Eagles players defend Carson Wentz after scathing report on his ‘selfish’ ways
"Carson has been and is our leader and our QB."
Several members of the Philadelphia Eagles defended Carson Wentz on Monday and pushed back on a scathing report that said the quarterback was a “selfish” player whose “egotistical” tendencies caused the team’s offense to be less efficient than it was under backup Nick Foles.
“Our locker room stands behind him all the way,” tight end Zach Ertz wrote on Twitter.
Don’t believe everything you read!!! Carson has been nothing but a GREAT person, GREAT teammate and GREAT leader since Day 1. Our locker room stands behind him all the way. We can’t wait to get back to work and be the best team we can be in 2019! #FlyEaglesFly
— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) January 21, 2019
An excessive focus on Ertz as a passing target was among the many criticisms of Wentz levied by unidentified teammates and other people close to the Eagles quoted in the report, published Monday by Philly Voice. The focus on Ertz was viewed as a reflection of the third-year quarterback’s habit of playing favorites instead of going through the passing progressions designed by coach Doug Pederson and his staff, and Wentz was described as reacting poorly to the success enjoyed by Foles, who claimed Super Bowl MVP honors after taking over late in the 2017 season when Wentz went down with a severe knee injury.
A similar dynamic unfolded this season, when a back injury sidelined Wentz. The Eagles played well under Foles, going 4-1 in his starts (including three straight wins to close the regular season) while going 5-6 with Wentz. According to Philly Voice, while Wentz “didn’t want to run many of the concepts, because he felt that was ‘Foles’ stuff’ . . . as anyone who watched the Eagles could see, Foles and the Eagles’ offense was successful running their ‘normal stuff.’ “
“Carson Wentz’s biggest enemy is Carson Wentz,” an unidentified source told Philly Voice. “He’s had his a– kissed his whole life and sometimes acts like he’s won 10 Super Bowls when he hasn’t played in, let alone won, a playoff game yet.”
In response, offensive tackle Lane Johnson tweeted, “Whoever wrote that article needs to check their ‘sources.’ ” He added the hashtag “fakenews” and wrote: “Carson has been and is our leader and our QB. Y’all know where to find me if you have any issues.”
https://twitter.com/LaneJohnson65/status/1087378123895726080
