Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia Sports: Section 215 top 25 Philadelphia athletes revealed

By Chuck Booth

Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) celebrates with center Joel Embiid (21) after his game winning shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) celebrates with center Joel Embiid (21) after his game winning shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) passes against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Number three: Carson Wentz – Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

In Philadelphia sports, it is the Eagles and then everyone else. It always has been It always will be. Is it a surprise that three of the top five and five of the top 10 spots in this ranking belong to Birds athletes? Even in 2008, when the Phillies were toast of the town, the Eagles were there: dominating the majority of sports talk. Remember that adorable 76ers talk of the playoffs that resonated for all of six weeks? That was fun times. It’s even notable that Joel Embiid is at the top of these rankings. (I wonder if he would have landed there had the voting taken place after he was shelved for the remainder of the season…but I digress.)

Carson Wentz is currently, without a compelling argument to the contrary, the most important athlete in Philadelphia sports. Is he the third best Philadelphia athlete right now? Absolutely not. If you want to make this the debate, that is entirely reasonable. For example, Fletcher Cox is both an Eagle and an established, elite talent. Frankly, it’s surprising he isn’t first on this list. But it’s ultimately irrelevant. Wentz is the quarterback of your Eagles. He is the guy the franchise traded up to draft and will be either the GOAT (in a good way) or goat (in a bad way) of the most widely beloved franchise in the city. And, not for nothing, he was very good for a rookie playing more snaps than he had in his cumulative collegiate career. Wentz may be ranked this high because it’s a popularity contest…but it is also a no-brainer.