{"id":2230922,"date":"2024-04-26T12:50:05","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T16:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/falcons-torched-for-picking-michael-penix-jr-in-2024-draft-leave-kirk-cousins-shocked-and-disappointed\/"},"modified":"2024-04-26T12:54:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T16:54:28","slug":"falcons-torched-for-picking-michael-penix-jr-in-2024-draft-leave-kirk-cousins-shocked-and-disappointed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/falcons-torched-for-picking-michael-penix-jr-in-2024-draft-leave-kirk-cousins-shocked-and-disappointed\/","title":{"rendered":"Falcons Criticized for Drafting Michael Penix Jr. in 2024, Kirk Cousins Surprised"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffalcons-torched-for-picking-michael-penix-jr-in-2024-draft-leave-kirk-cousins-shocked-and-disappointed%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2230922&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Atlanta Falcons faced \u200dcriticism after drafting \u2062Michael Penix Jr., leaving fans\u2064 and analysts questioning the decision. Despite the skepticism, the\u2062 team had valid reasons for choosing Penix, considering the quarterback landscape and \u200ctheir\u200c draft strategy. The move may prove pivotal for the Falcons&#8217; future, either solidifying their choice or leading to further scrutiny. The Atlanta \u2063Falcons received backlash for selecting Michael Penix Jr., sparking \u200bdoubts among fans and experts. However, the team had sound rationale behind the pick, taking into account the quarterback situation and\u2063 their draft plan. This move could significantly impact the Falcons&#8217; trajectory, either reinforcing their decision or inviting more scrutiny.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>    <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/%20\"><span>Michael Schwarz<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   April 26, 2024 at 7:22am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot made a splash this offseason by signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/news\/kirk-cousins-agrees-to-four-year-contract-with-atlanta-falcons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contract<\/a>, including $100 million guaranteed.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday night, Fontenot generated even bigger headlines \u2014 and incurred a bit of scorn and mockery on social media \u2014 by selecting former Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in this year\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/draft\/tracker\/picks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">With the 8th pick in the 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL?\">@NFL<\/a> Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Michael Penix Jr.!<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NFLDraft?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NFLDraft<\/a>: NFLN, ABC, ESPN <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/o99tXbilG5\">pic.twitter.com\/o99tXbilG5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AtlantaFalcons\/status\/1783666590908604707?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The choice reportedly left Cousins \u201cshocked\u201d and \u201cdisappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was a risky and unexpected pick, to be sure. But several circumstances, including recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nfl-pro-bowler-humbles-mouthy-high-schooler-simple-question\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL<\/a> history at the quarterback position, could help justify the move.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CousKi00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cousins<\/a>, of course, had good reasons to feel staggered by the Penix selection.<\/p>\n<p>First and foremost, having signed a lucrative contract, the 35-year-old quarterback no doubt expected the Falcons to commit to putting together a team that could compete and win immediately rather than building for the future.<\/p>\n<p>From this perspective, a player like wide receiver Rome Odunze \u2014 Penix\u2019s former teammate at the University of Washington, selected one pick later at No. 9 overall by the Chicago Bears \u2014 would have made more sense for Atlanta.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Do you think this was a bad pick by the Falcons?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Then there was the matter of keeping Cousins out of the loop.<\/p>\n<p>On the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-new-acting-attorney-general-jeff-rosen-recently-wrote-an-essay-on-foreign-influence-in-us-elections-this-tells-us-a-little-about-his-knowledge-of-whats-going-on-today\/\" title=\"The New Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen Recently Wrote an Essay on Foreign Influence in US Elections \u2013 This Tells Us A Little About His Knowledge of What\u2019s Going On Today\">social media platform<\/a> X, Jane Slater of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nfl-owner-cuts-funding-columbia-university-anti-israel-protests-no-longer-institution-recognize\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL<\/a> Network reported that the veteran\u2019s shock and disappointment stemmed in part from the Falcons\u2019 silence and alleged deceptiveness regarding their intentions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNever said anything to him or his reps about a QB in 1st round despite suggesting they would,\u201d Slater said, citing an unidentified source.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">As we all sit in shock over the Atlanta pick, a source tells me Kirk Cousins just as \u201cshocked\u201d and \u201cdisappointed\u201d Never said anything to him or his reps about a QB in 1st round despite suggesting they would. Still \u201cit\u2019s a business\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SlaterNFL\/status\/1783674551567540371?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Mike Garafolo of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/caitlin-clark-blocks-former-nfl-star-antonio-brown-extremely-crude-posts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL<\/a> Network confirmed that Cousins\u2019 agent, Mike McCartney, did not expect the Penix pick.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">From Kirk Cousins\u2019 agent Mike McCartney on the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Falcons?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Falcons<\/a>\u2019 selecting QB Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XpIpOQn1ua\">pic.twitter.com\/XpIpOQn1ua<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MikeGarafolo\/status\/1783698005197250581?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Then there is the matter of Penix\u2019s injury history, as well as the fact that by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nfl-prospect-dies-just-days-leagues-draft\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL<\/a> rookie standards, he is no spring chicken.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/10118630-nfl-rumors-kirk-cousins-stunned-qb-michael-penix-jr-was-drafted-by-falcons-at-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bleacher Report<\/a> noted, he endured multiple ACL injuries as a collegiate quarterback. He also will turn 24 before this year\u2019s NFL season.