In what’s got to be one of the more stunning takes of the 2023 NFL season, NFL Network analyst and former quarterback David Carr actually suggested the Philadelphia Eagles bench Jalen Hurts.
Yes, this was an actual take, not an attempt at a bit. Carr really said he feels the Eagles should sit Hurts for the time being and start backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Carr padded his opinion with concerns over Hurts’ health and thinks sitting him could get him healthier sooner (technically possible), but he also argued that the quarterback’s ability to read a defense while drop-back passing could be holding the Eagles back right now. … What?
No matter the reasoning, you really need to watch this clip.
"I'd say he's probably better at playing quarterback for the Philadelphia @Eagles, right now he'd be more productive."@DCarr8 emphasizes Marcus Mariota should be the QB1 over Jalen Hurts. 😳 pic.twitter.com/rGgp6WZjIG
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) December 6, 2023
There is a real concerted effort to say that a possibly dinged-up Hurts still playing at a high level isn’t as good an option for Philly than Mariota, who got benched by the Atlanta Falcons last year and has been inconsistent in his career. No offense to Mariota in the slightest… but no?
While Hurts was evaluated for a concussion on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, he returned to the game. He also suffered a knee injury earlier in the season, but it hasn’t been enough to hold him out of recent games or prevent him from playing well.
Pushing through manageable injuries is just part of the process if you’re a superstar player like Hurts, and there really aren’t many arguments (if any) to make that sitting the quarterback for Mariota would do any good for the team.
Also, Hurts has been playing at an MVP level this season, which makes Carr’s suggestion even harder to comprehend.
This is the kind of hot take that stuns you, if only because it’s hard to think an NFL team would actually bench a player as talented as Hurts at this point in the season for a less talented player.
NFL fans really struggled understanding this hot take.
I have watched this five times trying to figure out the bit https://t.co/XSocToIl5y
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 6, 2023
People say really weird stuff on tv. “Some would argue he’s not even good at it?” https://t.co/Eg2In1cCaQ
— Quincy Avery (@QuincyAvery) December 6, 2023
This is it. THE worst sports take of all time. https://t.co/ew4T0W0Wjt
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) December 6, 2023
Did he say Mariota??? https://t.co/grV5aO6Nss pic.twitter.com/7CXeW7VlTs
— T-Mac 🔋🪫 (@trayjohnsonjr) December 6, 2023
Buddy must have money on the cowboys 😂 https://t.co/yDUFdVHPv5
— Tevin Israel (@TevinIsrael) December 6, 2023
And we have a winner for overreaction Monday. @DCarr8 blows away the field https://t.co/A90lsNA6Rp
— John McMullen (@JFMcMullen) December 6, 2023
https://t.co/xuQHvCsYxD pic.twitter.com/XS5g2HQxFP
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) December 6, 2023
🤦🏿♂️ https://t.co/MvBgmTXk84 pic.twitter.com/qSwKjH6kOE
— Ike Reese (@Ike58Reese) December 6, 2023
This may be the worst take I’ve ever heard. https://t.co/ZXqjBpe9lz
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) December 6, 2023
The Take Industrial Complex https://t.co/bCuvEzX3lO
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 6, 2023
It is a really rare thing when the entire internet completely agrees on something.
This is one of those times. Who could possibly seriously think this or want to say it on television. https://t.co/w5E45ie43z
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 6, 2023
Me reading the comment section https://t.co/QSL9gk4cP8 pic.twitter.com/X9BBC27lt5
— Tyler Stoll (@TylerJStoll) December 6, 2023