.

- ROB MAADDI

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