INDIANAPOLIS — New Potros jugador de ataque Carson Wentz felt that the start of the top of his five-year profession with the Águilas de Filadelfia got here when he was benched of their Week 13 sport in opposition to the Empacadores de Green Bay final season.
Wentz did not play one other snap with the Eagles, and two months later he was traded to the Colts for a third-round choose on this 12 months’s draft and a conditional second-round choose within the 2022 draft. He hopes he can regain the shape in Indianapolis that made him an MVP candidate.
“I am not going to sugarcoat it — it wasn’t enjoyable,” Wentz mentioned Thursday in his first feedback for the reason that commerce. “It is not enjoyable when issues had been going properly for years and all these issues. … As a person, you need to look your self within the mirror and be taught from it and develop into a greater man, higher participant. It wasn’t enjoyable, it was tough, however I did all the things I may to be supportive of Jalen [Hurts] and my teammates.”
Wentz was benched in favor of the rookie Hurts after he accomplished a career-low 57.four%, threw 15 interceptions and was sacked 50 instances final season. That was a drastic downfall for Wentz, who was within the working to win the MVP trophy earlier than a torn ACL ended his 2017 season early.
Wentz additionally commented Thursday on stories that he wasn’t a great teammate in Philadelphia.
“I’ve discovered you are not going to make everyone glad,” Wentz mentioned. “As a lot as you need to, you may’t. It is unlucky folks have these opinions. I’ll be taught from it and attempt to be the most effective teammate I might be. If there are teammates who I do not suppose I used to be the most effective teammate, I apologize, I want I could possibly be higher. Final 12 months was robust for everyone.”
Wentz, 28, did not come out and say it, however he made it clear that it was greatest that he and the Eagles went their separate methods, particularly after it appeared the group wished to go along with Hurts sooner or later.
“Plenty of issues in life we will not predict,” Wentz mentioned. “Plenty of loopy circumstances the place you anticipate issues to unfold. If you’re drafted in a spot like Philly you’ve gotten a variety of excessive expectations and all the things, however clearly the 12 months did not go as deliberate. Excited for this chance in Indy and be part of one thing particular that has already been created right here.”
Colts coach Frank Reich will play an enormous half in making an attempt to get Wentz, the No. 2 general choose within the 2016 draft, again on monitor. Wentz has performed all 16 video games within the common season simply twice in his profession as a consequence of accidents and the benching. There’s the psychological side of the place he is at, too, as a result of it was lower than two years in the past that the Eagles gave him a four-year, $128 million contract.
Reich was Wentz’s offensive coordinator with the Eagles for 2 seasons, together with in 2017 when the quarterback threw for an Eagles franchise-record 33 touchdowns and his 78.5 Whole QBR was 18.7 factors increased than the remainder of his profession.
“It was pure, and attending to work with him for 2 years, not simply the non-public aspect of issues, we knew we had an ideal relationship with that, however the X’s and O’s of soccer,” Wentz mentioned. “How we see the sport and the way we will have wholesome discussions and disagreements, however actually problem one another and in the end make one another higher. It was a variety of enjoyable. That is one thing I am tremendous enthusiastic about, attending to work with him once more, as a result of I’ve the utmost respect for the person he’s, the buddy he is been as properly, additionally the coach he’s as properly.”
The Colts want Wentz simply as a lot as he must be with a well-recognized face like Reich. Wentz will observe Scott Tolzien, Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett y Philip Rivers in being the staff’s Week 1 starter over the previous 5 seasons. Indianapolis hopes Wentz will put an finish to its revolving door at quarterback after it had mainly Peyton Manning and Luck on the place between 1998 and 2018, earlier than Luck retired.
Reich, proprietor Jim Irsay and normal supervisor Chris Ballard did not simply take into account the connection between Wentz and Reich earlier than making the commerce. They wished to verify this wasn’t going to be simply one other short-term holding sample at quarterback for the franchise.
“I am unable to emphasize how strongly I really feel that Carson is the person for the job for the Colts at the moment,” Irsay mentioned. “There’s been lots on the quarterback state of affairs that has occurred over the past three years. To get somebody I actually do imagine, after taking a look at this sport for 50 years, I actually suppose that he might be that man that is the centerpiece and the man who shall be round with these groups we put collectively for the following decade that provides the Colts an opportunity for greatness.”
ES 
EN 