NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Carson Wentz, Eagles, Redskins

Cowboys

• Regarding the report that the Cowboys could promote QBs coach Kellen Moore to offensive coordinator, a source tells Jane Slater: “Don’t laugh, this is a legitimate candidate.”
• Albert Breer reports that Moore is known in Dallas as being a guy who knows how to implement college concepts and can take quarterback-friendly ideas and apply them within different formations and personnel groups.
• Breer expects Moore to be part of the equation there, regardless of who becomes the offensive coordinator.
• Breer writes that if Dallas ever decides to move on from HC Jason Garrett, Saints head coach Sean Payton and Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley would be the top two candidates.

Carson Wentz

Joseph Santoliquito of PhillyVoice.com spoke with “more than a half dozen players, plus other sources close to the team” who described QB Carson Wentz from “incredibly hard working,” “determined,” and “highly intelligent” to “selfish,” “uncompromising,” “egotistical,” person who plays “favorites” and fails “to take accountability.”

“Carson Wentz’s biggest enemy is Carson Wentz,” a source tells Santoliquito. “He’s had his ass kissed his whole life, and sometimes acts like he’s won 10 Super Bowls, when he hasn’t played in, let alone won, a playoff game yet. Everyone around him wants good things for him. He did more thinking on the field than he did playing [in 2018]. You don’t have to be a brain surgeon or a football expert to see how differently this team plays and reacts with one guy as opposed to the other.”

“He has to return to who ‘Carson Wentz’ is,” a source explained to Santoliquito. “That comes with relaxing and not forcing things. It also comes with being able to take constructive criticism. He has to learn that it’s not always about him and that’s partly what hurt this team this year. We know what type of player he can be, and who he normally is. He needs to realize it’s the Philadelphia Eagles not the Philadelphia Carsons. . . . A little humility goes a long way.”

Some teammates have come to Wentz’s defense including Nate Sudfeld, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Brooks and Zach Ertz.

• Am Eagles’ senior official tells Sal Paolantonio of ESPN that they feel the story was nonsense and the quick criticism by Wentz’s teammates is proof of that:“You are seeing what his teammates are saying about Carson. Great leader in the locker room and on the field. Carson is a good person, great character. Story has no legs.”
• Mike Garafolo reports that Wentz’s strong personality has been considered a positive since he arrived in Philly and the locker room appears to be fully behind him moving forward.

Eagles

• According to Chris Mortensen, one scenario for the Eagles involving QB Nick Foles that can’t be dismissed is the team declining to pick up his $20 million option in February and then pursuing a tag-and-trade.
• Mortensen adds that this would allow the Eagles to control Foles’ destination as opposed to letting him sign with a division rival like the Giants or Redskins.

Redskins

• John Keim reports that Redskins DBs Torrian Gray has accepted a job as the defensive backs coach at Florida.