When Sam Bradford was traded it was uncertain where Carson Wentz, North Dakota kid and gunslinger, would lead the Philadelphia Eagles. But it was clear the Eagles finally turned a new leaf from the Chip Kelly destruction era and they were moving forward with a new era. Fans didn't know when but knew Carson was going to become the center of this team.
In 2016 Carson shot out of the cannon, of course only after an injury in the preseason to his ribs. He was firing the ball to Ertz and Jordan Matthews, escaping pressure and all while staying calm cool and collected in the pocket. Philadelphia had found their gunslinger. Fans had fun with it playing the score to 'The Revenant' over Carson's escape artist plays. By the end of the first game in the regular season he was acclaimed the franchise QB. He made an impression. Doug and Carson were here to stay and take this team to new heights. The duo showed their grit by going for it on 4th down and running Carson by design too many times. The record in the first season wasn't great, but a tide was turning in Philadelphia and the fans were excited. No one knew what was coming.
In 2016 Carson showed he was a rookie he had 14 interceptions and 33 sacks. He held onto the ball at times too long some would say. But the plays he escaped and held on to the ball just long enough were the plays everyone loved. For the first time since McNabb shipped off to Washington, Philadelphia fans weren't going to be wondering which journey man was coming in next season to take the snaps under center. The 2017 draft and free agency the team could actually start building around Carson, which was a good thing because his #2 receiver was Dorial Green-Beckham.
That offseason, build they did. First they sent off Jordan Matthews, Carson's 2nd favorite target (for a pick that led to Ronald Darby) but they also signed Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffrey. Jordan Matthews was just the odd man out. They traded for Dexter McDougle. Signed fan favorite Nick Foles. Drafted Derek Barnett 1st and then overdrafted Sidney Jones who was injured and unable to play. Rasul Douglas was added later. Then terrible picks in Pumphrey and Mack Hollins. Shelton Gibson and Nate Gerry squared out that draft.
The offseason signings were more impressive with Alshon, Torrey and later LeGarrette Blount and Chris Long fresh off a Super Bowl win. The draft was lackluster as typical with Howie. But he built with veteran presence in the free agent signings.
All the young players were developmental players or injured. Except Carson. And he carried this team to a 7-1 start. In those first 8 games he threw 19 TDs and 5 INTs. At this point in the season Carson went from continuing his development to declaring this a Championship run season. Jay Ajayi was added to the team and the Eagles were all in. Those were such happy times in Philadelphia. Howie was seen as a genius and Carson/Doug the future. Wentzylvania, Wentz wagon everyone was joining in. Sadly that optimism came to a screeching halt in week 14 by the tackles of Morgan Fox and Mark Barron. Wentz went for a TD dive and tore his knee, but we got to see one last glimpse of his grit as he threw a TD before limping off the field for the season.
This was the minute, the play, the defining moment where Carson being the Franchise QB began to be questioned... well not quite yet. First, Nick Foles had to go on a miraculous run and bring the Eagles their first Super Bowl on the wings of the 11-2 season Wentz started for them. Foles took down the giant of Tom Brady.
Wentz was happy on the stage at mid-field as he celebrated with Foles and the team, but he was no longer the focus. He had an MVP Season but Foles was the Super Bowl winning MVP QB. Wentz lost all the credit.
Except in the eyes of the Eagles organization. During the offseason Doug reassured Foles knew he was the back up and Carson was the leader of this team. Despite this, the fans reinstated the Folesian Society, a group who thought Foles was the savior after his record setting year of 27 Tds and 2 INTs in the early 2010s.
As a lifelong Eagles fan the decision is to back the guy who set the stage for the Super Bowl and played on an MVP level or the guy who finished it. As a football fan you knew the true NFL MVP that season was Carson, so there was no way you could move on from him.
