ATLANTA — Despite all they've been through, longtime Atlanta Falcons fans like Nick Perrone are still optimistic. Perrone thinks a potential new player could lead to a new era for a team that's had six straight losing seasons.
The Falcons reportedly reached a deal with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins on Monday, and Perrone is awaiting the official announcement.
"My relationship with the Falcons has been ups and downs, more downs than ups," Perrone said. "But I'll never go against them. We'll see what happens."
Cousins, 35, is a four-time pro-bowler, and the former Washington and Minnesota quarterback is coming off an Achilles injury that caused him to miss about half of last season.
"He has the best stats, gives us the best chance to win," Perrone said. "Me personally, I would have brought Justin [Fields] here with his youth and a young team around him. I think that would have been something. But for right now, for a quick win, Kirk Cousins."
While Perrone is cautiously optimistic about the team's potential new hundred-million-dollar man, he still favors the Falcons adding another younger quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft in April.
"I would definitely still get a quarterback, someone to learn around the 35-year-old Kirk Cousins," Perrone said. "I think he could prep someone; maybe younger talent could come in, and then we'll be the Falcons everyone wants to see."
Falcons fans have optimsism in leaps and bounds. Imad Conley said his father got him into the fandom. He believes the reported Cousins deal could give the Falcons the edge the team needs to get back to the Super Bowl.
"It’s been a couple rough years, but I feel like we can do it this year," Conley said. "I think adding a quarterback like Kirk Cousins will give us the leadership role we’ve been looking for the last couple of years and these championship runs. It’s a good move.”
Soon, "Captain Kirk" may be leading the charge on a new enterprise to turn this ship and team around.