New Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz has had his maturity, leadership and ability to be coached questioned for quite some time. One glaring red flag was his attitude towards his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, following his season-ending torn ACL in Week 14 of the 2017 season.
In a report by Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Wentz sulked and whined about not being appreciated for his efforts to get the team to where they were prior to his injury. He was an MVP candidate, and his world came crumbling down while his backup led the team to a championship.
#Eagles coach Doug Pederson says Carson Wentz has a torn ACL. He’s out.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 11, 2017
“According to McLane, after tearing his ACL, Wentz voiced his displeasure with the team’s success with other injured teammates. Another Eagle immediately confronted him, and the two had to be separated. The whole interaction was ahead of the NFC Championship, which of course Philly won in a massive blowout.”
It was a bittersweet pill for Wentz to swallow. The quarterback reportedly often whined about the team’s success without him, and that kind of selfishness didn’t sit well with one teammate in particular.
That player was Darren Sproles, the tough diminutive running back, who was also on injured reserve.
DARREN SPROLES APPRECIATION TWEET ❕❕
Ohhhh what a time! The Eagles in Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson’s rookie year, pull off the upset as the in-state rival Steelers came to town.
Sproles doing what he’s done for years catching the rock and hitting the moves. 🏃🏾♂️💨💨💨💨💨 pic.twitter.com/KZBRZMMHtk
— Eagles Nation (NFC Champs) (@PHLEaglesNation) May 4, 2020
Former Washington football star Brian Mitchell had this to say about that incident following the trade of Wentz to the Commanders.
“And he damn sure wasn’t happy about them going on a run when he wasn’t playing. He was like, ‘I don’t feel comfortable with them winning it without me. This doesn’t feel good,’ until Darren Sproles almost whipped his ass.”
Does this make you happy??? https://t.co/b3F0OTBzZy
— Brian Mitchell (@BMitchliveNBCS) March 9, 2022
Eagles We’re Rolling When Wentz Got Injured: He Was The MVP Favorite
The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles were the best team in the NFL. The team was efficient in all three phases of the game (offense, defense and special teams). Wentz, the 2016 No.2 overall pick from North Dakota State, was in line to be named MVP. The Eagles were 11-2 and Wentz had passed for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 61 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 300 on 64 carries, for a 4.8 yards-per-carry average. In Week 14, in a game against the Los Angeles Rams, Wentz tore his ACL on a touchdown run.
Wentz was a legitimate MVP candidate in 2017 before sitting due to injury. He dominated in all phases but was particularly great on third-down plays that year, where he led all QBs in passing grade (93.3), big-time throws (15), yards per att. (9.5), and passer rating (123.7).
— PFF (@PFF) June 7, 2019
Lost for the season, the young QB was replaced by Nick Foles. All the backup did was go on to lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl win in franchise history while being named MVP of the game.
Wentz Was Reportedly Upset By Comments Made Discounting His Contributions To The Team
The team doing so well obviously bothered Wentz — who played like a good sport to the media — throughout the playoff run. That became even more apparent when folks were saying the team would’ve done just as well with Foles the entire season.
Some were even calling for Foles to remain the starter, which also seems to have bruised Wentz’s ego.
Then Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount gave his account last Friday on the “BMitch & Finlay” 106.7 The Fan Washington radio show about what he learned about the situation following the Super Bowl win.
“So I don’t know the details of it because I wasn’t there. I just kind of got like a light version of it, and I guess, from my understanding, him and Sproles kind of … I guess Nick Foles had a great game, or he brought us back, or he was balling, or whatever it was, it was one of those games for him … and I guess something was said about our success would still be the same if Carson didn’t play [at all in 2017 and Foles started the whole season].
“And I guess he was supposing like, I don’t agree with that. I don’t think that would have been the case. I don’t think we would’ve been as good if I wasn’t here. I know it’s probably way more detailed than that, but that’s just kind of the watered-down version of it.”
LeGarrette Blount led Eagles in rushing and had TD in Super Bowl 52 win
He announced he is retiring
“Philly! Philly! Philly special! That entire season was one of the most special seasons in my career. Getting my third Super Bowl ring was just icing on the cake. Eagles Nation!” pic.twitter.com/EsyrPcdr4z
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 5, 2020
Wentz Hasn’t Matured Much Since, As Evinced By His Being Traded In Back-To-Back Seasons
The question marks surrounding Wentz and his alleged “me guy” attitude seems to have gotten him traded the past two seasons. The Eagles dealt him in 2021 to the Colts after the team fired Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson, who reportedly had a rocky relationship with Wentz.
In the trade to Indy, Wentz was reunited with Frank Reich, his offensive coordinator during his MVP-caliber season in 2017. Wentz played solid in 2021, passing for over 3,500 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. But the team’s failure to make the playoffs seemed to have been the straw that broke camel’s back for Wentz in “Naptown.” The Colts dealt him to the QB-desperate Washington Commanders for two third-round picks.
Washington taking on Wentz after he fizzled out with Pederson and Reich is a strange move. If those offensive gurus couldn’t fix him, what makes Washington think they can? And if Wentz hasn’t changed his rumored selfishness, this is a disaster waiting to happen. The Washington franchise doesn’t have the greatest track record with free agents or QBs, period. That’s why Russell Wilson declined to waive his no-trade clause to join them a week earlier.
Maybe Wentz can take advantage of his last true opportunity to be a franchise QB for an extended period of time.
