 | Carson Wentz, aka Kid Ginger, got everyone's attention in Eagles Nation on Monday when he posted a video of himself throwing with a knee brace on. Talk of his recovery from surgery to repair two torn ligaments and return in time for the 2018 season opener immediately shifted into unrealistic positive mode. |
by Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com
Kinda cringe-worthy for me.
Every time the Carson Wentz hype machine starts to kick in, even off the most trivial of things, such as an Instagram story he posted Monday that shows the rehabbing, knee brace-wearing Eagles quarterback making a few throws, well, it makes me feel for the fans and, ahem, "professional" media members crushing on Kid Ginger, like, “uh, umm, OK, hope you’re right.”
Don’t see the same thing at all that many of you seem to see, but, ya know, hope you are right – for your sake.
Fingers crossed. Don’t wanna see your world shattered.
Honestly, really dig Wentz. He comes across as a quality individual and something beyond that on the playing field. But the hullabaloo that follows him by just about everyone concerned, or even curious, with Midnight Green activities just seems so … insane.
Unwarranted even.
Skewed.
Look, if you wanna prattle on about his intangibles, his leadership skills, his ability to make something out of nothing, his toughness, his command of the huddle, his confidence, his genius with processing things quickly and decisively, am right with you. No argument.
But when you start talking about his arm talent being off-the-charts or his escape-ability being at Michael Vick-level, sorry, gotta hop off the crazy train right there.
If there is one thing NOT to promote about the guy, it is his passing. He’s fine. He’s OK. He’s NFL adequate. But real good, or something more than that?
Hey, we get it. No one wants a QB controversy between him and Nick Foles. Most of you have chosen Wentz to be your savior and you want nothing to impede his path from being that. That’s fine. But he can’t throw with Foles. Just can’t. He does, well, just about everything else better than Foles, but throw, with touch, with accuracy, with timing – uh, no. Not even close. Not now. Not ever. Get a grip.
It’s OK. Your guy is still “the guy” … if he’s healthy.
Let’s chill on the Vick or RGIII comparisons on an athletic spectrum, too.
Silly stuff. Because he’s not even close. Not that kinda other-worldly athlete. Physically. Oh, he’s brilliant. But in a way they were not … and, frankly, he will need to be in order to evolve as the linchpin of Philly’s NFL franchise.
Put it this way, the injury he incurred in early December out at the L.A. Coliseum was severe. Tore two ligaments in his left knee. Required reconstructive surgery later that month.
He is not going to be the whirling dervish you remember. Not initially once he returns. Maybe not ever again.
But, thing is, he has the mind, the toughness, the physicality and that hard-to-put-a-finger-on-it quality to keep on course to be a great quarterback.
Maybe focus on that. Not the fantasy you keep clinging onto in your head.
Would bring a clearer, saner and safer view of what the future holds with him.
Or without.
Kinda cringe-worthy for me.
Every time the Carson Wentz hype machine starts to kick in, even off the most trivial of things, such as an Instagram story he posted Monday that shows the rehabbing, knee brace-wearing Eagles quarterback making a few throws, well, it makes me feel for the fans and, ahem, "professional" media members crushing on Kid Ginger, like, “uh, umm, OK, hope you’re right.”
Don’t see the same thing at all that many of you seem to see, but, ya know, hope you are right – for your sake.
Fingers crossed. Don’t wanna see your world shattered.
Honestly, really dig Wentz. He comes across as a quality individual and something beyond that on the playing field. But the hullabaloo that follows him by just about everyone concerned, or even curious, with Midnight Green activities just seems so … insane.
Unwarranted even.
Skewed.
Look, if you wanna prattle on about his intangibles, his leadership skills, his ability to make something out of nothing, his toughness, his command of the huddle, his confidence, his genius with processing things quickly and decisively, am right with you. No argument.
But when you start talking about his arm talent being off-the-charts or his escape-ability being at Michael Vick-level, sorry, gotta hop off the crazy train right there.
If there is one thing NOT to promote about the guy, it is his passing. He’s fine. He’s OK. He’s NFL adequate. But real good, or something more than that?
Hey, we get it. No one wants a QB controversy between him and Nick Foles. Most of you have chosen Wentz to be your savior and you want nothing to impede his path from being that. That’s fine. But he can’t throw with Foles. Just can’t. He does, well, just about everything else better than Foles, but throw, with touch, with accuracy, with timing – uh, no. Not even close. Not now. Not ever. Get a grip.
It’s OK. Your guy is still “the guy” … if he’s healthy.
Let’s chill on the Vick or RGIII comparisons on an athletic spectrum, too.
Silly stuff. Because he’s not even close. Not that kinda other-worldly athlete. Physically. Oh, he’s brilliant. But in a way they were not … and, frankly, he will need to be in order to evolve as the linchpin of Philly’s NFL franchise.
Put it this way, the injury he incurred in early December out at the L.A. Coliseum was severe. Tore two ligaments in his left knee. Required reconstructive surgery later that month.
He is not going to be the whirling dervish you remember. Not initially once he returns. Maybe not ever again.
But, thing is, he has the mind, the toughness, the physicality and that hard-to-put-a-finger-on-it quality to keep on course to be a great quarterback.
Maybe focus on that. Not the fantasy you keep clinging onto in your head.
Would bring a clearer, saner and safer view of what the future holds with him.
Or without.
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