Jim Irsay doubles down on scapegoating Carson Wentz for Colts failure

Washington Commanders fans would’ve welcomed any quarterback the team acquired this offseason with open arms — sans Deshaun Watson — but it’s been heartwarming to see the fan rally behind Carson Wentz the way it has.

Since the trade, the national media has pushed the narrative that he’s a poor quarterback and the Colts’ brass, led by unfiltered owner Jim Irsay, continues to scapegoat him for the team’s humiliating late-season collapse in 2021.

Before this offseason, Commanders fans likely had nothing against the Colts organization. Now, though, the fan base might be rooting for the AFC South squad to crash and burn spectacularly this year given how they’ve laid into Wentz since the trade.

Nobody would argue that Wentz played a hand in Indianapolis’ epic failure last campaign, but Irsay has continuously pointed the finger at one player; his former quarterback. We honestly thought the finger-pointing was over.

After all, Wentz is now in the NFC for a “non-contender,” and the Colts have Matt Ryan running their offense. What more could Irsay want?

Apparently, the owner feels his previous Wentz comments haven’t sent the right message, because he doubled down on scapegoating the 29-year-old while praising Ryan and previewing the Colts’ upcoming season.

Jim Irsay is obsessed with Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz.

"“We went through the season with some inconsistency at quarterback that led to massive problems,” Irsay told the media.“We’re set up for excellence. Now we just have to do it. And Matt Ryan has that same feeling in his heart. You know that difficult loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl (when Ryan was with the Falcons), he’s here to get his Lombardi. This is the time. This is a time to set up another generation of greatness.”“I think (those quarterback issues) were addressed probably in an even more exciting way than I had hoped.”"

We’ll give Irsay credit for one thing. The Colts did luck into acquiring Ryan, who didn’t become available until the Falcons sniffed around a Deshaun Watson trade. At that point, Ryan requested a trade and Indy was the only viable landing spot. Before then, though, they were looking at Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield.

As far as the Wentz slander is concerned, Irsay’s obsession with Wentz is truly unmatched. Could the 63-year-old have shared his Ryan excitement without highlighting Wentz’s inconsistencies? You bet, but Irsay wants everyone to know (for the hundredth time) that Wentz is the reason Indy fell on its face in 2021.

How about the offensive line being a shell of its world-beating self? What about your defense allowing Trevor Lawrence to enjoy his best performance as a pro? Again, Lawrence’s 71.8% completion rate and 111.8 passer rating were season-highs and the Colts didn’t so much as register a hit on the No. 1 pick.

Wentz’s hands had plenty of blood on them, but Irsay continually beating the drum that Wentz solely prevented the Colts from reaching their goals is as offensive as it is delusional. We’re just happy Wentz no longer plays for that franchise and is somewhere he’s wanted.

Maybe Irsay will stop bad-mouthing his former QB at some point now that the relationship is over, but we wouldn’t count on it. Even if Ryan underperforms, he’ll find a way to relate it back to Wentz. He’s too obsessed not to.

We know we’re not in a position to speak down on another team’s owner, but this has nothing to do with Dan Snyder. Absolutely nothing.