Why Carson Wentz and the Colts Aren’t A Good Bet

Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP

On the heels of the news that the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts reached an agreement to trade Carson Wentz, bookmakers across USA betting sites promptly reassessed Super Bowl 56 markets accordingly by improving Indianapolis’ odds in the broad spectrum of Super Bowl 56 futures betting. However, the improvement is fractional at best and sees the Colts move from approximately +2500 to +2200 to win Super Bowl 56.

With the NFL odds for Indianapolis shortening only marginally, it’s obvious that the addition of Wentz to the Colts’ roster isn’t a big enough deal. Not nearly as impactful as the blockbuster trade between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams at the start of the offseason, which saw the two sides swap quarterbacks to great effect in the betting. Well, as far as the LA Rams are concerned. In acquiring Matthew Stafford, the Rams skyrocketed into the top 5 best bets to win SBLVI next February.

The jury is out on Wentz and the value he brings to the Colts after his 2020 season, which was a statistical disaster. Wentz ranked amongst the worst quarterbacks in just about every single category that matters for a signal caller. Whether his regression was a product of the circumstances in Philly or the result of his own failings remains to be seen though. It’s impossible to say for certain right now, which might be a reason why most sports betting sites are on the fence. taking a modest stance where the Colts are concerned. https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1363861821413875714?s=20

It doesn’t help Indianapolis’ cause either that there’s a lack of enthusiasm internally. For instance, Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. wears No.11, and according to early reports it doesn’t seem he’s inclined to relinquish his jersey number to Wentz, who’s had the number since his heyday in North Dakota before carrying it proudly through his first five season with the Eagles..

“I am No. 11,” said Pittman to TMZ Sports. “And I don’t think there’s any deal that’s going to be done.”

Clearly, the addition of Wentz isn’t having a positive or inspiring impact on the locker room, and if the TMZ report were any indication, it seems Wentz will have to settle on a different number in his second act with the Colts.

Compare this to Tom Brady’s arrival in Tampa Bay last season, where Buccaneers’ Chris Goodwin was the proud owner of the No.12 jersey. It proved to be a seamless transition, Goodwin happily relinquishing the number to his newly signed quarterback without fuss or muss, and for free.

Carons Wentz’s early years with the Eagles were promising, and that promise quickly came together in 2017, which to date is Wentz’ best individual season. Wentz went on a tear, putting together an MVP-calibre deposit until disaster struck towards the tail end of the regular season.. He suffered a season-ending injury that relegated him to the side lines, forcing him to watch helplessly as backup Nick Foles led the Eagles through the playoffs and all the way to an incredulous Super Bowl victory against the NFL odds. To date, the Eagles’ win over the Patriots in SBLII is one of the greatest anomalies in NFL history.

Since Philly’s Super Bowl LII victory, the Eagles regressed. With each passing season, the regression has been more pronounced, leading many to look towards Wentz as the cause. Wentz once looked like one of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks, but in the last three years – ever since Foles’ statue was erected in front of Lincoln Financial Stadium to commemorate his SBLII victory – he’s been on a downward spiral.

Wentz hit a new nadir this season, putting together one of the worst accounts by any quarterback by the numbers. He was inaccurate, ineffective and totally unimpressive under pressure, and he ultimately lost the starting job to rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Wentz was the most sacked quarterback (50 sacks), threw the most interceptions (15) and had one of the lowest QB ratings (72.8) in 2020. Doug Pederson’s decision to bench Wentz in the last month of the season was hardly surprising given the stats, although it didn’t help Philly’s cause in the end despite the weak state of affairs in the NFC East.

It’s hard to understand what has gone wrong with Wentz since the promise of his early days, but it’s also hard to imagine how he’ll turn things around in the space of a few months with a new team in the upcoming season, even if he’s reuniting with his former offensive coordinator, Frank Reich, in Indianapolis.

Wentz has thrown has thrown 28 interceptions over the last two campaigns — and, it’s worth pointing out, he’s only played 28 games in those two years. This season, he accounted for 15 interceptions (the most in the league) to just 16 TDs, all the while getting sacked a staggering 50 times. Wentz’ downward spiral is underpinned by a glaring lack of confidence and poor decision-making on the field.

Colts head coach Frank Reich had previously worked with Carson Wentz in Philadelphia as his offensive coordinator, overseeing the development of Wentz during his early years in the league. They had success together, no doubt about it. And clearly, their reunion hopes to reignite that chemistry and success.

Since the 2020 season ended so acrimoniously for Wentz and the Eagles, rumours tied Wentz and Reich together in a possible reunion in Indianapolis. Indeed, NFL betting markets had the Colts as the top landing spot for Wentz, especially after it was made public that Wentz wanted out of Philly. During Reich’s stint with the Eagles, Wentz enjoyed some of his best results in the league. https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1362443630284275720?s=20

Perhaps, in theory, the reunion works. Wentz and Reich have proven to be a good fit in the past. But that was then. A lot has happened since Wentz and Reich were separated.

The Colts are a good team, a potential championship calibre team that is merely a quarterback away from going the distance. Thus, it’s fair to say, that puts the onus on Wentz more so than on Reich to make this partnership work again. Put it another way, there will be no more excuses available for Wentz this time around.