Wentz not focused on adulation of fans
PHILADELPHIA >> The next time you leave a massive party on a postcard perfect day amid chants of “MVP, MVP,” you’ll know how Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz felt Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
You’ll have to wait until Tuesday to hear what that’s like because the face of the franchise had no formal media availability. The things your Fourth Estate takes for granted.
Wentz acknowledged the attendance as he tweeted “23,000?!?! I knew y’all were some crazy Eagles fans! We appreciate all the support!! #FlyEaglesFly” on his verified Twitter account.
Well, we think he tweeted that. We’ll ask him Tuesday. And we’re not blaming this on the Eagles. Wentz has a Type A personality according to one of his teammates. Among other Type A traits, he seems to have time urgency issues. He seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere or go somewhere. He’s always working. The Wentz era should be interesting.
Let’s focus on what Wentz’s 2-hour, 20-minute appearance in the first of two open practices this summer meant to those gritty people in the seats.
The group included South Philly’s Monty Gee, decked out in an artistically nouveau cool T-shirt lettered in black with a green screen effect reading “New Players, New Team, City Dream.”
Gee stood in the first row of the lower level holding a sign saying “Philly Loves a Winner … In Wentz We Trust … Taking Flight #11.
There was Garnet Valley resident Rich McKinnon and his five-year-old son Chase, resting on his pop’s shoulders. It only was a coincidence the boy was named after Rich’s favorite Phillie, Chase Utley.
The McKinnons made the most of sideline passes, from the warmups through the team drills.
“We came out to see Carson Wentz, we came out to see the Eagles and we’re excited about this year and excited about some of the moves they made in the offseason,” said McKinnon, who played competitive football. “And there’s no better way than to see it than an open practice on a beautiful day.”
The weather was incredible, much like the practice experience for the healthy following of Eagles fans. Sunny, clear skies, low humidity and a temperature topping out around 80, it was like Philly turned into San Diego. It was a great day to be in a post-practice traffic jam.
Everywhere Wentz rolled, the crowd followed. It didn’t matter what kind of passes he threw, the 6-5, 235-pounder was larger than life.
“Physically he fits the profile but I also think from a leadership perspective he seems to be saying and doing all the right things,” McKinnon said. “And not just doing it and going through the motions but he seems genuine and really convicted in what he’s doing.
“He’s an easy guy to root for.”
That seems to be the essence of Carson Wentz these days. He’s easy to root for because he’s all football, all the time. He’s easy to root for because he can evade the pass rush and throw the deep ball. Easy to root for because fans, young and old, relate to him.
“It’s hard not to notice it,” Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles said. “You walk in here and see a lot of fans, a lot of young kids wearing Carson Wentz jerseys. And that’s what it’s about. He’s such a great role model for these kids. He’s the quarterback of the team. The most important thing is how he carries himself on and off the field as a leader. He’s a guy that kids can look up to. And it’s really neat to see the way the city has embraced him. That goes a long way when you’re leading the team.”
There’s no question right now that the Eagles are Wentz’s team. They got him a big-time receiver in Alshon Jeffery, who’s under a ton of pressure to produce as he signed just a one-year contract. Veteran wide receiver Torrey Smith also was signed, and it looks like he has better hands than Jordan Matthews, who’s basically been the go-to guy for a few years.
The Eagles also brought in big back LeGarrette Blount so they could run the West Coast style offense. That’s three more weapons than Wentz had last season. And he wasn’t happy the way that 7-9 campaign went.
“He’s 100 percent authentic,” Foles said. “Carson is who he is. He’s not trying to be anyone else. He’s Carson Wentz. He’s the guy that cares about others more than himself and that’s why he’ll have great success in this league.”
Foles should know. This is his second stop with the Eagles after it didn’t work out with the Rams and his time ran out with the Chiefs.
Wentz signed a lot of autographs at the end of practice for fans servicemen and women, the latter part of the Eagles’ annual salute to the military.
It would have been great to hear what he said to some of the young fans, the more mature fans and those protectors of our freedom.
That’s not his focus right now. Well, we won’t be able to confirm that with him until Tuesday. And we’re not blaming the Eagles.