Carson Wentz Page 5

  The band of spiritual brothers continued after Matthews was traded. Wide receiver Marcus Johnson was baptized before the Eagles Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers.

  Although Maragos is on injured reserve, he is frequently in the building spending time with his teammates. It’s a testament to the bond the players share.

  Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (81) and Wentz celebrate a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 30, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

  Ertz suffered from hamstring tightness in the days leading up to the Eagles’ Week 9 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Up to that point in the 2017 season, the Broncos defense had been allowing an NFL-best 261 yards per game. Wentz was facing the vaunted Denver pass defense known as the “No Fly Zone” without his favorite target. Ertz was ruled out before the game, which meant Burton was going to get an increase in playing time. Wentz gathered Burton and Ertz for a small group prayer before they went through their pregame warmups.

  Burton was the recipient of Wentz’s third touchdown pass against the Broncos. The magical season continued as the Eagles blew out Denver 51–23. Philadelphia’s record stood at 8–1 and was the best in the NFL.

  With Burton set to hit free agency after the season, the group should be facing another shakeup. There will likely be teams lining up to pay Burton to be their featured tight end, as opposed to being the Robin to Ertz’s Batman.

  Surely the pull of his close group of friends will have some influence on his future decision. It’ll be a tough decision for him to make. Who knows? Maybe he’ll choose to go to the Buffalo Bills to be reunited with Matthews.

  Until then, Ertz, Wentz, Maragos, and Burton will continue to enjoy each other’s fellowship and look for it to carry them to new heights in 2017–18.

  Wentz throws a pass from the end zone in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, October 30, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

  Dressed to Impress

  Carson Wentz is dialed in on many things, but putting together the right outfit hasn’t always been one of them. Some of the ensembles that he wore during his first postgame press conferences caused local clothiers to cringe.

  Fortunately, teammate Malcolm Jenkins opened his own clothing store and has put Wentz in coordinated outfits that are more fitting for a franchise quarterback.

  “Carson is pretty bold for a quarterback. He likes prints, patterns, window panes,” Jenkins said.

  Wentz was happy to work on some new outfits with his teammate’s company, Damari Saville.

  Jay Amin is Jenkins’ partner and oversees the day-to-day operations of Damari Saville. Amin is responsible for helping clients achieve their fashion goals. He worked with Wentz to set up some new looks.

  Wentz responds to questions during a news conference after the Eagles played the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 30, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

  “I could tell that Carson was really trying to set a standard with his look: keeping it business casual and clean-cut, while maintaining his own sense of style and perspective,” Amin said as he reflected on working with Wentz during the off-season. “He is a guy who is not afraid of color and has a keen eye for pattern. The main goal with his wardrobe was to focus on fit, integrating his penchant for color and pattern into a consistent style. We took on a less-is-more attitude, focusing on one standout piece per outfit.”

  “We did a couple of sportcoats, a couple of suits,” Wentz said. “I just basically got refitted. My body has kind of changed. I guess everything wasn’t tight enough.”

  Wentz said he doesn’t really like to overthink when it comes to creating an outfit. If he likes it, he will go with it.

  Wentz speaks to the media after the Eagles played the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, Friday, October 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

  “I just go with what I’m wearing,” Wentz said. “I mix it up this year better because I have more, I guess. Home games, I dress up better now. I mean, I feel good with whatever I am wearing so I just make it happen!”

  One detail that Wentz does pay attention to is having a scripture monogrammed on the inside of his suits. The scripture is Colossians 3:23. Wentz says it’s kind of like his life verse.

  “It goes with AO1, which is obviously like my life motto,” Wentz said. “It says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.’

  “That correlates with my AO1 motto, where whatever I am doing, I am working for the Lord. That’s just a constant reminder. No matter what I am doing, whether it’s playing football, whether I am lifting, it’s always to glorify Him. He’s my audience and it always gives me extra motivation.”

  Wentz talks to reporters in the postgame press conference after the Eagles played the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Sunday, November 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

  Wentz was able to get the help of Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer and JC Penney to help him get suited up for the 2016 NFL Draft. (Eagles fans won’t want to hear this, but the suit that Wentz wore on draft day was one that came from the Michael Strahan collection.)

  With the 2017 NFL Draft taking place in Philadelphia, Wentz was able to coordinate with JC Penney and future Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The two came together to donate suits to young men at the Columbia North YMCA in Philadelphia.

  Wentz told the kids how he feels more confident when he wears a suit. Watson told the kids about how important it is to make a good first impression.

  Wentz walks outside before a news conference at the Eagles’ training facility, Friday, April 29, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

  The Dutch Destroyer

  A couple of years ago, a youth football player in Wilmington, Delaware, dominated on the field. His name was Lukas Kusters, but they called him The Dutch Destroyer because of the way he imposed his will during games.

