The praise flows fast and furious in the direction of Carson Wentz.
After guiding Philadelphia to an unexpected 3-0 start, the Eagles' rookie quarterback is drawing heady comparisons from inside team walls -- and out.
"He loves watching tape," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Monday after Philly slayed the Steelers 34-3. "He and the quarterbacks are in here by 5:30 in the morning watching film and they're exhausting the tape. I hear him just in the building talking to guys about plays, routes and protections. It's Peyton Manning-ish. You hate to label him, but that's how Peyton prepared. That's how these top guys prepare. He has that now as a young quarterback. That will just carry him throughout his career."
The Manning parallel comes weeks after offensive coordinator Frank Reich compared Wentz to his former Bills teammate, Hall of Fame passer Jim Kelly. The rookie also drew comparisons to Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger last week, while NFL Network's Mike Mayock talked about Wentz before the draft as the next Cam Newton or Andrew Luck.
Anyone else we can think of?
"(Wentz) is Peyton Manning pre-snap, he's Aaron Rodgers post-snap," NFL Media's Brian Baldinger said Monday on NFL Network. "He's thrown 102 passes. He hasn't thrown one, not one yet, that has been close to intercepted, a 50-50 ball. His decisions are impeccable and his location and accuracy, I don't know if he could throw the ball any better than he's thrown it."
NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala was on hand for the Eagles-Steelers game and said: "This team here in Pittsburgh could not stop raving about Wentz's preparation. The way that he was absolutely able to take advantage of every mistake. Linebacker Arthur Moats said, 'You don't usually see a rookie able to do that.'"
Super Bowl-winning coach Brian Billick suggested that people "slow their roll" on comparing Wentz to future Hall of Famers, but praised the first-year passer for "not only the lack of turnovers, but the calm that this guy has. He doesn't seem to get flustered. ... Carson Wentz seems to be doing everything just right."
"Prototypical," one scout said before the draft of the 6-foot-5, 237-pound Wentz, per Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I see everything. Arm strength. Accuracy. Toughness. Athletic ability. Smart. Great kid."
Said another scout: "He's a genius, Wentz is. He could be really good. He's the best runner, he's the best athlete. He is off the charts."
So far, it's hard to disagree with all the positive words. Wentz has checked every box and given Eagles fans new hope for tomorrow. It will be fascinating to watch this young quarterback put Philly on his shoulders and soar away.
