Carson Wentz has had an up-and-down NFL career. The second overall pick in 2016, Wentz has been an MVP candidate, he has struggled to stay on the field, and he’s won a Super Bowl, albeit in a game he didn’t play.
As a result, he has taken a lot of flak from Philadelphia Eagles fans.
Former Eagles left tackle Tra Thomas isn’t surprised.
“Taking so much flak – that’s just the life of a quarterback,” Thomas said on After Hours with Amy Lawrence, laughing. “That’s what they’re going to get. They’re going to get all the praise; they’re going to get the flak, too. It comes with the territory.”
Thomas played for the Eagles for 11 seasons, from 1998 to 2008. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and, in 2002, a first-team All-Pro.
Still, he’s used to seeing quarterbacks get all of the attention.
“Oh yeah, they get it all,” Thomas said, chuckling. “They’re going to get it all. Then everybody’s like, ‘Yeah, he went out there and he threw for 500, 600 yards.’ Well, yeah, if he didn’t get touched the entire game, he should throw for 500 or 600 yards. So yeah, that’s awesome. Good, I’m glad that he threw for 500 yards. He didn’t get touched. He should [play well].”
Wentz’s injury history might be one reason why the Eagles took Jalen Hurts in the second round of the NFL Draft. The 21-year-old won a national title at Alabama, starred at Oklahoma, and is a true dual-threat playmaker.
“When you’re a mobile quarterback, there are some pluses and minuses,” Thomas said. “There are going to be some times where we’re going to get beat, and I’m going to need you to put those little fancy shoes on and make a special move and make me look good. But then there are times when I need you to get rid of the ball. Just take whatever the [defense] gives you and get rid of the ball. But there are times that, when you have those athletic quarterbacks, they tend to hold on to the ball a little bit longer because they always feel like if all else fails, my feet can save me. That can cause a problem.
“So just being a quarterback, I think they need to work on timing and taking what the defense is giving them,” Thomas continued. “If your reads aren’t there, then go ahead and make something happen with your feet. But don’t wait too long. At the end of the day, you only have 2.5 seconds to make a decision.”