  “Lukas was one of the biggest eight-year-olds I had ever seen,” Lukas’ coach Raymond Jackson told ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi. “They might have a big guy that’s busting through the line, and I’d tell Lukas, ‘You have to go over there now.’ Next thing you know, that kid is laying on the ground.”

  Unfortunately, after playing in his league’s championship, Lukas was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his abdomen and the lining of his stomach.

  The news was devastating, but the young man refused to give up. He gave cancer a heck of a fight.

  While he fought the disease, Lukas found another source of motivation from his favorite team’s quarterback.

  He loved the Eagles and wanted to play for them when he grew up. Lukas had the team colors on his walls. Wentz and the potential he brought to the Eagles was something that Lukas pulled motivation from.

  Wentz greets the family of Lukas Kusters, a young boy who lost his battle with cancer, after the Eagles played the Washington Redskins, Monday, October 23, 2017, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 34–24. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

  It was a small thing in comparison to what Lukas was going through, but the future finally looked bright for the Eagles. At the same time, the future suddenly looked bright for young Lukas.

  In March of 2017, Lukas returned home after what seemed to be a victory. Lukas and his family celebrated the news that his body was free of cancer.

  Unfortunately, the celebration was short-lived. Cancer resurfaced the following month, and this time the doctors told the Kusters family it was unlikely that Lukas would survive.

  “We spent a lot of time talking about him while we were in the hospital,” said Lukas’ mother. “The idea of the hope of Carson Wentz and what it meant for the Eagles was another piece of inspiration for Lukas and his continued drive to get back on the field himself.”

  Lukas returned to the hospital, and one of the employees there passed on his story t
o the Eagles. Wentz recorded a message for Lukas.

  “Hey, Lukas, Carson Wentz here. I know you’re a big fan and made it out to a game last year,” Wentz said in the message. “I just wanted you to know that we are all thinking about you. We wish you the best and God bless, bud.”

  Wentz hugs Rebecca Burmeff, whom Wentz befriended during her son’s fight with cancer, Monday, October 23, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

  As the cancer spread, representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation asked Lukas if he had a wish he’d like fulfilled. The one thing he wanted to do was thank Wentz for sending him the video.

  The Eagles made arrangements for Lukas to visit the team at the NovaCare complex on May 30. That’s when he got the chance to thank his favorite quarterback in person.

  Lukas wanted to give Wentz one of his green “Dutch Destroyer” bracelets as a thank-you. From Wentz’s perspective, all he wanted to do was take the boy’s mind off the solemn situation that he was going through.

  “I tried to just view it as an opportunity for Lukas to just take out all of the other stuff in his life,” Wentz told ESPN. “The sick, the pain, the exhaustion, everything that he was going through. You could tell he was sick and that he was struggling, but he was a trooper that day.”

  Lukas had a great time at the facility. He got to meet many Eagles players but spent the most time with Wentz and his favorite defensive player, linebacker Jordan Hicks.

  Wentz talks to the relatives of Lukas Kusters, Monday, October 23, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

  Lukas toured the facility as he spent the day with his favorite players. He even got to meet Eagles head coach Doug Pederson. It was a surreal moment for young Lukas.

  Two weeks later, Lukas passed away. He was only 10 years old. Wentz wrote a letter to the Kusters family and sent it along with flowers that he had delivered to the funeral. The family had the handwritten letter framed, and it still serves as a connection to their son’s favorite football player.

  Simply doing the right thing allowed Wentz to have a tremendous impact on Lukas and his family. Lukas was buried with Wentz’s jersey on. Wentz was moved to tears when he was told about it.

  “It’s crazy, to think that he was buried wearing my jersey,” Wentz said as he fought back the tears. “It’s so much deeper than football. That’s what it comes down to. It’s more than just a game.”

  When Wentz took the field for the 2017–18 season opener, he had Lukas’ bracelet on his wrist. Wentz said he hasn’t taken the bracelet off since Lukas gave it to him.

  “I feel Lukas all the time. It’s always nice to just have him on my wrist,” Wentz said. “It’s a constant reminder that it’s so much bigger than football. I have just been praying for that family. It’s a very moving story, obviously. It’s pretty cool to be in this position and make that impact.”

  Wentz huddles with children during an NFL Play 60 event at Grant Park, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Chicago, before the 2016 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

  Before a Monday Night Football game against the Washington Redskins in Week 7, Wentz met with Lukas’ family and took pictures while the feature re-aired on ESPN’s pregame show.

  The second-year quarterback was delighted to give the family the ball from one of his touchdown passes. This one was after a pass to tight end Zach Ertz for a touchdown.

