National Post (National Edition)
QB Wentz finds ideal landing spot with Colts
For any ugly warts there may be on Carson Wentz, the Indianapolis Colts believe they have what it takes to make him look pretty darned good again: That is, a football beautician by the name of Frank Reich.
Before he became the Colts' head coach in 2018, Reich was the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive co-ordinator for two seasons, during which time he groomed Wentz into a dashing MVP candidate from a raw second overall draft choice.
Reich is the Bruce Arians of the AFC. He is the conference's Quarterback Whisperer.
In 2017, Wentz threw a franchise record 33 touchdown passes and had a league-best total quarterback rating in just 13 games before suffering a torn ACL that ended his season.
Since then, he witnessed a) Nick Foles lead Philly to its first ever Super Bowl win, b) Eagles wrestle with a QB decision before ultimately sticking with him and letting Foles walk, c) the draft of his successor, Jalen Hurts, in the second round of the 2020 draft and d) his replacement by Hurts for the final four games of last season.
Wentz didn't know if he was coming or going.
Well, on Thursday he was going — to the Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 secondround pick that becomes a first if Wentz plays 75 per cent of the Colts' offensive snaps next season, or 70 per cent and the team makes the playoffs.
If it looks like the Colts aren't going to qualify for post-season play, you can bet Reich will “rest” Wentz down the stretch.
Getting a 28-year-old Wentz without having to give up a first-round pick could be huge. The Rams had to trade two of them, plus Jared Goff, to get Matthew Stafford.
For what it's worth, a rumour sending Wentz to the Bears would have cost Chicago a first, Tarik Cohen and Foles.
At the same time, the Colts won't mind losing a first if this trade makes them a legitimate Super Bowl contender, which it very well could.
They still need to address their left tackle situation and upgrade their receivers group, but last season the Colts had the No. 8 ranked defence and, should they resign Marlon Mack to go along with Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, their backfield will be as good as any in the NFL.
If Wentz's problems are, as expected, mostly from the neck up, the Colts should be right there with the Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers among the AFC powerhouses.
Reich helped a 39-yearold Philip Rivers make his final season a good one after a rough 2019, increasing his touchdown passes by one and cutting his interceptions in half. With the 6-5, 237-pound Wentz, the raw material is there, but it needs some sprucing.
Meanwhile, the Eagles also have to at least be satisfied with the deal. They will carry a US$33.8 million dead-money cap charge, the largest in NFL history, for Wentz in 2021, but they did pick up some assets while unloading a bad contract that pays out more than $40 million guaranteed over the next two years.
The Eagles could use the No. 6 pick overall in the 2021 draft to take a quarterback. If not, they will have to trade for or sign a free agent QB to compete with Hurts.
But clearly, they believe Hurts is the real deal, that with his quick feet, he can become as dangerous carrying the ball as former Eagles QB Michael Vick was in his 13-season career.
Interesting side note to all this — the Wentz trade means there is now not a single quarterback who was drafted in the first round between 2009-2016 that is still with his original team.
Two quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2017 draft are also likely to be headed to new teams, but unlike Mitch Trubisky and Deshaun Watson, the third, Patrick Mahomes, isn't going anywhere.
MOVING THE CHAINS: The Bears did their homework on Wentz but never made the Eagles an offer, according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports …. While they can't settle on a final number until the last audit of all revenues, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to increase the salary cap to at least $180 million in 2021. In a memo sent to teams from the league, the “agreement simply increases
the minimum 2021 salary cap by $5 million per club, from $175 million to $180 million.” Initial estimations had next season's cap at $160 million … Total attendance during the pandemic was 1.2 million, which was down 17 million from 2019. That's with 13 teams not allowing fans into their stadium all season.
EXTRA POINTS: The family of the late Vincent Jackson told the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office of its belief that the 38-year former star receiver was suffering from alcoholism and concussions at the time of his death last week … There's speculation the Jaguars will add some character to their organization by signing Tim Tebow. Not as a player, but in some other capacity under Urban Meyer, his former college coach at Florida. Tebow has announced he's retiring from
baseball after four seasons in the minors. The former Denver Broncos first rounder had been invited to New York Mets spring training, but decided to follow choose another path after batting .163 at the Triple-A level last year.
THE END SWEEP: The Atlanta Falcons have waived QB Kurt Benkert, an undrafted 25-year old whose name was on the negotiation list of the CFL's Ottawa Redblacks as of 2019 … Atlanta also released S Ricardo Allen and DE Allen Bailey to shed $10.75 million in salary, with $3.75 million in dead money … The Broncos have released veteran NT Kyle Peko, who was a high-risk opt out for the 2020 season. Peko took time out of the 2019 season to care for his wife as she battled cancer.