Carson Wentz hasn't even played a regular season game yet and an Indianapolis columnist wants him benched and traded.
Award-winning journalist Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star hopes that back-up quarterback Jacob Eason is so good that he starts the Colts' regular-season opener against Seattle and that the team trades Wentz. It's worth reading the entire article from the top columnist in the market.
Doyel has not liked what he's seen from an injured Wentz as a leader both on and off the field, and it starts with the quarterback room:
"Carson Wentz, for what it’s worth, often approaches Ehlinger to offer advice when it’s Ehlinger’s turn to rest. He didn’t approach Eason once Wednesday, though Eason said Wentz talks to him in the quarterback room. I’m not telling you how to feel about any of that. I’m just telling you what happened Wednesday."
Who knows if Wentz perceives Eason as a threat to his job, but with the history in Philadelphia of the Eagles drafting Jalen Hurts, it's certainly not out of the question. Eason has yet to play in an NFL game after he was drafted last year, although Doyel says he loves his arm, which head coach Frank Reich describes as "elite" and in the same category as Wentz's.
Another large part of Wentz's questionable leadership is his decision to not get the COVID-19 vaccine. Here is Doyel on why Wentz's unvaccinated status is an indictment against his credibility:
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"Wentz comes into our town, he’s handed all this money and prominence, and makes the decision to ignore the science and the numbers and the logic. He’s apparently not vaccinated. He won’t say either way – deep down, I bet he knows he’s being selfish – but he always wears a mask on the practice field and sideline, which is the NFL protocol for unvaccinated players…
"It’s leadership, and it trickles down. A show of respect for the science, for the crisis we’re facing – people are getting sick and dying, and all of it is so damn avoidable – would help spread the message of vaccination. But Wentz and too many other Colts stars are going the selfish route, choosing to make the “personal decision” of not helping our community emerge from a nightmare that doesn’t have to be this scary."
It's notable that the biggest Colts voice in the Indianapolis media is taking such a staunch stance before the regular season even starts. While Doyel isn't calling for Eason to start over Wentz, he is saying he hopes that happens. That doesn't bode well for Wentz, who is trying to win over a new fan-base after leaving on rocky terms with another one.