Carson Wentz Page 4

  As a rookie starting quarterback, Wentz had to be able to look at the other 10 guys in the huddle and convince them they can win against any circumstances. That’s a hard job to ask a younger player to carry out, but it’s a task that Wentz does naturally.

  “I thought that was all kind of natural, things naturally happened,” Wentz said. “Yes, I was a rookie, but I don’t think that I was by any means quiet. I wasn’t just the guy that rolled with the punches and went with it. I thought I was still doing my job as a leader as well. But the longer we’re playing this game and the more experience we have, the more we can just step up our leadership as well.”

  Wentz breathed life into the Eagles starting with his performance against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener. Other players naturally follow his lead.

  Wentz and Zach Ertz walk off the field after the Eagles beat the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, September 11, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

  “He’s going to be in the film room as much as anyone on the team. I think you love that at the quarterback position, that he’s going to the most prepared guy on the team,” tight end Zach Ertz said.

  Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins is one of the team captains. He admired how Wentz quickly earned the team’s confidence.

  “From a veteran on the team, I think everyone has a lot of confidence in Carson,” Jenkins said last season. “You know that even if he makes mistakes, he’s not going to be gun-shy, and he’s not going to let the mistake ruin his day.”

  Wentz’s leadership extended to the off-season when he made arrangements for the receivers and Ertz to spend a week with him at home in North Dakota.

  Newly signed teammate Alshon Jeffery was the first player to arrive in Fargo, North Dakota, for Wentz’s passing camp. Jeffery signed with Philadelphia because he wanted Wentz to be his quarterback.

  The trip to North Dakota was an opportunity for Wentz and the receivers to further develop chemistry. Wentz gave them a taste of the North Dakota lifestyle by introducing them to Bison burgers.

  They ran routes and worked on timing with Wentz on an outdoor field at North Dakota State University. The gathering set the tone for when the players reported to training camp later that month.

  Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) talks with Wentz during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, August 24, 2017, in Philadelphia. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

  Once training camp rolled around, it was all hands on deck. Wentz was the first one on the field and ready to go to work.

  He started getting every receiver involved right away and pushed them to compete. Wentz was always the first to arrive at the different stations to begin various portions of practice.

  Before Jordan Matthews was traded during training camp, he noticed a slight difference in Wentz as he entered his second season. There was no question the Eagles were his team.

  “There’s definitely a poise about him. You can tell it’s not like last year, when he was thrust into the position,” Matthews said. “He knows his role, he knows he’s the guy, and I think there’s a sense of confidence that comes with that, a sense of poise that he handles extremely well. I’m excited to see what he does this whole off-season and what we’re going to do moving forward.”

  Wentz sprinted from place to place on the field. It was Wentz who broke the offense down before heading into team periods of practice. It’s those kinds of little things that help reinforce Wentz’s presence as a leader.

  Philadelphia Eagles receiver Torrey Smith and Wentz celebrate after Smith’s touchdown during the first half of a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, August 24, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

  Head coach Doug Pederson likes the command of the huddle that he sees from Wentz. There is a lot more communication before and after reps in practice.

  “He steps in there with a lot of confidence, and that’s what you want. He’s leading the football team,” Pederson said proudly when asked about Wentz during training camp.

  Wide receiver Torrey Smith came to the Eagles during the off-season. Like the other wideouts, he spent time with Wentz in North Dakota. Soon after meeting Wentz he started to notice the intangible qualities that make the quarterback a leader.

  “It didn’t take long to see that he’s got it. He’s a guy you want to play for and play with,” Smith said before the season started. “I look at him in the huddle and, man, I can’t wait to see what it’s going to be like on game day. He’s not going to be flustered. He’s going out there making great throws, so we know that if we do our jobs, we’re going to make big plays.”

  “I am wired that way. I like to be the guy in charge. I like to have the ball in my hand,” Wentz told 94WIP during the bye week. “A good leader is someone who can make everyone around him better. I heard the term ‘servant leader,’ which is kind of like always being willing to do anything for my guys. That’s what it comes down to for me. I want to make everyone around me better.”

  When the Eagles are on the road, Wentz leads them onto the field as they are announced as the visiting team. Wentz runs out waving his arms, challenging the crowd to make noise.

  If the Eagles are going to get to the Super Bowl, it will be Wentz who leads the way.

  Philadelphia Eagle Zach Ertz (86) celebrates his touchdown catch from Wentz during the first half, Sunday, January 1, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

  Wentz vs. Prescott

  Having been selected in the same draft by two divisional rivals, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz will always be tied together. The two even faced each other in the Senior Bowl before the draft.

  Wentz started the game and only played in the first quarter for the North team that was led by Dallas head coach Jason Garrett and his staff. He completed 6-of-10 passes for 50 yards. Two of Wentz’s incompletions came as a result of dropped passes.

