Waymo Confessions: Freddie Falcon, Penix Envy
Freddie Falcon has Penix Envy. He's had it since the draft. He said so out loud, to a reporter, in a Waymo.
ATLANTA, GA — Our own Harry Low shared a Waymo from Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Freddie Falcon on Wednesday evening following the team’s midweek media availability. Light rain on I-285 West. The car rerouted twice. What follows has been lightly edited for length.
LOW: Where does the quarterback situation stand right now?
FREDDIE: Tua went down again. Third time. Different thing. He was supposed to be a bridge — get us to Penix. And now here we are, Penix is right there, Penix is technically ready, and it just —
[pause]
FREDDIE: It’s just not how you want to get it.
LOW: Do you think Penix is ready?
FREDDIE: I don’t know. I want Penix. I’ve wanted Penix for a while now. I feel like the whole city wants Penix. And there’s something — I don’t know if you’ve ever felt this way — there’s something almost painful about wanting Penix this much and the circumstances never being right. Like the universe is keeping Penix just out of reach.
[looks at hands]
FREDDIE: Some teams just have their guy. No drama. No bridge. No “we’ll see.” They have their quarterback and everyone knows it. I look at that and I —
FREDDIE: I have Penix Envy. I’m saying it out loud. Harry, I have Penix Envy and I’ve had it for two years.
[The Waymo chimes. Route recalculated.]
LOW: Is that — how long have you felt that way?
FREDDIE: Since the draft. We got him. We have Penix. But you can have Penix and still not really have Penix. You know what I mean? You can want it so bad and life just — it keeps not giving it to you. The whole time. It just won’t give you Penix.
[long pause. He exhales.]
FREDDIE: I thought this was going to be the year.
[The car slows to a stop on I-285. Traffic. Freddie stares ahead. Harry Low notes the time: 10:17 PM. The Falcons play Sunday. It is not clear who will start.]
Photo: Pete Sheffield / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
