PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 05: Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles is hit by Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 05, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Jadeveon Clowney effectively ended the Eagles season with a cheap shot on Carson Wentz, but now the team could sign him.
In the third quarter of last season’s NFC Wild Card showdown between the Eagles and Seahawks, Jadeveon Clowney hit Carson Wentz late on a play, knocking him out of the game and effectively ending it as well.
Fast forward four months later and the Eagles are now one of the frontrunners to land Clowney for the 2020 season and beyond. Their fans might not be thrilled to welcome in a guy who gave their quarterback a concussion, but Wentz himself seems to be okay with it.
Wentz spoke with John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia and had this to say about his team potentially landing Clowney,
“Listen, at the end of the day, I’ll trust Howie with that,” Wentz said Thursday. “That play happened, it is what it is. That’s football. It was an unfortunate way to end end season for me personally, but I have respect for Jadeveon, he’s a heck of a player.”
Wentz is no dummy. He knows that his defense could use the help up front and Clowney is far and away the best remaining option on the free agent market. He knows that if he wants to win a Super Bowl (one where he’s not injured), then his defense is going to need to be in tip-top shape.
Let’s pretend, however, that Wentz wasn’t cool with Clowney coming to Philadelphia. Would that stop the Eagles from signing him?
Honestly, probably not.
Football is a business and the Eagles’ goal — much like the other 31 teams’ goal — is to win a Super Bowl every year. The Eagles have the roster to do it, but their defense could use some help. Jadeveon Clowney would be an immediate help to that defensive front and Carson Wentz approving of the decision to sign him makes things easier.
No one would blame Wentz if he didn’t want Clowney on his team, but Wentz understands how this works. If he wants another ring, he needs to welcome Jadeveon Clowney with open arms and that’s exactly what he’s doing.
It’s a smart move and if the Philadelphia Eagles do end up signing Clowney, it’ll increase their Super Bowl odds for the 2020 season.