  Prescott came away with the game MVP honors after completing 7-of-10 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.

  Now they will do battle for years to come with Prescott’s Cowboys going against Wentz’s Eagles. Although the Cowboys and Eagles played each other twice during the 2016–17 season, Prescott only played in one of the games. Dallas squeaked out a close win over the Eagles at home in Week 8, when Prescott delivered a game-winning five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jason Witten in overtime to secure the win.

  Wentz held his own in a losing effort against Dallas by completing 32-of-43 pass attempts for 202 yards and a touchdown. Prescott countered with 287 yards on 39 pass attempts to go along with two touchdowns and an interception.

  Prescott and the Cowboys got off to a hot start in 2016. They finished the season with a 13–3 record to capture the NFC East division title.

  Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) greets Wentz after the Cowboys played the Eagles, Sunday, October 30, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (Greg Trott via AP)

  Dallas had the division title wrapped up by the time the two teams faced each other in the regular season finale.

  As a rookie, Prescott threw for 3,667 yards and 23 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Both quarterbacks took turns setting the NFL record for consecutive passes without an interception by a rookie.

  Prescott ended up with the record, after his 178th throw was picked off by Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett. As rookies, Prescott had the edge over Wentz after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

  Some dismissed Prescott’s season because he had a strong supporting cast. Having good players helps, but make no mistake about it—Prescott had the most prominent role in his success as a rookie.

  The Eagles followed the Cowboys’ lead in 2017. They added Alshon Jeffery and LeGarrette Blount to give Wentz more firepower on game days.

  Wentz got off to an incredible start in 2017. He ranked among the league leaders in t
ouchdown passes and has become an ultra-effective quarterback on third downs. The Eagles jumped out to the league’s best record, and Wentz was mentioned as an MVP candidate.

  Any conversation about Prescott and Wentz is usually fueled by emotion. For some reason, it’s not okay to believe both are good quarterbacks. The truth is both are solid quarterbacks who will lead their teams and the NFC East back to being among the league’s best.

  When Doug Pederson first took over as head coach of the Eagles, he planned to have Sam Bradford as his quarterback and then draft a player who could develop into the starter after Bradford played out the second year of his contract.

  Wentz points out the Dallas Cowboys defense, Sunday, October 30, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (James D. Smith via AP)

  Prescott was one of the quarterbacks Philadelphia was interested in before making the trades to get into a position to draft Wentz. The Eagles had Prescott visit with the team at the NovaCare complex. They even put him through a mock press conference to see how he would respond to Philadelphia’s tough media.

  By some measures, Prescott reminds NFL personnel people of former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Pederson was in Philadelphia when McNabb was selected with the No. 2 pick in 1999. Pederson’s mentor Andy Reid found a great deal of success with McNabb. Perhaps Pederson was looking for his own version when they brought Prescott in for a closer look.

  Meanwhile, Wentz and the Cowboys went through an extensive feeling-out process during the Senior Bowl. It seemed like Wentz was going to be the pick for Dallas, who held the No. 4 pick.

  Executive VP Howie Roseman pulled off a couple of trades to get to No.2 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Those trades set off a role reversal. As a result, the Cowboys took running back Ezekiel Elliott No. 4 overall.

  Wentz rolls out and eludes a defender during an NFL Thursday Night Football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, December 22, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 24–19. (Paul Jasienski via AP)

  The Eagles drafted what they thought was going to be a developmental prospect while the Cowboys rushed Prescott into action after starter Tony Romo went down with a back injury during the preseason.

  It’s incredible how the two quarterbacks’ careers are intertwined. Like Prescott, Wentz got his first start in the NFL due to an injury—on another team.

  Bradford was traded to the Vikings when their starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, went down with an injury. That opened the door for Wentz to start the season opener.

  Prescott isn’t surprised by the success that Wentz has achieved in the NFL.

  “He’s doing exactly what I thought he’d be doing in this league,” Prescott said. “I figured he’d be a good player. Smart guy, great player, great athlete. He’s been doing well.”

  NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah polled five NFL executives to see who they would take as their quarterback if they could choose from Wentz, Prescott, and 2016 No. 1 pick Jared Goff.

  Two of the executives chose Prescott, while three went with Wentz. Those who took Prescott mentioned his toughness and leadership as their reason. They also felt Prescott was the better thrower.

  Wentz evades Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96), Sunday, January 1, 2017, in Philadelphia. The Eagles beat the Cowboys 27–13. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

  The ones who took Wentz liked his “football smarts” in addition to his natural arm strength. Given the early success that both franchises have found with their young quarterbacks, either one would be a good choice.

  Jeremiah, a former collegiate quarterback himself, chose Wentz out of the three.

