Adrian Fedkiw
Carson Wentz’s three-dinner wish list: Jesus, Brett Favre and Walter Payton. What would that dinner conversation sound like with Favre?
“We’d talk about hunting quite a bit,” Wentz said.
The FCS-playing, North Dakota slinging Wentz has rapidly risen up NFL Draft boards over recent months and will be picked in the top two Thursday night. He answered questions in an interview with the New York Post‘s Steve Serby over the weekend and opened up about the draft.
Wentz talked about potentially being the top pick and his love for the two-minute drill. Why he should be trusted as being the face of a franchise.
I think the first thing that comes to mind is I’m a winner Obviously the track record speaks for that, but I’m wired to be the most competitive guy out there. I hate losing, and I’m gonna do whatever it takes to be the best at whatever it is I’m doing. I think that once you get to know me, you really know that that’s the case, and you can put a lot of trust in me that I’m gonna get it done.”
The reports are leaning towards the Los Angeles Rams taking California’s Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick, which means the Eagles would select him at No. 2. How would he handle the pressure that is the Philadelphia microscope? Wentz says being the franchise guy would be “cool.”
I think it’s cool. I’m one that doesn’t let the pressure or any of the outside kind of scrutiny, all those things, really get to me. I’ve dealt with it my whole life, but obviously it’s gonna be to another scale now. It is what it is, it comes with the territory, and you gotta be able to just block it all out. You just control what you can control, and just hopefully go win games and keep getting better.”
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has compared Wentz’s athleticism to that of Andrew Luck and Cam Newton. He also said he had the fiery competitiveness of Philip Rivers. Went talked about that fire.
I’m a competitive son of a gun. I don’t like losing. I want to be the best out there. I want to lead the troops. I want to kind of take the bull by the horns and be in control. When things are great, I’m excited, I probably have some energy, but when things aren’t going well, I’m the same person. I’m always looking to the next thing no matter if the last play was good, bad or indifferent, I’m always a positive thinker and just always going forward.
How about liking that two-minute drill?
I love ’em. Honestly, I always told my coaches my whole career, we’ll practice two-minute drills in practice like once a week and everything, I’m just like, “Those are my favorite time of football.” I’m out there in total control, just getting everything lined up, getting everybody on the same page, and obviously, usually it’s pass after pass after pass. I just really enjoy it.
And about the FCS label?
I think if you can play, you can play. Everyone’s gotta make an adjustment. The game happens fast, but I believe, like I mentioned earlier, I process things quickly, I’m able to handle those things that happen quickly, and I’ve always believed that I play at a fast pace, play at a high level, and I’m really excited to show what I can do in that fast-paced game.
Five non-FBS quarterbacks have been taken in the first round since 1978: Doug Williams (17th, 1978), Phil Simms (7th, 1979), Ken O’Brien (24th, 1983), Steve McNair (3rd, 1995) and Joe Flacco (18th, 2008). Three of those guys won a Super Bowl and another was a yard short of potentially winning one. O’Brien was the only one to not play in a Super Bowl, but he wasn’t an FCS quarterback.
The reason why Wentz would choose Payton for dinner is because the Walter Payton Award is given to the top FCS offensive player. That award, however, went to Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp this year because Wentz missed time with a wrist injury.
As for Jesus, who wouldn’t want to have dinner with Jesus?