The New Orleans Saints are thankful they no longer have to deal with the quarterback woes the Atlanta Falcons are currently dealing with. The Saints' standing with Tyler Shough versus the uncertainty of Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa represents the night and day difference between the direction of the franchises.
Falcons reporter Josh Kendall's description on the idea of a contract extension furthers that idea. "Fair or not, the decision clock on his future is already ticking," Kendall wrote, and he detailed how Penix has done nothing to make a long term commitment an option, though it isn't all pessimism in the building.
It's still early in his career, but "Penix has done nothing to justify picking up his fifth-year option, much less offering him a long-term deal" in Kendall's eyes. A top 10 pick at quarterback in danger of not getting his fifth-year option picked up and being replaced after Year 2 is an abject failure. Saints fans can't help but laugh.
Tyler Shough gives the Saints the luxury to laugh
It’s easy to laugh when you aren’t in that position, and Tyler Shough proved the Saints don’t have the quarterback woes the Falcons have at the end of last season. Granted, Saints fans don’t need to be justified to laugh at the Falcons, but now they can do it without having to hear it flipped back towards them.
Shough still has a lot to prove, but it only took him 9 games to earn the respect from his fanbase that Penix is still looking for from Falcons fans. Shough already shown the makings of a potential franchise quarterback. I couldn’t even imagine the Saints making a move like signing Tagovailoa after next season.
It’s a testament to what Shough has already shown that a sophomore slump shouldn’t fully derail the respect and faith he has built. These are baseline traits teams are hoping to see from their young quarterback to show they can help the team grow.
Penix, first off, has to stay healthy to earn either of those things. Despite playing an extra year, he’s had both seasons cut short due to a season ending injury.
Even when on the field, Shough has done more to prove he was the right call in the draft. The Saints were in a purgatory of sorts after Drew Brees retired. They know what it’s like to be unsure if your quarterback is the guy to lead you into the future. Now that it’s no longer a question, let’s all laugh at the Falcons’ inability to figure it out.
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