  “I would still stick with my pre-draft ranking and select Wentz. I love his blend of arm strength, toughness, and creativity. He’s on his way to becoming a special player,” said Jeremiah.

  Perhaps the most entertaining Wentz vs. Prescott debate is on FS1’s show Undisputed, which features two hours of debate between hosts Skip Bayless and Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe.

  Bayless is known for his outrageous takes. He is a Dallas Cowboys fan and has no problem letting anyone know. It’s a foregone conclusion that he would select Prescott over Wentz.

  “The Eagles have peaked early, but my Cowboys will peak when it matters,” Bayless said after the Eagles pushed their record to 6–1 in 2017. “I’m sorry, I’m still not sold on Carson Wentz and the Eagles. The best quarterback in the NFC East is still Dak Prescott.”

  Both quarterbacks have shown poise beyond their years. Bayless has no problem giving Prescott credit for helping turn things around for Dallas. But he refuses to acknowledge that Wentz has done the same job in Philadelphia.

  Wentz reacts after scoring a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens, December 18, 2016, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 27–26. (Brian Garfinkel via AP)

  “Under fire, when I watch Carson Wentz, I see a deer in headlights,” Bayless said. “I don’t see the moxie. I don’t see the feel. I don’t see the command for playing that position that I always see in Dak Prescott.”

  Bayless took it a step further, adding that Wentz can’t change the culture in Philadelphia like Prescott did in Dallas.

  “Dak Prescott takes over games with his body language,” Bayless continued. “He changed the whole culture of the Cowboys.”

  Sharpe had a different opinion when faced with the same question.

  “The baddest man in the NFC East right now wears No. 11 for the Eagles,” Sharpe said on the show in October. “He’s a once in a lifetime player. Carson has a better arm. He has a bigger arm than Dak Prescott. He’s more mobile than you think. He can get out of harm’s way.”

  Both quarterbacks have their teams in position to compete with any franchise. Prescott led the Cowboys to the NFC East title and the No. 1 seed in the 2016 playoffs before losing to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the divisional playoff round.

  Wentz seems to have the Eagles headed toward a No. 1 seed and NFC East title in 2017–18.

  The Wentz vs. Prescott debate will be one that wages on in the future as the two battle for division supremacy.

  A Band of Brothers

  The Eagles as a whole are a close-knit unit. However, a select group of Eagles drew even closer to each other because of their spiritual commitments. The group really got close during Carson Wentz’s rookie season, and their relationship continued to grow during the off-season.

  Veteran wide receiver Jordan Matthews established himself as one of Wentz’s favorite receivers to target early in the season. Tight end Zach Ertz emerged as another reliable pass catcher down the stretch last year.

  The three formed a strong bond that branched out to another tight end, Trey Burton. The group became inseparable. According to Chaplain Theodore Winsley, Burton even held a couples fellowship Bible study at his house.

  They attended church together in addition to many other activities outside of the locker room. Safety Chris Maragos was also a part of the group. Together, they took the lead in weekly Bible study held at the facility.

  Things seemed to be going well until a trade shook up the group. They lost a member when Matthews was traded to the Buffalo Bills during training camp.

  Philadelphia Eagles tight end Trey Burton, left, and Wentz celebrate a touchdown against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, November 5, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

  “The only way I can really relate it is like when you’re in elementary school or middle school and your best friend growing up,” Burton said. “You’re going to the same school and then one day his parents move to a different city, and he’s gone. And you’re like, ‘Okay, what the heck do I do?’”

  Ertz and Matthews had been teammates since 2014, when Matthews was selected in the second round of the draft. Ertz was a second-round pick in 2013. The two became close friends soon after meeting and formed the foundation of the band of brothers
that were a part of the Eagles that included Wentz.

  “If it weren’t for the Philadelphia Eagles, a kid from Huntsville, Alabama, and a kid from California would have never met,” Ertz explained. “He has a brother for life in me, and he knows that. It was emotional for sure, somber. Our group is extremely close.”

  Wentz seemed to be the one who was shaken up the most by the trade. He was losing one of his best friends and a security blanket from his rookie season.

  Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Chris Maragos (42) has a laugh with an official as Wentz looks on prior to the coin toss against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, September 17, 2017, in Kansas City. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)

  “On the personal side, it’s tough,” Wentz said. “This is my first time experiencing this with someone that’s one of my best friends. Seeing him yesterday, it’s tough on him, too. It’s kind of out of the blue.”

  Executive VP Howie Roseman knew the relationship that Matthews and Wentz had was intense. That’s why he made sure he personally let Wentz know about the deal before it went public. Wentz had no choice but to put faith in the organization and move forward.

  Once the deal was done, the group arranged for a final meal together as teammates. They had dinner together at a restaurant near the team’s practice facility. Wentz said he drove Matthews to the airport to get on the plane headed to his new team in Buffalo.