Carson Wentz‘s status has fluctuated considerably over the past month and change, with the veteran quarterback having gone from starter to backup and then trade candidate to a player around whom the Eagles again want to build. The fifth-year passer’s issues with the since-fired Doug Pederson began well before the December benching, with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane noting the quarterback would randomly audible out of Pederson play calls down the stretch this season. This helped lead to Pederson benching Wentz on his own. During training camp, however, Eagles staffers saw warning signs of a potential decline, per McLane, who adds that some within the organization were concerned about passing-game coordinator Press Taylor‘s promotion. The proposition of a Pederson-Wentz-Taylor offensive power structure returning next season did not sit well with Lurie. The Eagles promoted Taylor last year but brought in Rich Scangarello and Marty Mornhinweg to help the offense as well; the latter two will not be back next season.
The Eagles are in the process of hiring Pederson’s replacement. Colts OC Nick Sirianni and Cowboys OC Kellen Moore interviewed Tuesday. Here is the latest from Philly and the other NFC East cities:
- Alex Smith said at season’s end he would take a few weeks before deciding if he wanted to play a 17th season. He is under contract through 2022. But the Washington quarterback indicated during a 60 Minutes interview (via CBSNews.com) that the 2020 comeback season “has only emboldened for me that I can, you know, play at this level.” After cutting Dwayne Haskins, Washington has Smith and Kyle Allen under contract for next season. Though, Taylor Heinicke is a restricted free agent. Washington cutting Smith — an onerous proposition in 2019 and ’20 — would save the franchise $14.7MM in cap space, however, creating a complex situation for the QB-needy team.
- Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper recently underwent ankle surgery, but Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram described it as a cleanup procedure (Twitter link). The Cowboys are not concerned about their top wideout missing much offseason time.
- On that note, Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas also went under the knife recently. Last year’s No. 4 overall pick also underwent ankle surgery. Thomas played through ankle pain for much of the season, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, who adds (via Twitter) the Giants expect Thomas to be ready for their offseason program.
- The Eagles will have a new linebackers coach next season. Ken Flajole will not be back, according to Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Radio (on Twitter). The 66-year-old assistant joined the Eagles as part of Pederson’s first staff in 2016. After spending most of the 1980s and ’90s as a college coach, Flajole has been an NFL assistant for 22 seasons.
The eagles are a mess from top to bottom right now. From the owner down.
Alex Smith is apparently the only person that cannot see that he needs to get out of the game.
#1 pick, solid QB for 3 different franchises, come back player of the year this year, & a whole lotta loot. Yes, he should walk away while he can walk.
For Alex‘s sake I think he should walk away before he gets hurt again but from everything I hear he still has a real drive and passion which would eat him up if he doesn’t play for as long as he can. I mean that’s how he got back in the first place. I will say, though, he fits the WFT well since they need competency at the position where they don’t have a real solution and he fits the definition of competent.
I think he will play one more season, I am and will always be a dan Snyder hater but Washington has some stuff in place, chase young is unreal, I bet smith plays next season and let’s the quarterback they draft in the second or third round watch a true pro play the position and then I assume he will be on a coaching staff the following season, his comments lead me to believe he has 1 more year in him, and others comments lead me to believe he will be a very good quarterbacks coach sooner than later
Smith has been brilliant through his career. He’s probably played an important role in convincing Snyder to reshape the Redskins organisation (pushing Bruce Allen out of the building being the most important move, Snyder stepping back from influencing high round picks the second most important move, nabbing Ron Rivera early in the hiring cycle, the third and final piece).
That said, on his gimpy leg, Smith is really only a backup quarterback with three to six games in him (preferably not all in a row) a season. $14.7 million is far too much to pay (the cap difference) for a backup QB. Heinicke is fragile, with many injuries in his career once he left FCS for FBS and then the NFL. Kyle Allen is less gifted than Heinicke but modestly more robust (also has an injury history). The QB room is better with Smith in it. Smith should retire or take a paycut to be a player coach, strictly backup QB next year.
$25 million/year is to start a sixteen game season. Alex Smith cannot do that.
Trade Hurts, recoup at least your 2nd. Only real move.
+1
how bout seth joyner linebacker coach
i nominate seth joyner linebacker coach
Sorry but with the emergence of Jalon Hurts, I’d be best for both parties if Wentz is traded.