The Indianapolis Colts, which won 11 games last season and ranked top-10 in both points scored and points allowed, want to be recognized as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
And with their new quarterback Carson Wentz now reunited with his former offensive coordinator in head coach Frank Reich, they believe new heights can be reached.
"Big fan of Carson. He came in day one, ready to learn, eager to learn about us as people," Colts running back Nyheim Hines told the Tiki and Tierney show on Thursday. "I think he adds an extra element to our offense that we need in the red zone, that would extend those plays on 3rd & 2. And we've got a heck of an offense around him, a great offensive line, great running backs, great receivers. I mean, if I'm him, I don't know how he's not excited. He seems super pumped up in there, he seems super excited for the opportunity.
"Everybody's the same. We're all the same. Doesn't matter where he was last year. We just want to be better than last year. Every athlete knows that. It doesn't matter what happened last year, you want to be better than that year. So, he's in there excited to just be better and win some games."
Wentz, the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, started and played only 11 games for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, and finished the campaign with career-low marks in touchdowns (16), completion percentage (57.4), and passing yards (2,620). To make matters worse, Wentz also threw a career-high 15 interceptions and was sacked 50 times, and Philadelphia ultimately traded him to Indianapolis in exchange for draft picks in March.
The bar should be set rather high for Wentz in 2021, as 39-year-old veteran quarterback Phillip Rivers threw for 4,169 yards and 24 touchdowns in 16 games for the Colts last year. But Wentz hasn't acted as if he knows there's immense pressure on him, according to Hines.
"He seems just like Phillip when he came in: hungry," Hines said. "Those are those good quarterbacks. You guys know what I'm talking about. Tom Brady is the same the way, I've heard he's real hungry. That's how Carson is. I'm not going to say he's broken or anything. He's hungry to prove himself. That's how every NFL player is... He seems hungry and determined to be the best quarterback he can be...
"He has a great coach around him. He has the coach who helped him have his best year, his MVP [caliber] year. I think he's in great spirits, and I think he's just hungry to go out there and compete, and get back to that MVP status. That's what I think."
According to the William Hill Sportsbook, the Colts currently own the 11th-best odds (+2500) to win Super Bowl 56 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The entire conversation between Hines and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.