  “I talked to them for a while. I saw them again after the game. Finally got the touchdown pass to Ertz and finally got the ball to them after the half,” Wentz said during his postgame press conference. “They are just a special family. It has impacted me in a big way. I am just thrilled that they could be here. And the youngest one, that was his first Eagles game, so I told him he’d better keep coming back.”

  The story of Wentz and The Dutch Destroyer is just another example of how the young quarterback has a way of endearing himself to others.

  Suddenly an MVP

  In only his second season, Carson Wentz emerged as an MVP candidate by leading the Eagles to the best record in the NFL. Heading into Week 12 of the 2017–18 season, the Eagles were 9–1 and Wentz was leading the league with 25 touchdown passes.

  “He improves every single week. The guys around him really elevate their game,” head coach Doug Pederson said after Wentz threw four touchdown passes against the Broncos in Week 9. “I think we talk about this quite a bit with great quarterbacks and good quarterbacks that make the other guys really want to play at a high level.”

  The team is having fun and finding success with Wentz leading the way. Wentz earned the right to have a good time after the work that he’s put in. He is always the first in the building and usually the last one to leave.

  “He’s doing a great job. He knows where everybody’s going to be. He prepares so well each week. It’s fun to watch him when things are really clicking like that and to see the guys having fun doing that,” Pederson said.

  Wentz scrambles against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, October 8, 2017, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Cardinals 34–7. (Al Tielemans via AP)

  Offensive coordinator Frank Reich said he’s impressed by how he’ll peek into the film room after he arrives at the NovaCare complex and see Wentz already settled in as he’s studying the next opponent.

  It’s all about preparation. Wentz has a lot of freedom to change protections as well as the play before the ball is snapped. That freedom comes from a great deal of trust by Pederson.

  Quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo works with Wentz every day. The success that Wentz has achieved is no surprise to DeFilippo.

  “Carson is a guy that nothing surprises you because of the way that he prepares. The way he conducts himself on a day-to-day basis, the interaction with his teammates, his work. It’s all detail-oriented,” DeFilippo said before leaving for the bye week.

  What is it that makes Wentz such an improved player this year?

  “Just overall, he’s seeing the field well. He’s really getting comfortable with his teammates, the new guys on the team,” DeFilippo explained. “Carson is throwing the ball on time and accurately. He’s really stepped up in the leadership role and is truly a leader of this football team.”

  Recognition always comes when a player’s team is winning. As the Eagles continued to add to their league-best record, Wentz’s name was starting to be mentioned with Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as MVP candidates.

  LeGarrette Blount, left, and Wentz celebrate during the first half against the New York Giants, September 24, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez, File)

  In fact, Wentz was the odds-on favorite to win the MVP award according to various gambling sites that accept prop bets.

  Every week Wentz makes a play that leaves his teammates shaking their heads. Sometimes it is a precise pass to a spot that no one besides the receiver can catch. On other weeks, it’s an amazing escape from pass rushers that shocks his teammates.

  Alshon Jeffery said his goal was to come to the Eagles and help make Wentz the MVP. Judging how things look so far, Jeffery’s purpose is coming to fruition. The receiver has come to believe Wentz will wow him every time they take the field.

  “That’s what we expect,” Jeffery explained after a 51–23 win over the Broncos in Week 9. “We expect him to make throws and great plays with his legs. All the credit goes to him.”

  Wentz has the Eagles on target for a deep run in the playoffs. He is among the league leaders in multiple passing categories.

  What is so remarkable about Wentz is that he has taken skills that were marked for improvement and made them strengths. The great quarterbacks are able to throw their receivers open. That’s especially the case on slants, dig routes, and dagger routes. Being able to throw to a window and lead the receiver requires accuracy. Wentz has made strides in that department on passes over the middle of the field.

&n
bsp; Being able to accurately take deep shots is another area that Wentz got better with. He became a more precise deep-ball passer as the season went on.

  The result is an Eagles offense that is nearly unstoppable.

  Wentz celebrates his first NFL touchdown against the Green Bay Packers, Monday, November 28, 2016, in Philadelphia. (Jim Mahoney via AP)

  Spreading It Around

  Having an abundance of weapons on offense can be a double-edged sword for a football team. There is only one ball, after all, which means some players are not going to have it as much as they might like.

  It takes a group of players that buy into the team-first mentality to make things work. Carson Wentz’s steady, team-first attitude has played a crucial role in keeping everyone on the same page.

  Everyone has to make a sacrifice, including Wentz, who does so when he breaks the pocket and dives head-first to finish a run. He puts his body on the line to get extra yards.

  There are also times when Wentz hangs in the pocket for that extra second to give his receiver a chance to make his break as he releases the ball. Wentz has absorbed some major hits as he delivered the ball to his wideouts.

  That doesn’t go unnoticed. Philadelphia’s receivers respect the reckless abandon that Wentz plays the game with. They understand that Wentz is going to throw the ball wherever his reads take him.