Getting ready to play for this third team in three seasons after being replaced by rookie Jalen Hurts two seasons ago in Philadelphia on the heels of getting more than $100 million in guaranteed cash from the Eagles, Carson Wentz is hoping to start fresh in Washington with the rebranded Commanders.
Wentz, who was in Indianapolis last season but was unceremoniously dumped by the Colts for a package of picks during the offseason, has yet to start a regular-season game for his new club and is already being forced to tackle questions about what went wrong at his first two stops in the NFL.
The reporter asking those questions, Scott Abraham of 7News DC, did not pull any punches during a recent sit-down interview with the 29-year-old quarterback out of North Dakota State.
“Real talk here, Carson. It’s been well-documented: Philly didn’t want you, Indy didn’t want you,” Abraham said. “Do you think this is your last chance to prove that you can be a starting quarterback in the NFL?”
To Wentz’s credit, he handled the question with class and even kept it together for another doozy from Abraham. “Carson, there’s a growing narrative that you’ve been inaccurate in training camp. Is that a fair characterization?” Abraham asked. “For one, it’s camp. I didn’t know that, so thank you,” Wentz responded.
Based on the questions Abraham asked, he likely won’t be getting any more one-on-one interviews with Wentz moving forward. Jason Wright, the president of the Washington Commanders, basically confirmed as much on Twitter. “Thankfully, Carson demonstrated grace & class in response to this pompous, unprofessional mess,” he wrote. “I recognize you have made a living on childlike provocation but it needs to be called out. Don’t expect special access and good luck building rapport with the guys @Scott7news.”
Chided by a user named Carson Wentz Super Fan #1 for threatening to restrict Abraham’s access, Wright clarified his stance. “I hear you,” he wrote. “No one is pulling his credential, no one is keeping him from what every other beat reporter gets and we have one of the best media policies in the league (Rozelle award nominated). But why go out of our way to subject our guy to that as he prepares to lead our team?”
A fair question, as were the queries that Abraham lobbed at Wentz. Harsh, but fair, and also somewhat justified considering Wentz, who passed for at least 200 yards in only two of Indy’s final eight games and posted a career-low 4.3 total QBR when the Colts were upset by the Jaguars in a must-win final game, is set to earn $22 million for the upcoming season along with a roster bonus of more than $6 million.
Wentz took his first step toward earning that cash during Washington’s first preseason game over the weekend when he completed 10-of-13 pass attempts for 74 yards on 21 offensive plays without an interception or touchdown. Interestingly enough, the Commanders will take on both the Colts (once) and Eagles (twice) next season.
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