The worry here was more so his path forward. Carson at this point was probably (now we know for sure) the most valuable he ever was. But he'll be recovering from an ACL, maybe you can trade him away for a couple extra picks and maybe get a pick to draft a new QB (maybe Mahomes). Instead the Eagles opted to name him the face of the franchise. And in 2018 he regressed slightly. When regressed is used here its more so in the sense of wins and losses, because Carson is the only one responsible for those. The team went 9-7, but Carson went 5-6. He played without someone who should have been a top target in Mike Wallace. Alshon was a shell of himself, Agholor was so terrible he became a GIF. Yet with an injured back Carson threw for 3000+ yards, 21 touchdowns and 7 INTs with a 102.2 passer rating. The defense though was bottom 10 in turnovers and yards allowed, and gave up some epic 4th down conversions on game winning drives (good ole' sticks defense).
That season the team lost 7 games by 1 possession or less and granted Wentz had 9 fumbles but Wentz took the brunt of the blame, and thats fair he's coming off an MVP season and now can't pull out a victory. But the reason for most of this hate was because Foles came in again and took them to the playoffs. Which required a double-doink to keep Foles alive and advance to face Drew Brees. One thing was certain the Eagles received miracles with Foles. The season did abruptly end then when Brees out battled Foles.
All optmism and confidence in Wentz was lost by a large portion of the fanbase. Which is mindboggling when the statistics are considered. Half the fans went behind Foles and fought to keep him and promote him to starter. Ultimately the organization made their decision. The guy with the statue out front of the stadium was going to be released. Carson was their guy, and they doubled down with a record setting extension to Carson's contract. The fanbase was splintering but the organization was clear who they wanted. The drama was over... or was it.
The 2019 draft brought Andre Dillard and Miles Sanders, not much else. JJaw was picked in Howie fashion picking Pac12 WRs (wonder why he's still on the team but Carson isn't). While it appears Howie and the Eagles were invested in building around Carson with the positions they continued to draft they never quite hit the homerun and drafted the impacy guy they needed. In 2019, Carson still came out with another impressive season. 4000+ yards, 27 touchdowns, 7 INTs, 50 sacks and 16 fumbles. Despite the fumbles (again) the Eagles won the NFC East at 9-7, and then the *2nd* hit that changed everything happened.
Jadeveon Clowney may be the single most responsible party for Carson being traded (okay that's a lie but hear me out). Carson was knocked out against Seattle, and he had all the momentum before that behind him. The goal of the season was to get him a playoff win it was that time of his career he really needed to prove it. He carried the team with Greg Ward and Boston Scott at the end of the season, no names, practice squad guys. Seattle was a team they could beat as they only lost to them by a few points in the regular season. If that hit doesn't happen they win. Carson is seen for what he was that season, a miracle worker bringing that team to 9-7 with the players he had. Instead we were robbed of that by a dirty hit. We're stuck with what ifs. Do Greg Ward and Boston Scott bring the same miracle Nick Foles brought us? The magic at the end of that season was there, but another abrupt end to season when McCown pulled up on his hamstring and the clock ran out.
If that hit doesn't happen and Carson finishes that game win or lose, the tone is he's a QB who showed resilience with a team of back up players, and the team would have built off that momentum, 1 or 2 pieces away again. Instead... "with the 53rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft the Eagles select Jalen Hurts"
Philadelphia shattered. The "new norm" gone. Fans exploded.
Let's clear one thing up before the rest of this, Jalen Hurts is a great man, both on and off the field, he is someone anyone should be proud to call their son and should be looked up to by kids everywhere. This isn't about him at all.
But the Eagles already had a QB, they had a backup QB (see Sudfeld) making millions. What they didn't have? A linebacker, a shutdown safety, possession WR, DLine youth or depth. They needed a lot to continue building this team forward, instead the one time a team gets to get younger they made the QB position deeper, but only one QB plays a game. The theories came out that Carson was being replaced, everyone laughed they can't move that contract. Others predicted he was just going to be used as Taysom Hill (and they did that) but no way he will be a started. Logical fans, and here at From a fan pod, we theorized its a contingency plan Jalen isn't meant to replace Carson, but he might get hurt and that's a hell of a backup. Carson might not be the guy and if he isn't at least you have a decent, young prospect. And yet the fans who hated Carson continued rooting against him and rooting to fail. If you are that person please leave the Eagles fanbase forever, you are not a fan.
