Sports

Fans Slam Marcus Mariota For Quitting On Atlanta Falcons After Being Benched For Rookie Desmond Ridder

#NFL
by

Getty Image


Marcus Mariota was supposed to be the future of the Tennessee Titans franchise.

The Titans selected Mariota No. 2 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy for the Oregon Ducks the year prior. But now, at the age of 29, it appears Mariota’s NFL career may already be over.

In five seasons with Tennessee, Mariota never really put it all together. He threw for 3,426 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his second season to lead Tennesee to an 8-7 record in his 15 starts. But that was his high water mark.

Mariota threw for just 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions the following year and was eventually benched for current Titans starter Ryan Tannehill in 2019. Mariota left Tennesee for Las Vegas in 2020 but spent each of his two years with the Raiders as a backup to Derek Carr.

The Atlanta Falcons then offered him an opportunity to be their starting quarterback entering the 2022 season. Mariota started the first 13 games of the season for the Falcons. But Atlanta went just 5-8 at he was benched in favor of rookie third-round pick Desmond Ridder.

It’s safe to say Mariota didn’t handle the news all that well.

Falcons Fans Slam Marcus Mariota For Quitting On Team After Being Benched

Rather than help Ridder prepare, Mariota has opted to pack his things and go according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic.

That’s how things turned out, though, when veteran Marcus Mariota left the team at least temporarily to have what Smith described as a “chronic” knee issue evaluated. The Falcons don’t know when or if Mariota, who started the first 13 games of the season, will return to the team, and they anticipate placing the quarterback on injured reserve, Smith said.

,,,

The knee “is nothing that has been an issue this season, but that’s (Mariota’s) prerogative so … ” Smith said. “Of course, you want all your guys to be here, but guys have to make decisions. It’s part of professional sports. You have to have contingency plans.” – via The Athletic

Falcons fans did not take the news of Mariota’s departure particularly well.

Mariota’s play has dictated that he’ll likely never be an NFL starting quarterback again. But his response to being benched may have also ensured he doesn’t get another backup job in the league either.