In Week 1 of the NFL regular season, Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz made "wow" throws all over the field against the Cleveland Browns, leading the Birds to a lopsided victory. But even beyond the obvious physical abilities, Wentz looked like a poised, polished quarterback way beyond his years.
- MORE ON THE EAGLES
- Matthews: Pederson like a 'blood brother' because he's 'been in our shoes'
- Let’s check in on Cleveland after Carson Wentz’s strong debut
- Calm down, Philly – Foles, Kolb had their moments, too
- Eagles' Zach Ertz, Leodis McKelvin week to week following injuries in opener
- Jason Peters is indeed buying what Carson Wentz is selling
A week ago, in an interview with Tony Grossi of ESPN, Browns "chief of strategy" Paul DePodesta (the real-life guy played by Jonah Hill in Moneyball) said that the Browns didn't view Wentz as a top 20 type of quarterback, hence their decision to trade out of the No. 2 overall pick.
“We have to make judgments on the individual players and we’re not always going to be right,” DePodesta said. “But in this particular case, we just didn’t feel it was necessarily the right bet to make for us at this time. Again, it comes down to individual evaluation of a player. We will not always be right on those type of things.
“I think the hardest part, and where we have to stay the most disciplined, as much as you want a player, you can’t invent him if he doesn’t exist. In a given year, there may be two or three NFL-ready quarterbacks at the college level. In another year, there literally may be zero. There just may be not be anybody in that year who’s good enough to be a top 20 quarterback in the NFL.
“Even though you have a desperate need for one, you have to resist the temptation of taking that guy just because you have a need if you don’t believe he’s one of those 20 guys at the end of the day. I think that’s the hardest part, just maintaining your discipline because you have the need. That’s what we did this year.”
Carson Wentz, in DePodesta's view, is no Ricardo Rincon.
Naturally, after the Browns were carved up by the player they could have drafted, Browns head coach Hue Jackson was asked if Cleveland made a mistake by passing on Wentz, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
"No, we haven't (second-guessed ourselves),'' Jackson said. "That's one thing I can tell you for sure has not happened. He had a good game, a great game if you guys want to term it that, and I respect that. He's a fine young man and they have good coaches and a good organization, and he is going to do well for them, but that was one game.
"He played well. Like I said, we'll look back and see where he is over a period of time, but the Browns have to get better. That's what we have to do. We have to play better, and I think we all understand that."
"If you guys want to term it that," lol. How else would you term it? While Jackson isn't necessarily wrong that it's only "one game," maybe just exercise a little humility in defeat.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski
Like Jimmy on Facebook.