And then quite possibly the worst quote ever was made, "we're a QB Factory".
2020 was a unique year that started with Brandon Brooks tearing another achilles in the preseason. Carson more than regressed this season. There was no excuse for his errant throws and the amount of bad decision he made. He threw 15 INTs his career high in just 11 games. The season started with a dynamite 1st half against Washington where he threw his first INT at the end of the half. Something changed right there and then because the rest of the season he and the team never rebounded.
The offensive line was decimated all season and led to 52 sacks. A good number of those are Carson's fault but not all. Even so, Carson was no longer a developing QB he was a Franchise QB with a Franchise QB contract. He needed to do better than this no matter who was on the field, no matter what was happening. 2020 was unique because of COVID but the challenges were not unique to Carson and the Eagles. The problem seemed much deeper that just not having OTAs and a full camp. There were no excuses to be had it was a terrible season. EVERYONE was frustrated with Carson, including From a fan pod, all his supporters and non-supporters.
And yet he was on pace for another 3000+ yard season. The Eagles could have won the NFC East down to the end of the season. Instead of that, a couple weeks too late, Carson was relieved of his starter duties. The Eagles put in Hurts and named him starter the remainder of the season. While at the time it was the only move left, it was a series of terrible decisions including draft picks and coaching decisions that led to this. Carson should have been benched once before during one of his bad games, maybe that Cowboys game? A good coach wouldn't just let this fester and defend, defend, defend. Say we have to be better each week and not get better. A good organization wouldn't put heat on a guy they claim to be their franchise QB by selecting a backup in the 2nd round. But also a franchise QB would come to the office and show his leadership with his work ethic. Everyone was at fault here.
After the way this was all handled it is no surprise that the coach is gone. The Super Bowl MVP from 3 years ago is gone. And now the 1st round draft pick from 2016 who lead an MVP campaign just 3 years ago, was traded away for a couple picks. Sold at his low instead of his high.
Carson had Five seasons with the Eagles that brought Philadelphia joy, unity, drama, excitement and hope. He is going down as the 4th highest passer by yards, touchdowns and completion %. He had a 2% interception rate and the 3rd best passer rating in franchise history. He helped bring the only thing Eagles fans wanted, a super bowl. For a short period of time he gave Eagles fans a taste of what it if like for an NFL Organization (for lack of a better word) to have their shit together. It even gave fans relief during a 5 year span that has felt particularly difficult in other aspects.
Many people will not forget the last 5 years and at the least Carson does deserve a thank you.
Eagles fans deserved Carson at his best, but the Eagles organization did not. They failed us, as fans and disrespected their team. And here the fans are stuck with this leadership.
Now, the Eagles have moved on this is the end of the Wentz Era and as fans we need to end the Wentz defense. His legacy is written here and it includes some good memories, but we no longer have to explain why he's our franchise QB, for better or worse.
Fans can wish him well, especially since he's out of the NFC, but we are done with him. It is time to back Jalen Hurts and start a new rebuilding era.
One last thing though.....
In return for Carson the Eagles have gotten a 3rd round pick this year and a 2nd round that could become a 1st round pick in 2022 depending on Wentz percentage of play. There's a high chance they get that first round pick and higher chance if it is a first round pick it's a later round pick. The Eagles will use $33M in cap space but gained $850k vs. Keeping Wentz for the start of the 2021 season. And one point that is overlooked it does get $31M of cap space off the book for 2022.
Is that enough? Did they win in that deal? Time will tell but the real question is are the Eagles better before the trade or after?
One thing I know about Philadelphia is, fans outlast everyone here. And Fans get what they want.
Andy Reid was fired.
McNabb run out of town.
Chip Kelly brought in then shipped out.
Agholor gone.
Wentz benched and now traded.
Howie needs to be closely looked at.
At the end of this era, are we better off than we were at the end of the Chip Kelly era (outside of the super bowl)? Talent wise are the Eagles better or worse? It's really something that is apparent. There is one person responsible for the talent of this team and not many people will say he did his job well. This is all a result of complete failure of organization and talent evaluation. #HowieBeware Do we as fans want Howie running the team we love?
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