Last Friday at a press conference, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson told reporters that it was likely that rookie quarterback, Carson Wentz, would be listed as inactive to start the season. It is no secret that the Eagles and Howie Roseman haven’t handled the quarterback position particularly well this offseason. Roseman handed out big, overpaid contracts to Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel, only to then trade several future draft picks to take Wentz second overall. Pederson and Roseman have both said several times since drafting Wentz that Sam Bradford was the team’s starting quarterback. It appears to me that the move to make Wentz inactive is nothing but a copout by Pederson and Roseman.
Basically for Roserson (Roseman and Pederson) the longer Wentz sits and develops the longer they get to use him as an ace in the hole of sorts to buy job security. Pederson accepted probably the most demanding head coaching job in the NFL when he agreed to come to Philly, and will need almost every excuse in the book to keep the fans off his back if things start to go south.
In Roseman’s case, he has made several bold moves this offseason to resurrect himself as Eagles head of player personnel. The move that acquired the second overall pick which then turned into Wentz could be the one that ultimately gets Roseman a one way ticket out of town. It is best for Roseman that Wentz sit as long as possible in case the former North Dakota State Bison’s standout becomes a giant flop rather than the franchise quarterback they hope he will be.
Carson Wentz for Roserson is the best insurance policy draft picks and money can buy. With Wentz on the bench, the Birds will continue to sell the future as being bright to both fans and Jeffrey Lurie. Undoubtedly, there will be the fans that drink the kool aid and fall for the snake oil sales pitch, but the majority will grow uneasy and impatient and start demanding change now. If all goes according to plan this season for Roserson, Carson Wentz will not play a single snap. In a perfect Roserson world, Sam Bradford finally plays up to the potential we keep hearing he has, he gets flipped for a high pick next off season and then Wentz and Daniel go head to head for the starting job next summer. In an attempt to buy more time, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Daniel gets the starting job to “develop” Wentz even more. Just like that Roserson would have bought themselves two years. Eventually Wentz will be named the starter, and then his three year grace period will begin. All the while, and through all the mediocrity and playoffless seasons, Roserson will be riding the insurance plan that is Carson Wentz to paycheck after paycheck.
However, this is Philadelphia and far from a perfect world. Sam Bradford will most likely not have his much anticipated break out season and if he struggles as the starter, Chase Daniel will likely show why he is a 30 year old quarterback with only two other professional starts. Sooner rather than later the Philly fans will grow very impatient and the “we want Wentz” chants will begin to rain down at the Linc. Roserson will do their best to try to hide behind flashy words and empty belief in their other two quarterbacks, but eventually Wentz will have to play. The moment the rookie steps onto the field for the Eagles the clock will start ticking for Roserson. Their future with the team will be completely dependant on whether or not the kid can play.
Roserson is doing a huge disservice to the fans and the team by letting the fear of losing their jobs stop them from putting Wentz in games. Doing drills in practice with shorts on never developed a franchise quarterback, but playing time and experience has. There are ways to put Wentz in the lineup and still having Bradford as your starter. Pederson needs to explore whatever creativity he has in this game and design packages that utilize Wentz’s talents and gain him valuable experience. If Bradford goes down or plays as he usually does, then Wentz needs to be the guy. Chase Daniel will not fix whatever Bradford breaks and it does nothing for this team down the road to have Daniel play. Daniel needs to be a teacher, and Wentz needs to be the backup. Fear of playing Carson Wentz will do nothing positive for him, the Eagles, or Roserson.
