Brandon Brooks Backs Carson Wentz

Guard talked about the anonymous sources who ripped the Eagles quarterback earlier this year after Wentz authored a key 17-9 win over the Cowboys

PHILADELPHIA – Brandon Brooks has the Eagles’ back of quarterback Carson Wentz.

Even though there are some that don’t. Just who those some are, nobody can say with 100 percent accuracy. They are the anonymous ones.

In mid-October, an anonymous source took a shot at Wentz via ESPN reporter Josina Anderson, saying "We need to make s--- simpler. Sometimes we need to just handle what is manageable. Even Peyton Manning knew when to check it down."

This came on the heels of an anonymous source late last year taking a shot at Wentz, calling him "selfish, egotistical, and uncompromising." 

The anonymous sources said the quarterback played "favorites" particularly when it came to targeting tight end Zach Ertz, who made 116 catches in 2018 to set an NFL record for most receptions by a tight end in NFL history.

Brooks decided to speak out after a signature win from Wentz in Sunday's 17-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

"We're supposed to be family, man. We're supposed to be a brotherhood. You've got s-- like this coming out and it's like, 'Well f--, it didn't just come out of nowhere. Somebody said something,” said Brooks, the Eagles’ right guard.

"But at the same time, you don't know who said it. It could be speculation. But you know you're probably in the room with somebody who said something. And then it's like, you're going to come to work every day and smile and laugh at the same time trash us? That's not the type of teammate that I am and it's not the type of teammate that I would appreciate. At the end of the day we're family, man.”

Wentz went 31-for-40 for 319 yards and a touchdown with a 108.2 passer rating. He did it without his top three wide receivers in DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor. 

Wentz did it without his top running back in Jordan Howard, out since Nov. 3, without his Pro Bowl right tackle in Lane Johnson, and his top target, tight end Zach Ertz, playing with ailing ribs after an early shot to them.

That is franchise-type stuff, the quarterback the Eagles wanted when they drafted him second overall in 2016.

To some inside the locker room, it doesn't appear to always be enough.

“I’ve seen this s--- all season, man – Carson making plays,” said Brooks. “Carson balling. And then it’s like ‘Well, he doesn’t have this amount of yards. Well, he doesn’t have this many touchdowns.’ You get tired of the nitpicking with this s---.

“He’s been playing well. I mean, goddamn, when is he going to get his just dessert? As a player, you kind of get frustrated with that. I don’t know if there’s a more scrutinized quarterback in the league than Carson Wentz. It’s unbelievable.

“As of lately, I felt I needed to speak up for him because he is a very soft-spoken team guy. But to kind of set the tone and let him know ‘Hey, man, we see it. We see you’re playing well. We see you carving out your own niche, showing everybody you can ball, showing everybody they did the right thing by bringing you in.’ I’m happy to see the success.”