Here's a question that popped up frequently throughout the Eagles' dilemma regarding what to do with Carson Wentz: is he fixable, or is he broken? Can he get back to his 2017 MVP-caliber level of play, in which he led the Eagles to an 11-2 record with incredible production, or has he become the interception-throwing, sack-taking, poor-decision-making machine that we saw in 2020? Is there a middle ground that he can recover to, or is it a career that's past the point of salvageability?
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It all leads back to this: is Carson Wentz broken?
...Or maybe it shouldn't lead back to that. That's the question that causes Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich to shudder, to wince or, as my elementary school gym teacher used to say, to get a twitch in his eye.
"I just cringe when I hear stuff like that, not that a player shouldn't be accountable for poor play on the field," Reich said (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com). "Carson has to answer to that, and he has answered to it. And until you get out there and prove otherwise, that's what you live with. But I just know that playing the position of quarterback, there are so many factors that go into it. We talked about why the poor play last year, I'm just very confident that he has a team around him.
"...I'm confident that we got the right guy."
Reich also noted that he highly respects the Eagles as an organization, where he formerly coached Wentz to his highest levels of success, but that the culture fit for Wentz will be more appropriate in a place like Indianapolis. And if the first shots taken of Wentz arriving in Indy were any indication, Reich may be on to something.
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But maybe you're not convinced by pictures of the quarterback or his social media posts — including one where he looks similarly super happy to be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his family — and that's where Reich will step in and do the convincing for him.
"...You stick your neck out for players as a head coach or a GM or a scout or coach — we all do it," Reich said. "As a head coach, sometimes you have a bit more say in it than maybe a position coach. But that's what you love about it. I love sticking my neck out for people I believe in. I'm willing to put it on the line for players that you believe in.
"I believe in this team, I believe in Carson."
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