Draft duties won’t weary Wentz this time
PHILADELPHIA >> In case you’re wondering, Carson Wentz still is trying to get in touch with the young fan who wrote and enclosed a photo of himself in a Wentz jersey aiming a bow at an archery range.
Wentz’s dog, Jersey, ate the envelope the inspiring letter came in.
Make no mistake, thoughtful notes from young fans are just part of the reason Philadelphia has grown on Wentz.
“I feel like it fits me, it fits my personality,” Wentz said Monday. “And I just love this place.”
Last year around this time, there was almost no chance of anything like that happening because Wentz was stuck in the pre-draft grind, which was quickly followed by the marathon NFL regular season and a losing season hangover.
When Wentz wasn’t checking into a hotel for a pre-draft visit, he was checking out of one. When he wasn’t working out for teams, he was wined and dined by otherwise strangers.
Through it all, pro football executives and scouts gave him the old, you only get drafted once, try to enjoy it refrain. complete
Looking back, Wentz is glad it only happens once.
“I just remember being tired all the time,” Wentz said. “It’s an exhausting time. You’re flying around everywhere. You’re working out all the time. Being tired, but also mentally, because you have no idea what’s happening. It’s a big question mark. And then finally, I’ll never forget the draft. I’ll never forget that night, hearing my name called, knowing I was an Eagle, getting to spend it with my friends and family. That time, it still gives me chills talking about it, just realizing how my life changed that night and how fortunate I really am.”
Wentz’s encore was starting all 16 games for the Eagles, the first time a Philly quarterback did so since Donovan McNabb in 2008.
Wentz played the second-most snaps of any quarterback in the league, completing 62.4 percent of his attempts for 3,782 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. During his only real break of the season, he went bow hunting in North Dakota and landed a buck.
The scouting combine, the pre-draft circus, the draft and the regular season were a lot of work for a 7-9 record, which is how the Eagles finished the season. It wasn’t much of a reward for Wentz, who fully realized it for the first time during vacation.
“That’s not good,” Wentz said of the record. “That’s never going to be good enough for me or anybody in this building. So I fully expect us to all make strides and hopefully be playing into January.”
Wentz looks recharged and refocused. He doesn’t sound at all like the rookie drained by the losing compounded by the extremely limited stable of Eagles playmakers.
In their quest to create plays, the Eagles sought Wentz’s input over the offseason before they went hunting for help. Voila, free agent additions Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith, who are two more wide receiver threats than Wentz had last year, as Jordan Matthews played through injuries.
The Eagles also resigned guard Stefen Wisniewski and Chance Warmack, the latter an unwanted first-round draft pick.
Howie Long’s son, Chris, was signed to play defensive end. Defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan was acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
Wentz thinks those pieces are enough for the Eagles to compete with the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East pennant.
Looking at the list and the other holes in the lineup you have to wonder what Wentz knows about the Eagles’ intentions in the draft next week.
Wentz worked out with and watched film of what he called “a handful” of draft prospects. He didn’t mention any by name. “I think there are a lot talented players from receivers of his second who can help but I don’t know where it’s really going to go,” Wentz said. “I don’t have any input either, so I’m just excited to see what we add, whether it’s offensively or defensively. Obviously the draft being here in Philly, there’s a lot of excitement for that as well. It’ll be a fun time.”
In case you’ve missed it, the Eagles cannot stop talking about the importance of putting the right pieces around Wentz. The first few times it was interesting. Now it’s bordering on nauseating. OK, we get it.
Coach Doug Pederson, after pouring through the tape of last season, thinks Wentz is ready to be the face of the franchise. Pederson might be right, but that’s a lot of responsibility to put on a second-year player, particularly a quarterback.
Wentz is OK being the guy although he quickly explained how Pederson “hasn’t directly said that to me,” a sign that the quarterback realizes veterans are going to read something into everything he says.
“At the same time, as the quarterback of this team you know you’ve got to kind of accept that role and run with it,” Wentz said. “So I’m going to let it all happen organically and just still be myself and it will all kind of just take care of itself.”
Let it all happen organically and run with it?
Hopefully, that’s being a leader without saying you’re a leader.