<\/p>\n<p>All of these factors led to criticism of the Falcons on social media.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, Clay Travis of OutKick called the move \u201ctotal idiocy.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Giving Kirk Cousins $100 million and drafting Michael Penix is absolutely nonsensical. Total idiocy by the Falcons.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ClayTravis\/status\/1783665349725933954?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WattJ.00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL superstar<\/a> and current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newyork\/news\/jj-watt-nfl-today-studio-analyst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBS in-studio analyst<\/a> J.J. Watt also questioned the move, albeit more charitably.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Falcons publicly said they weren\u2019t interested in Lamar Jackson last offseason. (Just won his 2nd MVP)<\/p>\n<p>This offseason signed Kirk Cousins to a $180M deal AND drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the #8 pick.<\/p>\n<p>Either guy could potentially turn out to be great for them, but that is WILD.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 JJ Watt (@JJWatt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JJWatt\/status\/1783688373120676338?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The GhettoGronk account on X mocked both Penix\u2019s age and the money apparently wasted on Cousins.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Michael Penix Jr. by the time Kirk Cousins\u2019 contract expires and he can finally start <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6JlxetZcXp\">pic.twitter.com\/6JlxetZcXp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheGhettoGronk\/status\/1783685508897374530?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. after they just gave Kirk Cousins $180M <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wNTiUis7te\">pic.twitter.com\/wNTiUis7te<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheGhettoGronk\/status\/1783665546308849826?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Many others chimed in.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Genuinely considering canceling my season tickets. Why is Terry picking a 24 year old, injury prone QB5 when we just signed Cousins and have the worst pass rush in the league??????? Awful, awful pick<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bring Back the Atlanta Flames (@eakatz123) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/eakatz123\/status\/1783667366477373684?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I am embarrassed to be a fan of this joke of a franchise.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 B7JANSZN (@ChristianDuBois) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChristianDuBois\/status\/1783666707065684300?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Y\u2019all left auto-draft on \ud83d\ude11\ud83d\ude11\ud83d\ude11<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Thechek182 (@thechek182) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thechek182\/status\/1783667014923698440?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Notwithstanding the criticism and mockery, Atlanta had at least three good reasons for selecting Penix at No. 8 overall.<\/p>\n<p>First, if the Falcons wanted him on their team, they had to draft him where they did.<\/p>\n<p>In light of the stunned reaction across the league, one could make an argument for trading down. In other words, perhaps Atlanta could have acquired Penix with a later pick.<\/p>\n<p>It appears, however, that the Falcons did not have this option.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/author\/james-palmer-talent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James Palmer<\/a> of NFL Media, three other teams coveted Penix and tried to trade up for him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe #Seahawks , #Saints and #Raiders all tried to get into the top 10 for Michael Penix per sources,\u201d Palmer posted.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Seahawks?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Seahawks<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Saints?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Saints<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Raiders?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Raiders<\/a> all tried to get into the top 10 for Michael Penix per sources.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JamesPalmerTV\/status\/1783708058809422114?\">April 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Second, NFL quarterbacks have often had success when given at least one year to develop.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, of course, the Green Bay Packers\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LoveJo03.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jordan Love<\/a> emerged as a top-tier starter. Last season, he threw 32 touchdown passes and led Green Bay to an upset playoff <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dallas-cowboys-cheerleaders-say-verge-tears-due-packers-players-behavior\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">win<\/a> over the Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n<p>But Love, the 26th overall pick in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2020\/draft.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2020 draft<\/a>, sat for three years behind future Hall of Famer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RodgAa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aaron Rodgers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2017\/draft.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2017 draft<\/a>, the Kansas City Chiefs used the 10th overall pick on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MahoPa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Patrick Mahomes<\/a>. Three Super Bowl MVPs later, Mahomes also has a ticket to the Hall of Fame one day.<\/p>\n<p>As a rookie, however, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/cnn-host-tries-force-qb-patrick-mahomes-taylor-swift-drama-answer-fans-want-hear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mahomes<\/a> appeared in only one game. He watched as 33-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/S\/SmitAl03.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alex Smith<\/a>, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, led the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/kan\/2017.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chiefs<\/a> to the playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Then, when given a chance to start in 2018, Mahomes tossed 50 touchdown passes and won league MVP.<\/p>\n<p>Cousins has had a fine career. In terms of accomplishments, however, he unquestionably ranks closer to Smith than to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/aaron-rodgers-fires-back-cnns-conspiracy-theories-hit-piece-amid-vp-buzz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rodgers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, the prominent analytics website Pro Football Reference uses a special \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/hofm_QB.