Philadelphia Eagles: Trusted NFL source backs Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles football is finally interesting.

It wouldn’t be Philadelphia Eagles football if we weren’t discussing what we just saw, why it happened, and what we expect to see going forward. After two months of hearing how pathetic the ‘NFC Least’ is, things are turning.

The Washington Football Team, one of the teams that NFL pundits expected to be in the division’s cellar, are, at the time of this story being published, leading the division (and flirting with a .500 record to close the season). Ron Rivera has done a nice job there.

The New York Giants, win or lose, are a tough out every week. The Dallas Cowboys put a game in the win column in Week 14, and the Birds, with a new starting quarterback, took care of business versus a legitimate Super Bowl contender, the New Orleans Saints.

Maybe you haven’t heard, but the Birds have a quarterback controversy. They’re also one of the hot topics around the league.

One reliable source believes he has the Philadelphia Eagles’ answer.

If you know anything about this game we love, no one should have to tell you who Peter King is. The former Sports Illustrated legend and the mind behind their now-legendary Monday Morning Quarterback column now mans the controls at NBC Sports’ Peter King’s Football Morning in America.

It’s been a long time since he led with anything Eagles-related (and truthfully, it’s hard to blame him when you look at how his team has performed all season), but following Jalen Hurts‘ debut under center he had quite a bit to say about what he saw on the Monday that followed Week 14’s game, including ‘Hurts is the right man for this time in Philadelphia’ and ‘Hurts has the perfect background for this gig’.

Here’s some of what he had to say on Philly’s rookie:

"He played confidently, with no fear. It was amazing to see Pederson go for it on fourth-and-two at the New Orleans’ 15-yard line early in the second quarter. Hurts threw a perfect back-shoulder pass to Alshon Jeffery (he’s still on the team?) at the left pylon. Touchdown. At the end of the first half, Hurts took the Eagles 75 yards in 55 seconds with one timeout, scrambling for 24 and then 16, weaving through a terrific defense like he was running ‘Bama again and the Saints for a moment were Vanderbilt. Hurts ran for 106, threw for 167, didn’t throw a pick, wasn’t sacked, and turned it over once on a strip-tackle. He was as in command as a first-time starter could be. At the very least, the Eagles learned the kid can take the heat and deliver under pressure."

King seems to think Hurts should be the man going forward. He’s probably right. Can you imagine what would happen in the locker room if Philly announced they were going back to Carson Wentz? That’s not going to go over well.

Knowing that, what does Philly do now? Do they trade 11? If they do, what’s the end game? Who’s going to swallow that $30 million purse? Remember, everyone has watched Philly’s franchise signal-caller get exposed all season. King has an idea about a trade partner, and it’s one that Eagles fans have heard before.

"(This) makes total sense. Wentz reunites with former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich, the ultimate patient and calm teacher, and the Wentz mental makeover happens in the decidedly low-pressure-cooker of central Indiana. There’s no WIP there. GM Chris Ballard never met a big deal he was afraid to make, but, and this is a very big but, the Eagles most assuredly have not decided to deal Wentz. As of this morning, I bet the majority of their top people think he’ll be back in 2021, but if Hurts has three more games like Sunday’s? We’ll see."

Do you want to know what’s crazy? Believe it or not, this is a good problem for the Philadelphia Eagles to have. Philly has a legitimate franchise quarterback in Carson Wentz, and he’s locked up with a deal that keeps him in the City of Brotherly Love for the foreseeable future. They also have someone who could legitimately be the future.

Hurts is the starter. He probably will be for the rest of the 2020 regular season. Past that, who knows? At this point, everyone’s guessing, but if you’re of the mindset that Hurts should be the guy and not Wentz, pat yourself on the back. One of the game’s most trusted voices agrees with you.