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hall of Fame Monitor<\/a>\u201d metric to compare players\u2019 careers and gauge their worthiness for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n<p>To illustrate, the average quarterback in Canton has a score of 108, and Rodgers\u2019 current score stands at an astronomical 192.43, third-best ever.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, Smith finished his career at 45.78. At present, Cousins has amassed a score of 45.68.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, his fine career and massive contract notwithstanding, Cousins does not qualify as the kind of quarterback whose presence on a roster should prevent a team from selecting a much younger and highly coveted eventual replacement.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the state of the 2024 Falcons makes the pick at least defensible, if not more.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, Atlanta has invested high draft picks in young, offensive skill players such as running back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RobiBi01.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bijan Robinson<\/a>, wide receiver <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LondDr00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Drake London<\/a> and tight end <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/PittKy00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kyle Pitts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Poor quarterback play, however, doomed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/atl\/2023.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2023 Falcons<\/a> to a 7-10 record. An offense that ranked 26th of 32 teams in scoring bore much of the blame.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, the team expects Cousins to change all that.<\/p>\n<p>But what if he suffers another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rugby-tupaea-targets-playing-return-in-nine-months-after-knee-surgery\/\" title=\"Rugby-Tupaea targets playing return in nine months after knee surgery\">season-ending injury<\/a>, as he did last season? If that were to happen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-enraged-falcons-hc-arthur-smith-cusses-saints-coach-31-point-slaughter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Atlanta<\/a> would find itself in the same position as a year ago.<\/p>\n<p>Enter Penix as a more-than-viable backup for now. After all, the NFL has no rules against rookie quarterbacks playing.<\/p>\n<p>For his part, Fontenot has quashed all hints of a quarterback controversy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKirk Cousins is our quarterback,\u201d he told reporters after the Penix selection.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, barring injury, Cousins will serve as Atlanta\u2019s quarterback in 2024 and most likely in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>On balance, therefore, the Penix selection does rate as an eye-opener.<\/p>\n<p>After all, if Cousins thrives and Penix never develops, the Falcons will have wasted a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/espn-continues-to-say-racism-is-the-reason-for-lack-of-black-quarterbacks-in-the-nfl\/\" title=\"ESPN Continues To Say Racism Is The Reason For Lack Of Black Quarterbacks In The NFL\">high draft pick<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, if Cousins bombs and Penix supplants him, Atlanta will have wasted $100 million.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, if Fontenot just secured the next <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/patrick-mahomes-refuses-call-gun-control-kansas-city-shooting-continue-educate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mahomes<\/a> or even the next Love, the critics might have to scrub their social media accounts.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We who work here at The Western Journal have fought for years against Big Tech and the elites who want to shut us down and then shut America down. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Make no mistake \u2014 nothing will be the same after November 2024. Will you help us fight? Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>help us expose the America-hating elites<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  who will do everything they can to steal this election? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We\u2019re a small group of people fighting to save the country for our readers and for our own family and friends. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Can we count on your help?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span>At this point, Big Tech has cut off our access to 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone took 90% of your paycheck and there was nothing you could do. They\u2019re trying to starve us out.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Donations from readers like you have literally helped keep our lights on, and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>we need you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  now more than ever. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We operate on a shoestring budget, but with that budget, we terrify the globalists. Please help us continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, and we will never surrender.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading The Western Journal and for believing in America. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>It is a pleasure to serve you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please don\u2019t let the America-hating left win. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us today<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45760\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45760\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45760\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45760\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45760\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Michael Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in History and has taught at multiple colleges and universities. He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Michael Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in History and has taught at multiple colleges and universities. He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On April 26, 2024, at 7:22 am, Michael Schwarz comments on Atlanta Falcons GM Terry Fontenot&#8217;s high-profile move signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal. Fontenot&#8217;s draft pick the following night faced backlash, sparking ridicule and scrutiny in the sports world<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2056,"featured_media":2230924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Penix-Cousins.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2230922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Penix-Cousins.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2056"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2230922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2230922\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2230924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2230922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2230922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2230922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}